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Hollywood Yesterday

Golden Age of Hollywood

Review: Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century by Stephen Galloway

July 12, 2022 By Joi

Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century by Stephen Galloway

Truly, Madly by Stephen Galloway

First of all, before I get to the actual review of Truly, Madly by Stephen Galloway, I just have to say how breathtakingly perfect the cover photo is.

Fast-paced, unique, devil-may-care, and delightfully frantic – it says all the things it should say about Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier. As a couple, they grabbed life by the lapels and seemed to say, “Keep up if you can!” and the picture chosen for the cover of this wonderful book conveys the message SPLENDIDLY.

From the Inside Cover:
In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see Theatre Royal, where she would first lay eyes on Laurence Olivier in his brilliant performance as Anthony Cavendish. That night, she confided to a friend, he was the man she was going to marry. There was just one problem: she was already married—and so was he.

TRULY, MADLY is the biography of a marriage, a love affair that still captivates millions, even decades after both actors’ deaths. Vivien and Larry were two of the first truly global celebrities – their fame fueled by the explosive growth of tabloids and television, which helped and hurt them in equal measure. They seemed to have it all and yet, in their own minds, they were doomed, blighted by her long-undiagnosed mental-illness, which transformed their relationship from the stuff of dreams into a living nightmare.

Through new research, including exclusive access to previously unpublished correspondence and interviews with their friends and family, author Stephen Galloway takes readers on a bewitching journey. He brilliantly studies their tempestuous liaison, one that took place against the backdrop of two world wars, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the upheavals of the 1960s — as they struggled with love, loss and the ultimate agony of their parting.

What I Love About Truly, Madly

Vivien Leigh and Gone with the Wind are actually two of the forces that drew me to classic movies in the first place. In school, when my friends were talking about Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta, Close Encounters, and Olivia Newton John, my eyes glazed over until I steered the conversation to Vivien Leigh, James Stewart, Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn!

It was a bit later when I discovered Laurence Olivier – and, unfortunately, I disliked him and the film so much, I went many years before giving him another chance.

Imagine that – one of the greatest actors in the history of the world and I put him in time out!

We only children don’t always make sense, you know.

When I saw him in Wuthering Heights (1939), he was completely forgiven for allowing Marilyn Monroe to completely upstage him in The Prince and the Showgirl (kind of hard to believe this was the same actor!).

The more I read about the two stars, the more fascinating I found them to be. I marveled (and marvel) at the fact that, in spite of battling Vivien’s mental illness – a battle loved ones face as surely as the victim does – they managed to maintain such wonderful careers. They faced the music, so to speak, in spite of the symphony raging in their own lives.

I am perfectly astounded by the strength this HAD to have taken. I’d say that it also took its toll on both of them – they were, after all, only human and humans have their breaking points.

The journey that took place between the time they came together and the time they could no longer stay that way is the stuff of legends and in the right hands (Stephen Galloway, to a tee), it makes for a fascinating, spellbinding story.

Probably 200 times during the book, I would close the book simply to process what I  had just read. Whether it was a wonderful quote by Laurence Olivier, a compelling observation by the author, or a story that involved another star (Marlon Brando, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Merle Oberon…) I kept finding myself in the position of wanting to pause and reflect on what I had just mentally experienced. To sit and chew on it for a minute, as we might say in Kentucky.

Don’t you LOVE it when an author draws you that into the story he or she is sharing? I keep a mental list of books that make me hit pause in this manner and they are, inevitably, the ones I turn to first to reread.

Something I always ask myself, after reading old Hollywood biography or autobiography, is this: Do I like the actress/actor the same, better than, ore less than I did before beginning the book? After reading Truly, Madly, I would say that I am as big a fan of Vivien Leigh’s as I was before the book (I already adored her and I still do). However, with Laurence Olivier, I really didn’t have many feelings one way or another toward him before reading this particular book.

However, I find that I like him a great, great deal now. In fact, I have never had anyone who, after reading a biography, jumped so many leaps and bounds in my mental popularity poll! Was he perfect.. well, heck no.. none of us are. But, by gosh, he was a perfect hoot (throwing a little more Kentucky flavor your way).

