Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

Barbara Stanwyck: Annie Oakley (1935) -Fast Facts and a Priceless Picture

December 9, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Barbara Stanwyck as Annie Oakley

Fast Facts About Annie Oakley (1935):

Jean Arthur turned down the lead role in this film. While I would have been interested in seeing her take on this colorful character, I’m very happy we have Barbara Stanwyck in the role to enjoy forevermore.
The first Western for both director George Stevens and Barbara Stanwyck.
Released less than 10 years after the death of the real Annie Oakley. If you’ve never read about Annie, I hope you’ll do so. She was a fascinating woman, far ahead of her time. And gutsy? Forget about it, the lady had guts to spare!
The working title was Shooting Star. I actually love that – I kind of wish they’d gone with Shooting Star: The Story of Annie Oakley.

Annie Oakley also stars Melvyn Douglas, Preston Foster, Moroni Olsen, Andy Clyde and Pert Kelton.

Dodge City: A Great Western with a Seemingly Non-Western Cast!

December 1, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, and Ann Sheridan, Dodge City (1939)

Dodge City (Amazon link) is a fairly underrated Western, but one that is very, very good. VERY good. When I first sat down to watch the film (a few months back), I had no idea what to expect. For one thing, you don’t exactly associate any of its main three stars with Westerns, do you?! And yet, each one came across as though they were as accustomed to Westerns as horses and cowboy hats.

In a role he handled perfectly, Errol Flynn is the hero (Wade Hatton) in charge of bringing law and order to a wide open town (Dodge City). He has an eye for the lovely Abbie Irving (Olivia de Havilland) but she wants nothing to do with him because he had to shoot her brother.

Dodge City Trivia

Errol Flynn’s character, Wade Hatton, was based on Wyatt Earp.
This was the 5th of 9 movies made together by Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn.
The barroom fight (which was pretty darn epic) was the largest ever filmed at the time.
Olivia de Havilland wanted the saloon singer role that went to Ann Sheridan. During this period of time, reportedly, the wonderful actress was uninspired by the roles she was getting. The fact that, during a professionally unhappy time she STILL turned in a wonderful performance shows just how devoted to her craft she was.
Alan Hale appears in this film – it is always fun to see “Skipper” show up in a movie!

You can find Dodge City on Amazon.

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, Dodge City

Barbara Eden, Flaming Star (1960)

November 22, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Barbara Eden, Flaming Star (1960)

When I started out making the Old Hollywood blog Hollywood Yesterday, I intended to focus mainly on the Golden Age of Hollywood. However, along the way, I realized that limiting the fun was in NO way the best way to go about this whole celebration of “Hollywood Yesterday.” After all, I enjoy classic television and many movies from the 50s, 60s, and even 70s as much as I do the earlier films.

What’s more, some of my absolute favorite stars were shining in these years. One of my very favorites is pictures above in all of her glory and beauty – Barbara Eden!

Due to the fact that many Old Hollywood blogs and social media accounts DO focus primarily on Hollywood’s earliest days, many of these wonderful stars are often overlooked. Not going to happen here! Barbara Eden, Elvis, Ann-Margret, Elizabeth Montgomery and the rest of them deserve to be celebrated, appreciated, and introduced to new generations as much as anyone.

Sorry… I’ll go ahead and step down off of my soapbox now!

If you’ve never seen Flaming Star (Amazon Link), check it out. It was, literally, a movie caught between the 50s and 60s and it is very apparent, as it has great elements from each decade. Best of all, it has Elvis Presley and Barbara Eden – a beautiful pairing if there ever was one!

Barbara Eden and Elvis Presley, Flaming Star

Stagecoach (1939): One of John Wayne’s Best Westerns and a Personal Favorite

November 20, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Claire Trevor and John Wayne, Stagecoach

One of my favorite genres of movies is Westerns. My dad was a huge Westerns fan and I watched them with him from the time I was old enough to walk. In fact, my first memories of Westerns involve horses, cowboys, and women in long dresses. John Wayne was one of his favorites and he is, most definitely, one of my own favorites.

Seriously, there aren’t many things better than grabbing raspberry tea, a big bowl of popcorn, and losing yourself in a John Wayne Western for a few hours… two Westerns if you have the time!

