Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

Touching Quote from Beautiful Katy Jurado

November 18, 2022 By Joi

Katy Jurado

“I am very proud to make this picture because I look and act like a Mexican – not imitation. Some Mexicans go to Hollywood and lose career in Mexico, because they play imitation. I don’t want this to happen to me.” ~ Katy Jurado, High Noon (1952, directed by Fred Zinnemann)

The exotic, talented, and beautiful Katy Jurado all but steals High Noon right out from under the rest of the cast. There’s just something so touching and believable about her character and her performance.

I only wish she’d been onscreen more!

You can buy High Noon on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the iconic Western on Prime Video.

Yvonne De Carlo, Fuzzy Knight, and Rod Cameron in Frontier Gal

October 13, 2022 By Joi

Yvonne De Carlo, Frontier Gal

One of Yvonne De Carlo’s Westerns is the wildly entreating Frontier Gal from 1945. The cast includes Yvonne De Carlo, Rod Cameron, Fuzzy Knight, and Andy Devine. As you’d expect from a film with both Andy Devine and Fuzzy Knight, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

You can find Frontier Gal on dvd (Amazon link). Unfortunately it isn’t on Prime Video… it’s also hardly ever shown on television. Truth be told, it’s downright impossible to find anywhere! BUT, it’s worth the effort… it’s really a fun Western.

Fuzzy Knight, Rod Cameron, and Yvonne De Carlo in Frontier Gal

Yvonne De Carlo, Frontier Gal: A Fun and Underrated Western from 1945

September 30, 2022 By Joi

Yvonne De Carlo

If you know anything at all about me, you know that Yvonne De Carlo is one of my favorites. Whether she’s Lilly Munster on The Munsters or one of her MANY colorful characters in movies, she’s always as good as good gets in my world. Phenomenal actress and so beautiful it’s almost distracting!

The beautiful photos, here, are promotional pictures for the 1945 Western Frontier Gal. In addition to Yvonne De Carlo, the cast also includes Rod Cameron, Fuzzy Knight, and Andy Devine.

You can find Frontier Gal on dvd (Amazon link), but be warned, it is NOT cheap! Yvonne De Carlo is one of the stars I “collect,” so I need this one for my collection… but holy cats is it pricey?!

Yvonne De Carlo in Frontier Gal

Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan: Silver River (1948)

September 14, 2022 By Joi

Silver River, Starring Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn

The wonderful western Silver River (1948) was directed by the Raoul Walsh and boasts an outstanding cast which includes Thomas Mitchell, Tom D’Andrea, and Bruce Bennett.

You can find Silver River on dvd (Amazon link).

Errol Flynn, Silver River

Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn Make Their Own Kind of Magic in Silver River (1948)

September 8, 2022 By Joi

Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn

There are many film couples who made movie magic:

Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne
Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire
Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier
Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland
etc etc etc…

But one of the couples I’d put on my list of favorites (right up there with the all-time greats) is one others may overlook…. Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn. They didn’t make NEARLY enough movies together, but I absolutely cherish the few they did make – with Silver River being my favorite. Silver River (1948) was directed by the wonderful Raoul Walsh and also stars Thomas Mitchell, Tom D’Andrea (love him in this role… well, actually, I love him in everything), and Bruce Bennett.

You can find Silver River on dvd (Amazon link). I absolutely love it.

Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn in Silver River

Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin: Behind the Scenes of Bandolero

August 18, 2022 By Joi

Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin

I don’t have a lot of Raquel Welch on the Old Hollywood blog, but it has nothing at all to do with how I feel about her. I adore her! Not only do I think she’s one of the most beautiful actresses of all time, I think she’s very underrated for her talent. She has always been so much more than just a beautiful face and great figure.

The reason I’ve never done photos or posts about her is a simple one… I’ve never thought of her as “old Hollywood!” Some of my all-time favorite actresses could actually (and should actually) be featured more on the blog – I just have to remind myself that Hollywood Yesterday is about all stars and all films from “yesterday,” whether the yesterday was 1930 or 1980.

SO, with that said, expect to see a lot more comparatively modern stars like Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren, Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, Paul Newman, James Garner…. stars I adore and am very excited to spotlight more frequently.

Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin star in the wonderful 1968 Western Bandolero! Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen (the wonderful actor Victor McLaglen’s son), the movie also stars George Kennedy, Denver Pyle, Clint Richie, Andrew Prine, and Will Geer.

You can find Bandolero! on dvd or blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Henry Fonda and James Stewart as Wyatt Earp

August 10, 2022 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Cathy Downs, My Darling Clementine

Ironically, real-life close friends James Stewart and Henry Fonda BOTH played Wyatt Earp in westerns that were directed by the legendary John Ford. They’re my top two favorite actors of all time, so I have (of course) seen both movies more than a few times.

Henry Fonda in My Darling Clementine (1946)
James Stewart was Wyatt Earp in Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

While I personally prefer My Darling Clementine, I think they’re both wonderful movies and each actor gives an outstanding performance.

James Stewart and Arthur Kennedy, Cheyenne Autumn

You can find My Darling Clementine on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

You can find Cheyenne Autumn on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

John Ford on the set of Cheyenne Autumn

Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda as Jesse and Frank James

July 29, 2022 By Joi

Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda

Two of my favorite actors in one Western (my favorite genre)??? Pop the popcorn, pour the raspberry tea, and call me when it’s on. I could literally watch Jesse James (1939) once a week and be perfectly content. The great Western also stars the underrated (and underused) Nancy Kelly, Randolph Scott, Henry Hull, Slim Summerville, John Carradine, Donald Meek, and Jane Darwell.

Wonderful cast, wonderful film.

You can find this great film (with its outstanding cast) on dvd or blu-ray – Jesse James (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

Audrey Hepburn and Audie Murphy: The Unforgiven (1960)

July 26, 2022 By Joi

Audrey Hepburn and Audie Murphy

Audrey Hepburn, Burt Lancaster, Audie Murphy, Lilian Gish, and Charles Bickford lead an extraordinary cast in the 1960 Western The Unforgiven. It was directed by one of my favorite directors, John Huston, and you can see his fingerprints all over the film.

This was Audrey Hepburn’s only Western, and it’s a very memorable one. You can find The Unforgiven on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Nancy Kelly, Tyrone Power, and Henry Fonda in Jesse James (1939)

July 25, 2022 By Joi

Nancy Kelly, Tyrone Power, and Henry Fonda

One of my favorite Westerns is the 1939 Jesse James. I love the cast, the directing (Henry King never disappoints), the scenery every darn thing about it. The only drawbacks are I don’t get my fairy-tale happy ending (obviously!) and each time I watch this movie, I’m left with the same agonizing question each time… How was Nancy Kelly not given more roles?! My goodness she was wonderful. Beautiful, talented, and had an extra onscreen spark.

If you haven’t seen Nancy in very many films, I highly recommend seeking her out.

The cast also includes Randolph Scott, Henry Hull, Slim Summerville, John Carradine, Donald Meek, and Jane Darwell.

You can find this great film (with its outstanding cast) on dvd or blu-ray – Jesse James (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.