I find Vivien Leigh to be fascinating. I find Laurence Olivier to be fascinating. I find the two together to be blindingly fascinating and you will as well.

More Things to Love About Truly, Madly

  • You meet the stars as children and see events that led them to become the adults they grew into – for better or worse.
  • You see their flaws, yet still, somehow, feel for them. Each made monumental mistakes and hurt people who loved them, but there are often forces in life that blow us so completely off kilter that we, ourselves, don’t recognize the things we say and do. Not condoning.. simply stating facts.
  • The pictures are stunning. Mind you, I spend a great deal of time in Classic Hollywood – basically, I only step out of it long enough to go to the store and feed my cats, yet there are photos even I have never seen in this remarkable book.
  • Laurence Olivier was a brilliant, complex, infuriating, intriguing, and often very humorous man. None of his roles even come close to the “character” he was in real life and, if you’ve never met him, I TRULY hope you will allow the introductions to be made by Stephen Galloway.
  • Vivien Leigh was like a beautiful princess who lived in a gorgeous castle and had the world at her fingertips. Because she had so much going on for her, the princess only had ONE enemy. The problem is, when you ARE the enemy, escaping takes its own kind of fairy tale magic and, tragically, when Vivien Leigh lived such magic did not exist. Again, to see what this stunningly beautiful lady battled.. and yet somehow kept working.. is truly remarkable.
  • As I always say, the stars you meet “along the way” are one of my favorite things about old Hollywood biographies. Between the two of them, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier crossed paths with a lot of household names – and many of them rivaled them when it came to charisma and stories worth repeating!
  • The author, Stephen Galloway is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. He draws you into each scene with the artistry of a legendary director… but, somehow does so (like all great directors) without shining the light on himself. His stars are the stars… and what stars they were.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of the excellent Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century (Amazon link) right away. I can’t think of a better book or two more colorful stars to spend summer with. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, Fire Over England

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, Fire Over England

Filed Under: Laurence Olivier, Old Hollywood Book Reviews, Vivien Leigh Tagged With: Laurence Olivier, old Hollywood biography review, old Hollywood book review, Vivien Leigh

Lawrence Tierney and Kathleen Crowley in Female Jungle

July 12, 2022 By Joi

Lawrence Tierney and Kathleen Crowley in Female JungleLawrence Tierney and Kathleen Crowley in Female Jungle

Two names you, unfortunately, don’t hear talked about a lot today are Lawrence Tierney and Kathleen Crowley. They starred together in the 1955 film-noir Female Jungle. I haven’t seen this particular film in ages but I remember being awfully impressed with both stars and I remember liking the movie a lot.

I think the main reason these stars aren’t as well-remembered today as others boils down to their films. While there were a few stand outs, for the most part, their films aren’t the ones that are aired frequently on TCM or anywhere else for that matter. It’s frustrating and unfortunate, but it is what it is.

I always recommend that fans of old Hollywood…

  • Faithfully watch TCM and other networks (Such as the ones that showcase Westerns… don’t know where I’d be without them!).
  • Support old films and the wonderful stars from the era on streaming services. Stream their movies and even request ones you don’t see!
  • Buy as many as you can on dvd and blu-ray.
  • Seek out new (to you) stars and watch as many of their films as you can find. Don’t make a snap judgment by watching only one or two films – watch at least 4 before you decide whether you’re a fan or not.
  • Seek out new genres! I am (and have always been) very, very partial to Westerns, Comedies, Science Fiction, and Musicals, but have recently fallen hard for film-noirs. If I had not given them a chance, I wouldn’t have discovered MANY wonderful films.

Speaking of film-noirs, Female Jungle is an especially good one – very, very true to the genre! It was directed by Bruno VeSota and stars Kathleen Crowley, Lawrence Tierney, John Carradine, and Jayne Mansfield.

You can find Female Jungle on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the film on Prime Video. I was delightfully surprised to find it on Prime!

 

Filed Under: Film Noir, Kathleen Crowley, Lawrence Tierney Tagged With: Film-Noir, Kathleen Crowley, Lawrence Tierney

Veronica Lake Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire (1942)

July 12, 2022 By Joi

Veronica Lake Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Every now and then I get SO frustrated with myself for not talking more about certain stars from old Hollywood – stars I actually adore, but somehow simply don’t spend nearly enough time doing my part to keep their name and films shining bright and making noise.