I recently re-watched one of my favorite Westerns of all time, Stagecoach, and wanted to take a few minutes to talk about it.

Plot: A group of colorful people are on what should be an uneventful stagecoach trip – two women, a doctor who likes… no, loves.. to drink, a banker, the drivers, and the famous Ringo Kid (John Wayne). The peaceful trip suddenly becomes very eventful when they learn that Geronimo is in the area and looking for big trouble.

The wonderful movie stars an absolutely perfect cast: John Wayne (Ringo Kid), Claire Trevor (Dallas), John Carradine (Hatfield), Andy Devine (Buck), Thomas Mitchell (Doc Josiah Boone), Donald Meek (Samuel Peacock), Louise Platt (Mrs. Lucy Mallory), Berton Churchill (Ellsworth Henry Gatewood), and George Bancroft (Marshal Curley Wilcox).

Continued below the cast photo!

Orson Welles (someone who knows a thing or two about film-making) stated that Stagecoach was the perfect textbook of film-making and said he watched the film more than forty times in preparation for the making of Citizen Kane (1941).

Smart man!

Although John Wayne had minor roles in John Ford’s Mother Machree (1927) and Salute (1929), Stagecoach truly marks the beginning of their partnership. It also, in my opinion, marked the beginning of Wayne’s legendary career.

If you’ve never seen this simply outstanding Western, I hope you’ll get your hands on a copy (or find it on television) as soon as possible. As a bona fide John Wayne fanatic and expert Westerns viewer, I guarantee you this – Stagecoach is one of the best ever made.

Picture of the Day: Gorgeous Promo Pic from The Searchers

November 5, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

The Searchers: Natalie Wood and John Wayne

The Searchers (1956) turns up on more people’s “Favorite Westerns” lists than probably any other film – and for a good reason. It’s spectacular!

Today’s Picture of the day captures the beauty and heart of this wonderful film with two of its stars, Natalie Wood and John Wayne.

Find The Searchers on Amazon.

Fast Facts About Andy Clyde: California Carlson to William Boyd’s Hopalong Cassidy

October 23, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Andy Clyde and William Boyd in the 1941 Hopalong Cassidy film, Outlaws of the Desert

Andy Clyde was born on March 25, 1892 in Scotland. Yes, Scotland! When I first read that he was born in Scotland, I have to admit I dug a little further in my research because I suddenly didn’t trust my source. In all the years I’ve listened to him on the radio, watched him in movies, and laughed at him in his television appearances (playing Frank Myers on the “Mayberry Goes Bankrupt” episode, for example) – I honestly assumed he was from Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona… one of the other beautiful states in the Midwest.

It just goes to show what a talented actor he was – he had me convinced he was a tried and true cowboy.

Andy Clyde in the 1940 “Short” A Bundle of Bliss

Below are more facts about this very talented and hilarious man.

He played California Carlson in the Hopalong Cassidy radio and film series. He was in 36 of the 66 Hopalong Cassidy films. If you have DirecTV, you should look for these films on channel 538 (SEWS). I have this channel on so often in my den that my cats are starting to walk like cowboys and cowgirls. The channel shows western movies as well as television shows.
As California (and many of his other roles), Andy Clyde can be seen grizzled, poorly-groomed, crusty, and wearing mismatched and crazy outfits. In real life, however, he was very clean-shaven and was known for being very well-dressed.
He became a naturalized citizen in 1943.
Clyde had regular roles in several tv series including No Time for Sergeants (1964), The Tall Man (1960-1962), The Real McCoys (1957), and Lassie (1964, 1966).
He was married to actress Elise Tarron from 1932 to his death in 1967. They had one child, a son, in 1935.
He played Frank Myers on the “Mayberry Goes Bankrupt” episode of The Andy Griffith Show in 1961. He was the older man (with a Civil War bond) the Mayor wanted to evict.
He played “Gimpy” in It’s a Wonderful World.
He enjoyed a film career that lasted over 40 years!
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6758 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
Andy Clyde died at the age of 75 on May 18, 1967. Not surprisingly, he was still working at the time.

Andy Clyde as California Carlson

Watch the highly entertaining Outlaws of the Desert (1941) below. Andy Clyde was one of the best sidekicks of all time. In fact, if you watch closely, you can tell where many other sidekicks “borrowed” certain expressions and traits from this master of the craft.

