Yvonne De Carlo | Hollywood Yesterday

Debra Paget, Yvonne De Carlo, Anne Baxter, and Charlton Heston: The Ten Commandments (1956)

March 22, 2022 By Joi

Debra Paget

When I hear the word epic used in the world of film, one of the first movies I think of is the wonderful The Ten Commandments (1956). Directed by the director most associated with epics, Cecil B. DeMille, the movie boasts an absolutely ALL STAR cast: Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, Yul Brenner , Yvonne De Carlo, Edward G. Robinson, Debra Paget, Cedric Hardwicke, and John Carradine… just to name a few.

Charlton Heston as Moses

I’ve read that at least 14,000 extras and 15,000 animals were used in the filming of The Ten Commandments. Now, I have no idea if it’s factual or not but a long-held old Hollywood story (involving an extra) goes like this: While filming a scene that precedes Moses’ descent from Mount Horeb with the two stone tablets, the legendary producer/director Cecil B. DeMille was seated on top of a ladder, looking down on the action. He was in the middle of one of his customary LONG-WINDED speeches and directions through a megaphone to the hundreds of extras involved. Legend has it that he was angered when he spied a female extra talking to another woman during (horrors!) his speech. He was so incensed that he pointed and directed everyone’s attention to the horrified woman and asked if she’d like to share (with everyone else) what she was saying to the other woman…. what could have been SO IMPORTANT that she’d dare not listen to him with rapt attention?!

After an awkward few seconds of silence, the young woman confessed, “I was just saying to my friend here, ‘I wonder when that bald-headed old fart is gonna call ‘Lunch!‘”

Unfazed, DeMille stared blankly at the woman for a moment… then lifted his megaphone and shouted, “Lunch!”

Again, I have no idea if it’s true or not but I ever so want it to be!

Anne Baxter, The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and, personally, I have no idea how it didn’t win. The award was given to Around the World in 80 Days. I think I will be scratching my head over that one for all of eternity.

You can find the WONDERFUL epic The Ten Commandments on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Yvonne De Carlo

Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster, The Munsters

October 16, 2021 By Joi

Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster

One of my favorite classic television shows is The Munsters. Few things are as enjoyable as sitting back and visiting with Herman, Lily, Grandpa, Marilyn, and Eddie. The series ran from 1964 to 1966 and while I wasn’t quite old enough to enjoy it in its first-run, I have made up for lost time in reruns!

My favorite character is Lily and the main reason is Yvonne De Carlo. She portrayed her to absolute perfection. The entire cast was phenomenal.

You can find the complete series of The Munsters on dvd (Amazon link)!

Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster

Clark Gable and Yvonne De Carlo, Band of Angels (1957)

August 3, 2021 By Joi

Clark Gable and Yvonne De Carlo

Clark Gable and Yvonne De Carlo star in a historical romance that isn’t talked nearly enough about, Band of Angels. The 1957 film was directed by one of my personal favorite directors, Raoul Walsh and also stars the wonderful Sidney Poitier.

You can find Band of Angels on dvd (Amazon link) and… I’m equally happy to say… you can find it on Prime Video. While I, personally, love to build my dvd collection (especially when it’s films with my favorites – which certainly includes these three stars), it is also great to watch films on Prime Video. In fact, many of my dvds are allowed to stay protected in their wrappers because I can watch them on Prime Video.

Yvonne De Carlo and Clark Gable

Yvonne De Carlo, Hotel Sahara

August 3, 2021 By Joi

Yvonne De Carlo, Hotel Sahara

Yvonne De Carlo has been one of my favorite television actresses for as long as I can remember. In fact, The Munsters is one of my first favorite tv shows and Lily was one of the main reasons.

It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered her film roles. Talk about a shock when I saw that the stunning beauty on the screen was actually the same actress who had been bringing Lily into my home for so many years!

When I saw my first Yvonne De Carlo movie and realized it was her, I looked closer and it was obvious. Same gorgeous eyes, features, and unmistakable voice.

Whether it was tv or films, Yvonne De Carlo was one of the best and most beautiful actresses ever. I wish she had been given more lead roles and more opportunities to be more than the “beautiful girl” – perhaps she’d be even better known today as a film actress.

The lobby card above is for the 1951 movie Hotel Sahara. It’s actually (in spite of not being very well-known) quite good and very much worth watching. You can find Hotel Sahara on dvd (Amazon link). It isn’t, unfortunately, on Prime Video yet, but I hope it will be available one day.