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd are two such stars. I love their films to distraction and am a very big fan of both of them. If we’re being completely and totally honest, however, I think I actually know why I don’t talk about them more and, while, I SEE the reason…. I don’t APPROVE of the reason.

Simply put… they break my heart. Each star had so much going for them – they were beautiful and had a world of talent. Each was versatile and could do any genre thrown their way. However, neither had what could remotely be called a happy life and both stars turned to alcohol for their therapist.

Obviously, drinking is a complete failure when it comes to therapy and both stars died at the age of 50.

Devastatingly sad. To make matters worse, Veronica battled a mental illness that couldn’t possibly be understood or treated at the time. She was considered by some to be “difficult,” when in reality, she was battling demons the others wouldn’t recognize.

I’ve spent a great deal of time looking into both of their lives, looking for rays of sunshine – time or times when they were happy. A friendship/relationship Alan Ladd shared with June Allyson seems to have given him happiness while it lasted and both stars seemed to enjoy working together. I also love the fact that they were successful in their careers (especially during the 40s) and knew how many fans adored them.

I also feel like these two wonderful (and so very likable) stars would be talked more about and would become better-known if their films were televised more often. It seems that they simply aren’t shown as often as other stars and that’s a real shame.
The pictures shown here are from the 1942 film-noir This Gun for Hire (directed by Frank Tuttle). It was the first film Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd made together and turns up on a lot of “favorite film-noir” lists. Their chemistry was palpable and they would go on to make more movie magic together.

Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake made seven movies together, all in the Forties:

This Gun for Hire (1942)

The Glass Key (1942)

The Blue Dahlia (1946)

Saigon (1947)

Star-Spangled Rhythm (1942)

Duffy’s Tavern (1945)

Variety Girl (1947)

You can find the classic film-noir This Gun for Hire on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Filed Under: Alan Ladd, Film Noir, Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Alan Ladd, Film-Noir, Veronica Lake

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, The Quiet Man (A PERFECT Movie from 1952)

July 11, 2022 By Joi

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, The Quiet Man

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man (one of my absolute favorite movies… it’s more of an obsession than anything really!) was the second (of five) films starring Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne. It was directed by the legendary John Ford, who happened to direct each of their first three films together: Rio Grande (‘50), The Quiet Man (‘52), and The Wings of Eagles (‘57).

The 1952  masterpiece… a perfect movie in every way had a cast that had to find a way to keep from being overshadowed by the gorgeousness that was and is Ireland… one of the most beautiful scene-stealers I can think of. The cast includes John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick, and Maureen O’Hara’s brothers Charles B. Fitzsimons and James O’Hara.

You can find The Quiet Man (Collector’s DVD on Amazon) on dvd or watch on Prime Video.

John Wayne, The Quiet ManJohn Wayne, The Quiet Man

 

 

 

Filed Under: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, The Quiet Man

Tallulah Bankhead Quotes… She was More of a CHARACTER Than the Ones She Played!

July 10, 2022 By Joi

Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead

The deliciously unique Tallulah Bankhead was an absolute gift to old Hollywood fans. Not only are her films wonderful, her quotes and charisma… the very essence of her spirit and humor… are possibly even more entertaining!

And that’s saying quite a bit. 

You can get to know more about this fascinating and colorful actress by spending a little time with her wonderful quotes and by reading her excellent autobiography, Tallulah: My Autobiography (Amazon link). It’s one of my favorite old Hollywood books and I should have the review published on Hollywood Yesterday in the coming weeks. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Below are a few of my favorite Tallulah Bankhead quotes… she was one in a billion!

(When asked why she called everyone “darling”) “Because all my life, I’ve been terrible at remembering people’s names. I once introduced a friend of mine as Martini. Her name was actually Olive.”

“I read Shakespeare and the Bible, and I can shoot dice. That’s what I call a liberal education.”

“Nobody can be exactly like me. Even I have trouble doing it.”