McLintock! Starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara…. Love This One!

June 27, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

While I have a great number of “favorites”when it comes to actresses and actors from Old Hollywood, Maureen O’Hara and Lucille Ball are my measuring sticks. All others are held up to them as a means of determining if they’ve achieved “absolute favorite” status or not.

Some make it. Some don’t.

I had just as soon be sitting in front of a Maureen O’Hara movie as anyplace in the world. Even one I’ve seen far more times than I could even begin to count. Which, if we’re being honest is most of them.

It’s just that way with measuring sticks, you know.

The Quiet Man, McLintock, How Green Was My Valley, Rio Grande, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Parent Trap, The Black Swan… she has had some incredible movies – which makes being a fan extra fun.

McLintock (1963) is one of my favorites. John Wayne is one of those stars who passed the measuring test and made “absolute favorite” status – which means I watch movies he and Maureen were in together often… make that OFTEN. It’s actually playing right now as I work online.

It may or may not be the third time I’ve seen it just this year. It is.

Westerns are just in my blood. Sometimes I think I’d rather watch a bad Western than a good movie from another genre. Naturally, a good Western is preferable and, cowboy oh cowboy, is McLintock ever a good one?! It’s hilarious, fun, colorful, and just an awful lot of fun.

I think of McLintock as a Comedy-Romantic Western because it’s quite a bit different from Action Westerns (or Traditional Westerns) such as Stagecoach, Rio Bravo, El Dorado, The Undefeated, etc. If you go into McLintock looking for lots of action and shoot-outs, you’ll be left wondering what in the heck happened.

But if you go into it looking for an awful lot of fun and laughs and a little bit of romance, you’ll have a great time.

I should know!

The movie stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara as an estranged married couple. Stephanie Powers is their daughter. Patrick Wayne (John Wayne’s son), Yvonne DeCarlo, and Jerry Van Dyke are part of the excellent cast. Jerry Van Dyke’s role isn’t a big one but it’s a heckuva memorable one.

You can see the movie below in its entirety, so grab your popcorn and kick back for a fun ride.

John Wayne Coffee Mug Features One of His Best Quotes

November 6, 2018 By Joi Leave a Comment

If you have fans of John Wayne on your Christmas list, here’s a great gift idea. This is the John Wayne Courage Mug and it’s gorgeous. I love the Western-themed colors and the Western font used on the John Wayne quote printed inside the mug (“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”) is absolutely perfect.

Features:

20-ounce Mug
Dishwasher Safe
Microwave Safe
Material: ceramic

Click through the picture or the link for more information.

Also on Amazon: More John Wayne Coffee Mugs

Fun Gift Idea for John Wayne Fans: John Wayne Comic Boks

September 30, 2018 By Joi Leave a Comment

Over the many years of publishing this Old Hollywood blog, I’ve discovered just how many fans of John Wayne there are – as well as how loyal their love for The Duke is! As a fan, myself, I get a huge kick out of hearing from fellow John Wayne fans.

Like a lot of fans of Old Hollywood and Classic Movies, fans of John Wayne love to surround themselves with collectibles – movies, art prints, posters, books, mugs, photos, etc. I recently saw something on Amazon that these fans would get an especially big kick out of: John Wayne Comics.

I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t even know such a thing existed, until I saw the comic pictured here, John Wayne Adventure Comics Number 1. What a fun gift idea this would be for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries… or anytime for that matter.

John Wayne was (and IS for those of us who watch more old movies than new) one of the biggest movie stars of all-time. His impressive career spanned from 1930 to 1976 and turned out some of the most memorable movies and characters in movie history.

While The Duke is remembered mostly as a cowboy, he starred in nearly 200 motion pictures, which weren’t all Westerns. In fact, he played a wide variety of roles… and, yet…. whenever I think of John Wayne, he is always in a cowboy hat and almost always on a horse.

From 1949 until 1955, he starred in a series of 31 comic books, which are now, apparently, pretty difficult to find in circulation.

Whether you want to start a collection for yourself or someone you love, Amazon makes rounding up this particular cowboy much easier!

