Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, The Misfits (1961)

August 10, 2023 By Joi

Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, The Misfits

The Misfits (1961) was directed by one of my personal favorite directors, John Huston, and features an equally wonderful cast that includes Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter, and Eli Wallach.

The compelling film is iconic for several reasons:

Clark Gable gives one of his greatest performances.
Marilyn Monroe also gives one of her finest performances.
This was Clark Gable’s last completed film. He died of a heart attack shortly after filming ended.
This was also Marilyn Monroe’s last completed film. She died a year and a year and a half later

The movie is outstanding and their performances, as well as those of Montgomery Clift and Thelma Ritter, are impeccable.

If you’ve never seen this great movie, you can buy The Misfits on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.

Marilyn Monroe Poster (Amazon):

Marilyn Monroe Vintage Poster (Amazon link)

Binnie Barnes and John Wayne, In Old California (1942)

July 27, 2023 By Joi

Binnie Barnes and John Wayne, In Old California

The career of Binnie Barnes truly baffles me. She was such a deliciously unique actress – very beautiful, very talented, and full of charisma. Yet Hollywood consistently cast her in secondary roles. She had everything it took to be a leading lady and should, if all things were fair in this world, be a household name today. Yet here we are, with another star who wasn’t given the roles or opportunity to shine as bright as they could have.

Don’t get me wrong, many times this is actually a blessing. By everything I’ve read, Binnie Barnes had a wonderful life, a happy (and long – rare in the entertainment industry!) marriage, and a loving family. She enjoyed a long life and devoted her time and money to charities. When stars were worked to the point of dropping and when their fame became too heavy for them to carry, many sacrificed a happy, normal life for their career.

When you look at it in this light, it makes you realize that Binnie (and other similar stars) didn’t lose anything…. they won the greatest game – a happy, normal life!

One of my favorite Binnie Barnes movies is In Old California. It’s simply a highly enjoyable, lightweight film that makes you fall in love with old movies all over again. It also stars another favorite of mine – an actor you’ve probably heard of (wink wink), John Wayne. Their chemistry is really lovely and their performances perfect, as always.

The 1942 Western was directed by William C. McGann and it truly is one you’ll want to check out.

You can find In Old California on dvd and Prime Video. (Amazon link)

John Wayne and Binnie Barnes

Rosenda Monteros, Petra in The Magnificent Seven (1960)

April 18, 2023 By Joi

Rosenda Monteros, The Magnificent Seven

While beautiful and talented Rosenda Monteros had her share of colorful roles and films, her portrayal of Petra in The Magnificent Seven (1960, directed by John Sturges) always stand out as one people remember with the most fondness.

Rosenda was born on August 31, 1935 in Veracruz, Mexico. In addition to being a very fine actress, Rosenda was also a dancer. She’s also known in Mexico for her many appearances in telenovelas.

You can find The Magnificent Seven (1960) on dvd, blu-ray, and Prime Video. (Amazon link)

Rio Bravo (1959): One of the Best Westerns Ever Made….

April 17, 2023 By Joi

On the Set of Rio Bravo

Pictured Above: John Russell, John Wayne, Walter Brennan, Angie Dickinson, and Dean Martin on the set of Rio Bravo (1959)

Rio Bravo (1959, directed by Howard Hawks) airs on TCM tonight. We have at least one copy of the film on dvd and we’ve seen it twice a year (sometimes more than that) every year for as long as I can remember… but you’d better believe the dvr is set nonetheless!

My love for this Western is legendary. Westerns and Comedies are my favorite film genres and this perfect movie more or less combines the two – a great Western with a great deal of humor.

The director, Howard Hawks is one of my favorite directors of all time and was the PERFECT man for the job with Rio Bravo.

The extraordinary cast includes John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ricky Nelson, John Russell, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Claude Akins. After making The Searchers (1956), John Wayne took a brief hiatus from Westerns – Rio Bravo marked his triumphant return to the genre.

Sigh. I’m feeling dizzy from excitement just thinking about this movie.

You can find Rio Bravo on dvd (Amazon link), watch it on Prime Video, and/or catch it tonight on TCM!

Jennifer Jones Promotional Picture for Duel in the Sun (1946)

March 26, 2023 By Joi

Jennifer Jones

Some Westerns simply don’t get enough attention and the one we’re spotlighting today is one of them. Duel in the Sun (1946) was directed by the wonderful King Vidor and features an absolutely phenomenal cast including Walter Huston, Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, Herbert Marshall, Charles Bickford, Lilian Gish, and Butterfly McQueen.

The film is as extraordinary as its cast, which is truly saying something!

You can find Duel in the Sun on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link).