“No man worth his salt, no man of spirit and spine, no man for whom I could have any respect, could rejoice in the identification of Tallulah’s husband. It’s tough enough to be bogged down in a legend. It would be even tougher to marry one.”

“I’m as pure as the driven slush.”

“Say anything about me, dahling, as long as it isn’t boring.”

(About Bette Davis) “Don’t think I don’t know who’s been spreading gossip about me. After all the nice things I’ve said about that hag. When I get hold of her, I’ll tear out every hair of her mustache!”

(Again about Bette Davis!) “[on Bette Davis] Bette and I are very good friends, There’s nothing I wouldn’t say to her face, both of them.”

“The only thing I regret about my past is the length of it. If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.”

When she saw a former flame who she hadn’t seen in years, she exclaimed, “I thought I told you to wait in the car!”

(When she was once told there wasn’t any toilet paper available..) “Well, do you have two fives for a ten?”

And possibly my favorite…

When gossip columnist Earl Wilson asked if she had ever been mistaken for a man on the telephone, she responded, “No. Have you?”


Filed Under: Quotes from Old Hollywood's Stars, Tallulah Bankhead Tagged With: Tallulah Bankhead, Tallulah Bankhead Quotes

Yvonne De Carlo: Beautiful Picture from The Captain’s Paradise

June 30, 2022 By Joi

Yvonne De Carlo, The Captain's Paradise

Yvonne De Carlo

One of my favorite old Hollywood actresses, Yvonne De Carlo, actually became one of my favorite actresses before I ever saw her in a single movie! I had always loved her on The Munsters (she was my favorite character on the show… still is) and never missed an episode. One day when my mom called me into the living room to show me a stunningly beautiful brunette in a movie she was watching and asked me, “Know who that is??”

I told her I had no idea but that she was as beautiful as Ava Gardner, Maureen O’Hara, or any other actress I’d ever seen. When she told me it was Yvonne De Carlo, I started to laugh, thinking she was pulling my leg, but then I heard the actress talk and looked into her eyes… and all I could say was, “Lilly! It IS you!”

I honestly can’t remember, for certain, which of her movies was on, but I think it was Frontier Gal.

I have, of course, since then watched most of her movies and have become a bigger fan of her than ever. She was incredibly multitalented and had a way of lighting up a screen as soon as she stepped into the picture. I’d love for more people to become familiar with her films – she’s known primarily as Lilly Munster (and there’s NOTHING in the world wrong with that!) but I’d love to see her get the recognition she deserves as a film actress.

You can find Yvonne De Carlo movies on dvd (Amazon link) as well as Prime Video on Amazon.


Filed Under: Picture of the Day, Yvonne De Carlo Tagged With: Yvonne De Carlo

Natalie Wood, A Life by Gavin Lambert: A MUST Read for Fans of the Legendary Actress

June 27, 2022 By Joi

Natalie Wood, A Life Biography by Gavin Lambert

Natalie Wood, A Life

After reading Natalie Wood, A Life by Gavin Lambert, the first thing that came to my mind was this:

“The author has taken a larger than life legend who is remembered and discussed by FAR too many for her death rather than her life… and he has focused on what she SHOULD be remembered as… a woman. He has put her life, as she lived it, into the forefront and the way she lost her life into the background. As it should be.”

As a Natalie Wood fan, I will always feel a great deal of gratitude to Gavin Lambert for this. If you follow (or have seen) my shenanigans on Twitter, you know I tweet incessantly about the stars of old Hollywood – pictures, quotes, thoughts, film reviews, book reviews, etc. Inevitably, any time I post Natalie Wood pictures or quotes, at least one (usually more than one) comments about her death. When people hear the name, they instinctively want to talk about how she LOST her life rather than how she LIVED her life.

I hate that so much!!

I also hate that people want to blame Robert Wagner for her death – allow me to say, up front, I do not believe he had anything whatsoever to do with her death. He had so much to do with her life and with how much she enjoyed it and with the love they shared – this should be the focus and I can only hope that, one day, it will be.

This book has brought so much more information to me that I never had before. So much so that I found myself taking notes! Before beginning Natalie Wood, A Life (Amazon link), I had what I believed to be a pretty good idea who Natalie Wood was and a pretty good handle on who the woman behind the great beauty and talent was…. suffice to say, my bucket of knowledge wasn’t even half full!