Review: The Violent Men with Glenn Ford, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, and Dianne Foster

September 14, 2017 By Joi Leave a Comment

Violent Men may not receive the attention many other Westerns do, but it’s an excellent movie. In fact, I think it’s far better than some Westerns that are practically household names.

The strength of Violent Men doesn’t lie so much in the plot or scenery as it does the cast. Glenn Ford, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Dianne Foster, and Brian Keith are each outstanding. Although, if (like me) you’re most familiar with Brian Keith as loving and kind Uncle Bill on Family Affair, it’s odd seeing him play such a smarmy character. Seriously, it took some getting used to.

When I first saw this movie a few years back, my first reaction to seeing him sleaze across the screen was, “Uncle Bill.. what the heck?!”

While Ford and Keith are wonderful in their roles, make no mistake about it, this is Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, and Dianne Foster’s movie. More about them in a minute.

The Violent Men Trailer:

Plot Synopsis: Glenn Ford plays an ex-officer in the Union, John Parrish. Because his fiance is desperate to move out of town (and I do mean desperate), he agrees to sell his land to the ruthless Wilkisons of Anchor Ranch. Because his fiance is so eager to move east, he even considers the ridiculously low offer Anchor’s owner (played to perfection by the great Edward G. Robinson).

However, when he sees what bullies the Wilkisons can be – especially after they murder one of his men – he decides to stay and fight, calling upon his Civil War experience.

The wonderful, strong, and sultry to a fault Barbara Stanwyck plays Martha Wilkison who is married to Edward G. Robinson’s character (Lew) but carrying on a long-term affair with Lew’s brother Cole Wilkison (played by Brian Keith). The fact that Lew has lost use of his legs and is confined to crutches makes it easier for the dastardly duo to cavort behind his back.

Hence the, “Uncle Bill… what the heck?!”

In a relatively small role, Dianne Foster chews up the screen as Lew and Martha’s daughter Judith. Her chemistry with Glenn Ford is the stuff you hope for anytime you sit down to watch a movie.

She has an obvious beauty and tons of talent but she has that certain something “special” that, I don’t know, maybe only those of us who obsessively watch movies could recognize. You can’t take your eyes off of her when she’s on the screen – which, ironically, is the exact same thing I’ve always said about Barbara Stanwyck who plays her mother in this movie.

Foster (particularly with her hair light, as it was in this movie) actually reminds me A LOT of Barbara Stanwyck. The casting, makeup, and hair departments hit it out of the park with this one.

As for the one and only Barbara Stanwyck, she was at her best in The Violent Men. Here’s the thing about Stanwyck, whether she’s playing a good character or a bad one (which Martha certainly is), one thing is for certain…. you want her on your side!

Barbara Stanwyck, in any role, is an absolute force to be reckoned with. That’a one of the reasons she’s one of my top all-time favorite actresses. She’s like a female tornado gliding across the screen. And like a tornado, you do not want to cross her. Admire and respect from a distance? Absolutely. But cross? Not on your life.

What can you say about the great Edward G. Robinson? The man was simply one of the best actors of his time or any other time. Period. Like Stanwyck, he was a force to be reckoned with, so (as you’d imagine) their scenes together left you wanting more and more.

Edward G. Robinson was one of those stars who made everything look so easy and effortless than you often don’t realize just what a remarkable actor he was.While this may not be one of his most famous roles, it is (in my opinion, for what that’s worth) one of his best.

One of the things I liked most about Glenn Ford’s performance in The Violent Men is the fact that he played it with a “quiet strength.” It would have been easy, as the lead in a Western, to dial into a larger-than-life persona. In scenes with Stanwyck and Robinson, it would have, of course, been a disastrous ploy. I mean, how can you possibly be larger than two tornadoes circling one another?!

Ford’s John Parrish was exactly and precisely the sort of hero this movie called for. His understated performance was sheer perfection and, as I said, his chemistry with Dianne Foster was especially nice.

Whether you’re a fan of one of the stars of this excellent cast (how could you not be??!) or simply love Westerns (again… how could you not??), The Violent Men is one you’ll want to both watch as well as add to your collection. It seems that each time I watch it, I notice something else phenomenally brilliant Ford, Stanwyck, Robinson, Keith, or Foster do.

Such a STRONG cast.

Buy The Violent Men DVD on Amazon.