Hollywood Yesterday

Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors

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Vera-Ellen, Letting Us Know There are Just 10 More Days till Christmas

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Vera-Ellen, White Christmas

Vera-Ellen, White Christmas

Adorable Vera-Ellen (always so extraordinary in musicals!) is here to let us know there are just 10 more days until Christmas. TEN?!?! How did this happen?!

It honestly seems like I was just watching baseball while eating grilled hamburgers with ripe tomatoes, talking about how hot it was outside! My grandmother was absolutely right and there is no doubt about it… time flies.

May as well watch all the great old movies and classic tv shows during the flight, I always say. Okay, I don’t always say it. That’s actually the first time.

Sorry I fibbed. Don’t tell Santa.

You can buy White Christmas on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video. This is one of those movies that seems to get even better with time.

 

Vera-Ellen, White Christmas

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Vera-Ellen, White Christmas

Vera-Ellen

One of the most magical and wonderful Christmas films ever made boasted a cast that was equally wonderful and magical. White Christmas (1954, directed by Michael Curtiz) starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney.

How could it miss?!

You can buy White Christmas on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video. This is one of those movies that seems to get even better with time.

Vera-Ellen, White Christmas

Vera-Ellen

 

White Christmas: One of My Favorite Christmas Movies!

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Promotional Picture for White Christmas

It isn’t difficult to tell what my favorite Christmas films are around Christmas is it? You’ll see them plastered all over the blog as well as Twitter! White Christmas is certainly one of my favorites. You’ll see a lot of people name my other favorites as well – Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life but few consistently name a few of my more off-the-beaten-path favorites, White Christmas and Christmas in Connecticut.

I think part of the reason is the fact that Miracle and Wonderful Life are the types of films you watch with kids, whereas the other two are more for adults. Having said that, I think most kids would love the singing, dancing, colors, and laughs in White Christmas. I certainly did when I was a kid – and I’ve loved them since.

Nevermind how many Christmases that’s been!

Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen are perfectly cast in this colorful and fun musical – they obviously had a wonderful time making this film and the mutual respect comes through the screen.

If you have never seen White Christmas (Amazon Link), I hope you’ll check it out. The cast is outstanding and the entire movie will make you fall head over heels in love with everything about it.

Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen White Christmas

Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, White Christmas

 

Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby, White Christmas

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Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby White Christmas

Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby White Christmas

Rosemary Clooney wanted the role in White Christmas mostly so that she could perform with Bing Crosby.  Understandable reasoning if there ever was one! These two legends have a beautiful chemistry in this wonderful film – the respect they had for one another is obvious from start to finish.

I wish they’d made many more films together!

Vera-Ellen & John Brascia Tap Dancing Number from White Christmas

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Vera-Ellen and John Brascia Tap Dancing in White Christmas

Vera-Ellen and John Brascia in White Christmas

When you look around these days, there seems to be a lot of argumentativeness, anger, and anxiety (three terrible “A”s, if you ask me). You can see it in a lot of faces, hear it in a lot of voices, and detect it in a lot of lives. I certainly don’t have the answer – heck, I don’t even have a band-aid.

If I did, I’d make it my mission to bring happiness, peace, and joy back to as many people as possible.

Earlier, I was researching something for an upcoming post about Vera-Ellen and it occurred to me… someone needs to bring back musicals! If we were to think of movies as people – musicals would be the happiest people in the county.

My kind of people!

Truth be told, they may just be the band-aid we were talking about a moment ago.

When you feel stressed (My remedy for that? Step away from the news and don’t take EVERYTHING on social media so seriously.), kick back with a great musical.

A few I highly recommend…

  • You Were Never Lovelier
  • Top Hat
  • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
  • The Pirate
  • Singing in the Rain
  • Funny Face
  • Oklahoma!
  • Three Little Words
  • Easter Parade
  • For Me and My Gal
  • The Barkleys of Broadway
  • White Christmas… YES, White Christmas NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF YEAR IT IS!  It’s fun, entertaining, beautiful, has Danny Kaye and is just the thing to bring sunshine into even the cloudiest day.

See Also: 16 Fast Facts About Vera-Ellen

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!

Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!

Wait. What did I just admit to?? 

Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!

Old Hollywood Movies

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Top Hat Cheek to Cheek

There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.

Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)

We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)

The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)

The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)

The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)

Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)

El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)

Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)

Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)

The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)

Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)

To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)

Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)

Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)

The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)

More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews

Classic Hollywood Books & Biographies (Reviews)

Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn

 

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

 

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
More Old Hollywood Book Reviews!

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Poster

Getting to Know the Gorgeous and Talented Dorothy Dandridge

My Lucy Obsession

Lucille Ball

Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…

Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

When you click through an affiliate (product, book, dvds..) link, I earn a small portion of the money you spend IF you purchase anything. This does not cost you any extra money, of course. This is how I am able to work from home and support my cats! – Joi (“Joy”)