She was, unquestionably, one of the most complex, mysterious (in many ways), and fascinating people I’ve ever read about. She was equal parts strong and vulnerable – a combination that leaves my head spinning. She had her share of fears and anxieties and yet fought them tooth and nail. The fact that she carved out a remarkable career as the battle raged on leaves me speechless.

In the age of social media and fast-paced living, I try to keep my book reviews brief. I’d rather my friends (that’s you!) completely read a few heart-felt words than to skim over a million of them and miss the important stuff. Some people tend to ramble (that’s me!), so they have to reign themselves in any way they can. A summarized bullet-point list helps me with my reigns!

What I Love, and More Importantly, What You’ll Love About This Biography:

  • The fact that Robert Wagner, one of the most important people in Natalie’s life, contributed greatly to the book. He knew her better than anyone and shared so much, so openly, with the wonderful author.
  • The behind-the-scenes and in depth look at Natalie’s films. You learn more about her co-stars, how she felt about many of them (I read and re-read the pages about her and James Dean!), and what the roles meant to her and her career.
  • Beautiful photographs – many of which I’ve never seen before. I absolutely love each one.
  • Gavin Lambert is an exceptional writer. He writes in a manner that feels like you’re sitting in Starbucks talking with him about a subject (old Hollywood) you’re both passionate about. He is informative, an impeccable researcher, clear, concise, and uncommonly entertaining.
  • Each chapter begins with one, two, or three quotes after the title that help set the tone for the chapter you’re entering. They’re brilliantly done and provide that little extra something that separates a good book from a great book.
  • Natalie Wood, in Gavin Lamberts’ hands, is treated with great respect and affection. The fact that she was human, like the rest of us, is clear and… quite frankly… makes me love her even more.
  • As I said at the start, the greatest accomplishment of this book is putting the focus on Natalie’s life rather than her death. And what a life it was!

Natalie Wood battled her personal demons but carved out a wonderful career and lasting legacy in spite of them. In the end, it may look like these demons won but look again – Natalie won. She remains in so many of our hearts and is remembered, loved, and celebrated to this day.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Natalie Wood, A Life (Amazon link) and get to know her even better than you may know her now. She was extraordinary in every way.

The University Press of Kentucky sent me this wonderful book in exchange for telling you about it – all of the opinions and the photo are my own!

Filed Under: Natalie Wood, Old Hollywood Book Reviews Tagged With: book reviews, Natalie Wood, Old Hollywood Biographies

Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s: One of the Most Delightful Books I’ve Seen in Some Time!

June 27, 2022 By Joi

Marlene Dietrich's ABC's

Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s

One of the most colorful, deliciously fun and original stars from old Hollywood (or any Hollywood for that matter) is Marlene Dietrich. The way she viewed the world was magic in its uniqueness and the way she, then, put it to words has long been a personal fascination.

Truth be told, I’ve had a lifelong love affair with words – whether they come out of my own mouth or the mouths of others – I love to see words in action. I began collecting quotes (in notebooks… you can imagine how many I have!) when I was in my early teens and have kept up the practice over the years. There’s something very satisfying to my soul when words are gathered together and taken on a joyride and, quite frankly, Marlene Dietrich knew how to have fun with words as well as anyone!

When I found out there was actually a book (Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s, Amazon link) with her quotes already gathered in one place (alphabetized no less), I was over the proverbial moon.

The University Press of Kentucky sweetened the deal by sending me one simply for telling y’all about it.

Seriously – it doesn’t get any better than that! This book worm’s and book collector’s message to them would simply be this, “Send me as many books as you see fit… I’ll tell everyone all about them!”

ESPECIALLY when they’re as wonderful as the books they have always are. Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s (Amazon link) is no exception – it is everything I’d hoped it would be and then some. While I had a few of the quotes in my Old Hollywood Actresses N-M Notebook (I’m nothing if not organized with my quote collection), the majority of the quotes were new to me and have left me smiling ear to ear.

As soon as the book arrived in the mail, I took it and a tall iced raspberry tea to my favorite den chair and didn’t get up again until the book and tea had been completely devoured.