Maureen O’Hara McLintock! Lobby Cards

February 15, 2021 By Joi

Bruce Cabot and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock!

The lobby card above features Maureen O’Hara and Bruce Cabot in the wonderfully fun western McLintock! The 1963 film, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, boasts an unbelievably strong and colorful cast. In addition to Cabot and O’Hara, the film stars John Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Patrick Wayne, Yvonne DeCarlo, Chill Wills, Jerry Van Dyke, Edgar Buchanan, and Jack Kruschen.

You can watch McLintock on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon for your collection.

Fellow Lobby Card Fanatics and Collectors, you can find a great collection of lobby cards on both eBay and Amazon. I’ve always been aware of the availability of the cards on eBay but have only recently become aware of the great number on Amzaon.

Maureen O’Hara McLintock Lobby Card (love this one!)

Yvonne De Carlo, Gorgeous Band of Angels Publicity Still

January 3, 2021 By Joi

Yvonne De Carlo, Band of Angels

Clark Gable, Yvonne De Carlo, and Sidney Poitier star in the 1957 historical drama Band of Angels. Not only does it star three exceptional leads (certainly three of my personal favorites), it was directed by the wonderful Raoul Walsh.

You can find Band of Angels on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

Yvonne De Carlo Promotional Still from Hotel Sahara

October 3, 2020 By Joi

Yvonne De Carlo, Hotel Sahara

The gorgeous photo of the even more gorgeous Yvonne De Carlo, above, is a promotional still for the 1951 movie Hotel Sahara. The romantic war film (with quite a bit of comedy too… something you don’t often see from a war film!) was directed by Ken Annakin and also starred, among others, Peter Ustinov, David Tomlinson, and Ronald Culver.

It’s a good and very much worth watching. Peter Ustinov is always ridiculously entertaining and Yvonne De Carlo will leave you speechless. She exceled at that.

You can find Hotel Sahara on dvd (Amazon link). It isn’t, unfortunately, on Prime Video yet, but I hope it will be available one day.

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

August 5, 2020 By Joi

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

I love A LOT of old movies… so many that I almost laugh when someone asks me what my favorite movie is. FAR too many to name… but there is and will always be a special corner of my heart reserved for Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne movies. The Quiet Man, McLintock!, Rio Grande… love them all and love them dearly.

McLintock! (1963) was sublimely directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starred the Duke, Maureen, Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Jack Kruschen, Chill Wills, Yvonne DeCarlo, Jerry Van Dyke (love him in this role!), and a host of other colorful stars creating colorful characters. Like its stars, the movie is deliciously larger than life and more fun than it has a right to be.

If you’ve never seen it, or haven’t seen it in a while, I hope you’ll watch it soon. It is a romp… a perfect, glorious romp!

You can find McLintock! (Amazon Link) on dvd or watch it on Amazon Prime.

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

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

June 27, 2019 By Joi

Stefanie Powers and Maureen O’Hara McLintock

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.

Continued Below…

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara McLintock

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.

Yvonne De Carlo: There Was More to Her Than Just Lily Munster

January 12, 2007 By Joi

Fred Gwynne and Yvonne De CarloWe lost Yvonne De Carlo last week. Most people remember her as Lily Munster from The Munsters – a ridiculously fun tv series that ran (surprisingly) for only two seasons. If I had to guess, I’d say I’ve seen each and every episode in reruns about 500 times. I never got into the Addams Family or a lot of the other little shows from that time…but The Munsters? I grew up with them and never saw fit to grow away from them. If a marathon came on television right now, I’d fly out of my home office, grab snacks and sweet tea, and assume my position in the den.

And dare anyone to disturb me!

My dad and I would watch them faithfully when I was growing up…. and laugh at the same jokes and bits each time. I’ll never forget the time he told me that “Lily” was actually a real beauty. I thought he was pulling my leg, so the next day my mom got her hands on some old pictures of the actress and they proved my dad’s point.

Boy did they ever!

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw just how gorgeous Yvonne De Carlo actually was. And, yet here she is remembered as a green-faced vampire married to Herman. Every newspaper I’ve seen has shown a picture of her as lily with her death announcement. At first I thought it seemed kind of a shame – but then I thought about it. What better way to be remembered than someone who people loved? Someone who made them laugh and, for thirty minutes made them forget all of their worries?!

Now, that’s a legacy.

A few fast facts:

She was born in Vacouver.