Duel in the Sun: The Cast was an Embarrassment of Riches!

February 3, 2023 By Joi

Walter Huston, Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones, Gregory Peck, and Lionel Barrymore

The cast of Duel in the Sun (1946, King Vidor) was LOADED with talent: Walter Huston, Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones, Gregory Peck, and Lionel Barrymore are pictured above.

The cast also included Herbert Marshall, Lillian Gish, Butterfly McQueen, and Charles Bickford.

You can find Duel in the Sun on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link).

Jennifer Jones, Duel in the Sun

Maureen O’Hara and Joel McCrea, Buffalo Bill (1944)

February 2, 2023 By Joi

Maureen O’Hara and Joel McCrea

Maureen O’Hara and Joel McCrea lead an outstanding cast in the 1944 Western Buffalo Bill. Directed by William A. Wellman, the cast also includes Linda Darnell, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, and Anthony Quinn.

The movie, based on the life of Buffalo Bill Cody blends fiction with non-fiction and is always a great film to spend a little time with. Beautifully filmed and directed, it’s a movie I always enjoy.

Maureen O’Hara and Joel McCrea

Happy Heavenly Birthday to the Extraordinary Donna Reed

January 27, 2023 By Joi

Donna Reed, Backlash

The wonderful Donna Reed was born on January 27, 1921 in Denison, Iowa. She’s one of my VERY first favorite actresses and remains in the top 8 to this day. I simply adore everything about her, every role she ever graced, and… quite frankly… everything she stood for as a human being. She was simply lovely in every way.

Like Elvis, Marilyn, Rita, Audrey, John Wayne, and Lucille Ball, Donna Reed has been collectively framed in a particular way – as the smiling, perfect wife and mother – both on her wonderful television series and in the extraordinary and larger than life It’s a Wonderful Life. While being framed, collectively or any other way, is pretty much unavoidable, it’s really – in many ways – a shame. After all, Marilyn and Rita were so much more than the sex symbols they’re “framed” as in most people’s minds.

Elvis and John Wayne were more than the images most people have of them

Audrey was a warm and wonderful person and talented actress – not simply a lovely little style icon!

Lucille Ball was more than simply one of the most hilarious people to ever draw breath.

Last but not least, Donna Reed was much more than the characters she created. In fact, while she’s remembered by most as Donna and Mary, she brought a great number of other colorful characters to life as well. Her filmography is alive with color and entertainment and she was extraordinary in each and every role.

I actually (literally 20 minutes ago) just ordered a great-sounding Donna Reed biography, In Search of Donna Reed (Amazon link) by Jay Fultz. I’ll tell you all about it as soon as I’ve devoured it cover to cover!

Happy Heavenly birthday to one of the best actresses of all time, and one I’m always so proud to call a favorite.

Donna Reed and Richard Widmark, Backlash (1956)

The photos in this post are from the 1956 Western Backlash starring Donna Reed and Richard Widmark. You can find Backlash on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link).

The Harvey Girls (1946): The Cast Directors DREAM Of!

December 30, 2022 By Joi

Preston Foster, Angela Lansbury, Judy Garland, and John Hodiak

The Harvey Girls is a wonderfully entertaining 1946 musical-western. directed by George Sidney, the movie stars Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Ray Bolger, John Hodiak, Preston Foster, Cyd Charisse, Marjorie Main, Chill Wills, and Virginia O’Brien.

Every role is filled to perfection. It’s rare you watch a movie and think, “I wouldn’t change a single thing…” but this is definitely one of those cases.

You can find The Harvey Girls on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Virginia O’Brien, Judy Garland, and Cyd Charisse

Angela Lansbury Behind the Scenes of The Harvey Girls

December 29, 2022 By Joi

Angela Lansbury, Behind the Scenes of The Harvey Girls (1946)

The extraordinary Angela Lansbury is one of those rare stars everyone seems to love.. and, come on, who can blame us?! She was so incredibly talented, charismatic, colorful, and genuinely lovable and such a gift to those of us who love movies AND those of us who love great classic television.

It’s really, really hard to believe she’s gone, isn’t it? She is and will be missed so much. She’s a great example of the adage, “Live your life so that you will be greatly missed when you’re gone.”

I rewatched The Harvey Girls recently and kept thinking, “I’d forgotten how beautiful she was!” She had a unique, sassy type of beauty that… as far as I’m concerned… is impossible to beat.

The 1946 musical-western was directed by George Sidney and also stars Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, John Hodiak, Preston Foster, Cyd Charisse, Marjorie Main, Chill Wills, and Virginia O’Brien.

You can find The Harvey Girls on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.