Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

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!

Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn

The Secret of Convict Lake: Wonderful Western with a Spell-Binding Cast

July 18, 2021 By Joi

Gene Tierney and Glenn Ford: The Secret of Convict Lake

Gene Tierney, Glenn Ford, and Ethel Barrymore lead an outstanding cast in the 1951 Western The Secret of Convict Lake. Directed by Michael Gordon, it’s one of the first Westerns I’d recommend to someone who is either new to Westerns or doesn’t think they like the genre.

As a Westerns fanatic, I’m convinced there is no way under the sun to NOT like a Western… one only thinks they don’t like them until they see the right ones.

Ann Dvorak, Ruth Donnelly, Barbara Bates, Gene Tierney, and Ethel Barrymore

This is one to start with. The acting is flawless, the cast outstanding, and the story holds your interest from start to finish. The excellent cast includes Gene Tierney, Glenn Ford, Ann Dvorak, Ruth Donnelly, Ethel Barrymore, Zachary Scott, and Barbara Bates.

You can watch The Secret of Convict Lake on STARZ on Amazon Prime. Finding the dvd can be a bit of a challenge.. trust me, I’m looking! There’s one on Amazon that’s a “Spanish Release” but it doesn’t play on most American dvd players.

Gene Tierney and Ethel Barrymore: The Secret of Convict Lake

Janet Leigh and James Stewart: The Naked Spur (Such a Unique Western!)

June 28, 2021 By Joi

Janet Leigh and James Stewart

The Naked Spur (1953, directed by Anthony Mann) is an unusual Western in that the cast is very compact – five stars… that’s it. James Stewart, Janet Leigh, Robert Ryan, Ralph Meeker, and Millard Mitchell.

That’s it… and yet it’s all you need or hope for.

The filming of the movie is also very unique. The camera doesn’t take you to a lot of different places and you don’t visit many different viewpoints or cross times and dates along the way. It’s shot in a very simplistic manner and it just really stands out as being very different.

This is the type of film that depends entirely on its cast and director. THEY will solely determine if it sinks or swims as there aren’t special effects, or larger than life epic scenes that make your jaw drop. It’s entirely up to the director and the cast.

Does the cast draw you in to their story and their circumstances? Do they make you care how they feel? Do they compel you to take the journey with them and see them safely home?
Does the director allow the characters and scenery to tell the story without getting in the way? Does he allow an actor or actress to use subtle expressions to convey meaning without trying to make them shout it?

The answers to the above are YES and YES.

Subtle is a word I often use when talking about The Naked Spur. Whether it’s the film’s overall approach, the romantic aspect of the movie, or the insight we get into each character – this western is more subtle than many westerns, and it’s entirely up to the viewer whether they love, like, or hate the subtlety. Personally, I think it can be a welcome contrast. I love a huge epic western as much as anyone (heck, better than most) but the simplicity of The Naked Spur is always, always, always welcome in my den.

Janet Leigh and James Stewart

If you’ve never seen this unique, entertaining, and wonderful movie, I hope you’ll find it soon. If you HAVE seen it, I hope you’ll revisit the characters again really soon. Each time I see this movie, I like it more and more.

You can find The Naked Spur on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

The Outstanding Cast of El Dorado.. The Supporting Stars Give This One its Magic

June 26, 2021 By Joi

Charlene Holt, El Dorado

One of this western fanatic’s favorite movies is El Dorado (1966). Directed by the wonderful Howard Hawks, the incredibly (downright perfect if we’re being honest) talented cast includes John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ed Asner, Michele Carey, Christopher George, Paul Fix, and briefly Johnny Crawford (best loved as Mark McCain on The Rifleman).

A movie is only as good as it’s stars and the characters they play, which is why El Dorado is movie gold. The colorful, larger than life characters this cast gives us is a gift that keeps on giving. I honestly believe I fall more in love with this movie each time I see it. The same is true of another Howard Hawks and John Wayne western, Rio Bravo.

James Caan and Michele Carey

The two lead stars in this western (John Wayne and Robert Mitchum) are excellent as always. There is something so right about watching a John Wayne Western and it’s made even more magical when the stars around him were/are just as larger than life and colorful as he was. In El Dorado, the Duke is surrounded by such stars!

Robert Mitchum and Arthur Hunnicutt go with John Wayne as beautifully as Dean Martin and Walter Brennan do in Rio Bravo. When they’re on the screen together, you’re pretty sure they were born for the moment.

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt

When it comes to supporting stars, El Dorado also has an embarrassment of riches: James Caan, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ed Asner, Christopher George, Michele Carey, and Charlene Holt do exactly what a supporting cast should do.

They simply make the film even better.

James Caan could just as easily be considered a lead star in this film (he gives my favorite performance in the film), he is usually treated as a supporting star… you couldn’t ask for any more support than he gives! The same is true of Arthur Hunnicutt, Christopher George, Ed Asner, and Charlene Holt. This movie wouldn’t be as timeless and perfect without this group of talent.

You can find El Dorado on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the wonderful western on Prime Video.

John Wayne, Christopher George, and Ed Asner

Rhonda Fleming, Kirk Douglas, and Burt Lancaster: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

June 25, 2021 By Joi

Rhonda Fleming

One of the movie genres most associated with me is Westerns – I’ve spent a lifetime perfecting this association! I absolutely love them. In fact, a perfect day in my book would be sitting in the den (preferably in my pajamas), drinking raspberry tea and watching one western after another.

Seriously… talk about Heaven on earth!

The photos here are from the 1957 western Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (directed by John Sturges). The entire cast is outstanding and give great performances but, as far as I’m concerned, Kirk Douglas steals the entire movie. He gives one of my all-time favorite Kirk Douglas performances as Doc Holliday.

The cast also includes Burt Lancaster (as Wyatt Earp), Rhonda Fleming, Jo Van Fleet, John Ireland, Lyle Bettger, Frank Faylen, Earl Holliman (love him in everything), Dennis Hopper, and Ted de Corsiaand.

In his autobiography The Ragman’s Son (Amazon link), Kirk Douglas detailed how he planned precisely how many coughs (and how severe they’d be) in each scene so that continuity wouldn’t be a problem when the film was edited.

The type of incredible dedication you’d expect from such a dedicated and professional actor!

You can find Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on dvd (Amazon link) or Prime Video.