Her name was actually Margaret “Peggy” Yvonne Middleton.

Yvonne’s dad walked out on the family when she was only 3. The mom worked as a waitress to support the family, but she’d always dreamed of a career in Hollywood. So, she really encouraged Yvonne to go in that direction.

Her mom first took her to Hollywood when she was only 15 years old. Apparently, there wasn’t much of a call for baby beauties, so they returned home and tried again when Yvonne was 18 years old.

Yvonne starred opposite Charleston Heston in The Ten Commandments. She gives a memorable performance as the wife of Heston’s Moses.

She married actor and stuntman Robert Morgan in 1955. They appeared together in Death of a Scoundrel.

Yvonne and Robert had two sons. After the birth of her children, Yvonne took time off from acting. However, while working as a stuntman on the set of How the West Was Won (1962; with Henry Fonda), Robert was nearly killed when he was pinned underneath an avalanche of logs. Yvonne returned to work to support her family as well as pay for his outrageous medical bills. It took him several years to recover.

During this time, she took roles in several films, including McLintock! (1963 with John Wayne) and Law of the Lawless (1964 with Dale Robertson and John Agar). She was then cast as the infamous Lily Munster in the CBS series The Munsters.

Sometimes people wonder why Yvonne De Carlo took such a role in a television series. That question can be laid to rest – she was doing what a mother and wife had to do to support her family, and I’m an even bigger fan than before.

(Continued Below…)

Yvonne DeCarlo and Clark GableYvonne DeCarlo’s Career:

I Look at You (1941)
The Kink of the Campus (1941)
Youth on Parade (1942)
Lucky Jordan (1942)
Harvard, Here I Come! (1942)
This Gun for Hire (1942)
Road to Morocco (1942)
True to Life (1943)
So Proudly We Hail! (1943)
Salute for Three (1943)
Rhythm Parade (1943)
Let’s Face It (1943)
For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)
Deerslayer (1943)
The Crystal Ball (1943)
Standing Room Only (1944)
Rainbow Island (1944)
Here Come the Waves (1944)
The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944)
Practically Yours (1944)
Salome Where She Danced (1945)
Bring on the Girls (1945)
Frontier Girl (1945)
Song of Scheherazade (1947)
Brute Force (1947)
Slave Girl (1947)
River Lady (1948)
Casbah (1948)
Black Bart (1948)
The Gal Who Took the West (1949)
Criss Cross (1949)
Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949)

The Desert Hawk (1950)
Buccaneer’s Girl (1950)
Silver City (1951)
Tomahawk (1951)
Hotel Sahara (1951)
Scarlet Angel (1952)
The San Francisco Story (1952)
Sea Devils (1952)
Sombrero (1953)
The Captain’s Paradise (1953)
Fort Algiers (1953)
Happy Ever After (1954)
The Contessa’s Secret (1954)
Border River (1954)
Passion (1954)
Shotgun (1955)
Flame of the Islands (1955)
Raw Edge (1956)
Magic Fire (1956)
Death of a Scoundrel (1956)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
Band of Angels (1957)
The Sword and the Cross (aka La Spada e la croce – 1958)
Timbuktu (1959)

McLintock (1963)
Law of the Lawless (1964)
A Global Affair (1964)
Munster, Go Home (1966)
Hostile Guns (1967)
The Power (1968)
Arizona Bushwhackers (1968)

The Seven Minutes (1971)
The Delta Factor (1971)
Blazing Stewardesses (1974)
The Girl on the Late Late Show (TV-1974)
The Mark of Zorro (TV-1974)
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time (1975)
Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
La casa de las sombras (1976)
Satan’s Cheerleaders (1977)
Nocturna (1979)

Silent Scream (1980)
The Man with Bogart’s Face (1980)
Guyana Cult of the Damned (1980)
Play Dead (1981)
Liar’s Moon (1981)
The Munster’s Revenge (1981)
National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982)
Vultures (1983)
Flesh and Bullets (1985)
A Masterpiece of Murder (TV-1986)
American Gothic (1988)
Cellar Dweller (1988)

Mirror, Mirror (1990)
Oscar (1991)
The Naked Truth (1992)
Desert Kickboxer (1992)
The Sorority House Murders (1993)
Seasons of the Heart (1993)
Here Come the Munsters (TV-1995)
The Barefoot Executive (1995)

TV Series – Cast:
The Munsters (1964-1965)

Rest in Peace.