MY kind of afternoon!

This is, without a doubt, one of the most enjoyable book companions I’ve had in a while. I love that it is packed with great humor (she was, as my grandmother would have said, a perfect hoot!), a couple of cooking ideas/recipes I can’t wait to try, and plenty of thoughts that beg to be turned over and over again in the reader’s mind. You may or may not agree with everything the legendary actress said but you cannot help but admire her boldness to say exactly what was in her mind and heart.

That’s one of the things I love most about quotes – they bring out your inner philosopher and make you think… really think… about life, about others, and about things we may tend to take for granted.

Let me tell you, spending time with Marlene Dietrich made my inner philosopher so happy she was buzzing for days.

As you’d imagine, I cannot recommend Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s (Amazon link)  highly enough. In fact, I suggest grabbing a copy for your own library and at least one to squirrel away for Christmas gift-giving. This is the type of book anyone will love.

The book is 154 pages long and reads wonderfully fast. You will find yourself returning (and using!) to her thoughts and expressions again and again. You’ll also find yourself inspired by her honesty and by the freedom which she found in expressing herself. It’s truly just a magnificent book and I hope you, yourself, are sitting down with Marlene and a tall glass of tea in your own favorite chair very soon.

You’ll find her company to be exquisite.

Marlene Dietrich's ABC's

Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s (Amazon link)

Filed Under: Marlene Dietrich, Old Hollywood Book Reviews Tagged With: book reviews, Marlene Dietrich

Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, and William Wyler, Behind the Scenes of Roman Holiday

June 19, 2022 By Joi

Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, and William Wyler, Behind the Scenes of Roman Holiday

Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, and William Wyler

One of my all-time favorite movies is the wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck (two stars who were mesmerizingly beautiful together). Directed by the best man for the job, William Wyler, the film is a classic and lives up to the name.

If I could change one thing about the movie, it would be the ending… it was perfectly fine, mind you (and Peck’s smile made it even more so), but it wasn’t quite what I had hoped for. I still LOVE the movie to distraction, mind you.

You can find Roman Holiday on dvd (Amazon link) or watch its magic on Prime Video.


Filed Under: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Roman Holiday

Beautiful Jeanette MacDonald: BOTD in June 18, 1903

June 18, 2022 By Joi

Jeanette MacDonald, SweetheartsJeanette MacDonald, a Promo Pic for Sweethearts 

Beautiful and talented Jeanette MacDonald was born on this day in 1903 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was so exquisitely beautiful and radiant and talented??? My goodness, “talented” never quite seems like a strong enough word to describe it.

Her singing voice was angelic and breathtakingly beautiful and she was a very gifted actress… but there was something extra about Jeanette. She lit up the screen whenever she was on it and left you anxiously awaiting for her next appearance. She had a unique type of charisma that, while unmistakable, was also more refined and sophisticated than one expects from charisma.

It usually hits you over the head, but Jeanette MacDonald’s charisma was far too ladylike and refined to behave in such a manner.

She was deliciously unique and I am a huge, huge fan. She’s one of the stars I collect and (ironically) just ordered three more collectibles just last week!


Jeanette MacDonald, Broadway Serenade

Jeanette MacDonald, Broadway Serenade

Filed Under: BOTD, Jeanette MacDonald, Picture of the Day Tagged With: BOTD, Jeanette MacDonald

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Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

 

Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra
Claudette Colbert
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Mean...Moody...Magnificent! by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

Movie Collections on Amazon

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Recent Posts

  • Linda Darnell and Tyrone Power: The Mark of Zorro (1940)
  • Henry Fonda and James Stewart as Wyatt Earp
  • Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn as Maid Marion and Robin Hood (Perfection!)
  • Jane Greer, The Company She Keeps
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: One of the Best Movies EVER Made
  • Walter Pidgeon and Maureen O’Hara, How Green Was My Valley
  • Gorgeous Color Picture of Gloria Grahame (1947)
  • Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda as Jesse and Frank James

Movie Night, ANY Night…

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt in El Dorado
Have movie night ANY night with Prime Video on Amazon:  Prime Video (Amazon link)

Thank You for Visiting!

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times
Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

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”)

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