Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara in The Deadly Companions

January 21, 2022 By Joi

Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara

Two of my favorite stars (Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara) teamed up for several films – one being 1961 western The Deadly Companion. Westerns are a personal obsession of mine, so this one has a very special place in my heart – two favorites AND a great Western… I am SO there.

This particular western has a wonderful cast and is beautifully, beautifully directed. The scenery is gorgeous and nearly everything about it is perfect. It’s of my western-loving, downright obsessed mind that this film would be much better known and loved if only the plot had not involved the shooting and death of a child. Had the plot centered around, say, the young boy being shot and driven to a doctor rather than his burial spot, more would have seen (and loved) this Western.

In fact, it’s this dark (miserably dark!) part of the story that made me wait so long to watch it. It was much better than I expected and the grisly part was handled well. To be perfectly honest, I still wish the plot had involved the boy needing a doctor (they’d have still needed to make the journey, after all).

If you’ve never seen this very well-done Western, I hope you’ll find it soon.

You can find The Deadly Companions on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.

Angie Dickinson, Dean Martin, and John Wayne Behind the Scenes of Rio Bravo

January 11, 2022 By Joi

Dean Martin and Angie Dickinson

Rio Bravo isn’t just one of my favorite Westerns, it’s one of my favorite movies. Period. I simply love everything about it from start to finish. The cast, the story, the dialogue, the directing, the wardrobe… everything.

Angie Dickinson’s “Feathers” is one of my favorite movie characters – her portrayal is absolute perfection. Given that the actress was so young, it would have been easy for her to have been overwhelmed by being surrounded by such veteran talent, but she not only fit in beautifully, she stole more than a few scenes to boot!

John Wayne and Angie Dickinson

Rio Bravo is available on DVD (Amazon link) or you can watch it on Prime Video!

Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, Behind the Scenes of The Misfits

January 5, 2022 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller

There’s something about these pictures of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller behind the scenes of The Misfits (1961) that’s just impossibly sweet. Miller (who was married to Marilyn from 1956 to 1961) was the screenwriter for the western.

You can buy The Misfits on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link). Surprisingly it isn’t on Prime Video, given the historical importance of the film (and how good it is), you’d think it would be.

Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe

Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe, Behind the Scenes of the Bittersweet Film The Misfits

December 29, 2021 By Joi

Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe

Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe lead an outstanding cast in the WONDERFUL 1961 film The Misfits, directed by John Huston. Tragically, it would be the last completed film legends Gable or Monroe made. He died of a heart attack shortly after filming ended and she died a year and a half later.

Obviously, that’s the SAD side of the historical film. The great side is that the film happened to begin with. Marilyn Monroe had grown up idolizing Clark Gable, so the fact that she got to make a film with him really warms my heart. It’s also, in my opinion, one of her very best performances.

Add these to the fact that the movie is truly outstanding and you can see why it’s such a bittersweet film. It might just be the very definition of bittersweet.

The western also stars Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter, Eli Wallach, James Barton, and Kevin McCarthy.

Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable

You can buy The Misfits on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link). Surprisingly it isn’t on Prime Video, given the historical importance of the film (and how good it is), you’d think it would be.

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn: Dodge City (1939)

September 19, 2021 By Joi

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn were one of the all-time GREAT movie couples. The talent was off the charts and the chemistry was out of this world. One of my favorite of their movies is Dodge City (1939), a film that really doesn’t get nearly enough attention!

The western was directed by the great Michael Curtiz and also stars Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, and Alan Hale.

You can find Dodge City on Amazon (link to the dvd) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn

Telly Savalas: Mackenna’s Gold (1968)

September 16, 2021 By Joi

Telly Savalas, Mackenna’s Gold

Telly Savalas may be best remembered as television’s iconic Kojak (1973-1978) but, make no mistake about it, he was just as outstanding on the big screen.

He turned in a very memorable performance in the 1969 western Mackenna’s Gold, directed by J. Lee Thompson. The cast also includes Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Camilla Sparv, Keenan Wynn, Julie Newmar, Edward G. Robinson, Raymond Massey, Lee J. Cobb, Burgess Meredith, and Eli Wallach.

That’s what I call a cast!

This is one of two movies in which Telly Savalas is part of a group looking for a large amount of gold, the other being Kelly’s Heroes (1970).

You can find Mackenna’s Gold on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Angie Dickinson and John Wayne (Love this Rio Bravo Publicity Photo!)

September 14, 2021 By Joi

Angie Dickinson and John Wayne, Rio Bravo

John Wayne deliberately stepped away from westerns after The Searchers (1956) and made The Wings of Eagles, Jet Pilot, Legend of the Lost, I Married a Woman, and The Barbarian and the Geisha (a movie we John Wayne fans pretend doesn’t exist!). None of these films were as successful as his westerns – although several were quite good. Rio Bravo marked his triumphant return to westerns.

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

Gregory Peck: Mackenna’s Gold (1969)

September 7, 2021 By Joi

Gregory Peck

Gregory Peck leads a ridiculously talented cast in the 1969 film Mackenna’s Gold, directed by J. Lee Thompson. The cast also includes Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Camilla Sparv, Keenan Wynn, Julie Newmar, Edward G. Robinson, Raymond Massey, Lee J. Cobb, Burgess Meredith, and Eli Wallach.

Clint Eastwood was one of the first actors considered for Gregory Peck’s role but he had a commitment to make another western, Hang ’em High.

Apparently Gregory Peck enjoyed making the film with Edward G. Robinson and enjoyed his company on the set. The two talked about religion, politics, acting, and the fine arts.

You can find Mackenna’s Gold on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Camilla Sparv, MacKenna’s Gold (1969)

August 28, 2021 By Joi

Camilla Sparv

Lovely Swedish actress Camilla Sparv starred in the 1969 film Mackenna’s Gold, directed by J. Lee Thompson. The outstanding cast also included Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Keenan Wynn, Julie Newmar, Edward G. Robinson, Raymond Massey, Lee J. Cobb, Burgess Meredith, and Eli Wallach. I mean there are casts and there are CASTS – this one really went for broke!

You can find Mackenna’s Gold on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Camilla Sparv, MacKenna’s Gold

Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn, Silver River (1948)

August 4, 2021 By Joi

Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn, Silver River

Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn team up in the wonderful 1948 western Silver River. I’m not sure why, but the fact that these two had so much chemistry kind of took me off guard. I’m not sure what I expected but I honestly didn’t expect them to be quite THIS good together. I know they’re perfect with other stars and they’re two of my favorites… and, yet, they still blew me away when I first saw them together.

Again, I have no idea why!

You can find Silver River on dvd (Amazon link). It’s really, really good!