Henry Fonda | Hollywood Yesterday

Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck, The Lady Eve

June 27, 2021 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck, The Lady Eve

Given that Barbara Stanwyck is one of my top 3 favorite actresses and Henry Fonda is one of my top 3 favorite actors, it’s almost a cinch that I’ll love any movie they made together. The fact that The Lady Eve happens to be an absolutely flawless movie, however, would seal the deal even if (Heaven most absolutely forbid!) two other stars played the leads.

The chemistry between Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda does, I must say, make a perfect movie even more perfect. Add in the always wonderful Charles Coburn and you have a movie that should be must-see viewing for anyone who calls themselves a movie fan.

The 1941 romantic comedy was directed (beautifully) by Preston Sturges. He’s fast becoming one of my favorite directors. The more of his films I see, the more of his genius I recognize.

You can find The Lady Eve: The Criterion Collection on Amazon or watch it on Prime Video.

Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, The Lady Eve

June 3, 2021 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck

I am really lucky in that many of my favorites didn’t just co-star in films, but they co-starred in WONDERFUL films… films that, not surprisingly are among my favorites.

Maureen O’Hara, John Wayne, and Barry Fitzgerald: The Quiet Man
Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda: Yours, Mine, and Ours
Katharine Hepburn and John Wayne: Rooster Cogburn
James Stewart and Henry Fonda: The Cheyenne Social Club
Maureen O’Hara and Henry Fonda: Spencer’s Mountain
Barbara Stanwyck and S.Z. Sakall, Christmas in Connecticut

There are many others, including the absolutely hilarious (and, to be honest, perfect in every way) 1941 comedy The Lady Eve. Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, and Charles Coburn (love them all to distraction), this is one of the all time GREAT movies.

The Lady Eve was directed by the wonderful Preston Sturges who made the absolute most out of having three of Hollywood’s greatest talents of all time.

You can find The Lady Eve: The Criterion Collection on Amazon. It’s also available on Prime Video!

This is one of my all-time favorite movies and, if you haven’t seen it, it might just need to be the next film you see!

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis, Jezebel (One of the Truly GREAT Films)

May 6, 2021 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis, Jezebel

One of my favorite movies stars FIVE of my favorite stars… it doesn’t get much sweeter than that! The movie is Jezebel (1938, directed by the wonderful William Wyler) and the four stars are Henry Fonda, Bette Davis, Theresa Harris, Spring Byington, and Margaret Lindsay.

How much do I love this particular movie? Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret I haven’t told anyone before (besides my cats, of course, we keep nothing from each other)…. I actually like Jezebel even better than Gone With the Wind.. and this is really saying something because I adore that one.

There’s just something about the magic in this particular film and Henry Fonda and Bette Davis simply cannot be topped. When they’re on top of their game (which they always were), there were no two stars any better.

If you’ve never seen Jezebel, I hope you’ll find it really soon. You can find Jezebel on dvd (Amazon link) or you can watch Jezebel on Prime Video (link to the movie).

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis

Henry Fonda and Alfred Hitchcock: Behind the Scenes of The Wrong Man

April 14, 2021 By Joi

Legends Henry Fonda and Alfred Hitchcock

It seems kind of remarkable, to me, that Henry Fonda and Alfred Hitchcock made only one film together – but what a great one The Wrong Man was! Ironically, Henry Fonda’s close friend James Stewart made four films with the great director.

The Wrong Man (1953) is an excellent film noir. Henry Fonda plays Christopher Emanuel “Manny” Balestrero, an innocent man who is arrested after a case of mistaken identity. The consistently wonderful Vera Miles stars as his wife. If you’ve never seen this one, it’s very much worth searching out.

If you HAVE seen it… it’s very much worth seeing again!

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

Henry Fonda and Alfred Hitchcock, Behind the Scenes of The Wrong Man

Henry Fonda, Once Upon a Time in the West

March 18, 2021 By Joi

Henry Fonda, Once Upon a Time in the West

Henry Fonda is, without a doubt, one of my VERY favorite actors. Has been for as long as I can remember. I’m such a huge fan that, I have a confession to make – part of me actually kind of judges a person’s opinions if he isn’t on their list of favorite actors!

Seriously, a part of me (that I never allow out to play) says, “How in the world can you consider yourself a fan of classic Hollywood or films, in general, if Henry Fonda isn’t on your list of favorite actors?!”

Okay, there you have it. My dirty little secret. When it comes to my favorites, one of the little voices in my head isn’t very nice… but, by gosh, is she ever loyal!

(Continued below Henry Fonda giving a menacing look – the same one I give people who don’t name him on their list!)

Henry Fonda, Once Upon a Time in the West

These photos are from his wonderful 1968 western Once Upon a Time in the West (originally titled C’era una volta il West). The movie was directed one of my favorite directors, Sergio Leone, and also starred Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson, Gabriele Ferzetti, and Keenan Wynn.

You can find Once Upon a Time in the West (Amazon link) on dvd or watch it on Prime Video.

Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson, Once Upon a Time in the West

Henry Fonda: Behind the Scenes of Once Upon a Time in the West

March 12, 2021 By Joi

I’m sure I’ve already told you, probably 100 times but I am obsessed (obsessed, I tell you!) with behind the scenes pictures. There’s something absolutely magical about them as far as I’m concerned. If they happen to involve a period piece or western…. it’s even more fun!

This behind the scenes picture of Henry Fonda while making Once Upon a Time in the West is one of my favorites. Here we have a ruthless villain just… you know… reading the paper.

Love it.

You can find Once Upon a Time in the West (Amazon link) on dvd or watch it on Prime Video. I highly recommend it – wonderful western and Fonda is, as always, positively wonderful.

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis, Jezebel (1938)

January 3, 2021 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis

I have a bit of a confession to make. When I first saw Jezebel (years ago), I only watched it because Henry Fonda (one of the ones who ties for my top 3 favorite actors) was in it. This was before I had seen many Bette Davis movies. In fact, at the time I had only seen two and hated one of them a great, great deal (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane…. still hate it to this day!).

Before Jezebel was even half over, however, I knew that Bette Davis had become one of my favorite actresses and that I’d spend the rest of my life watching and rewatching her films AND trying to get everyone who thinks they don’t like her to give her more of a chance.

Since then, I’ve seen too many of her films to even count, and she is absolutely one of my favorites. Never, ever let one, two, or even just three films decide the fate of an actor or actress in your heart – give them a fair chance, you’re the one who stands to win big!

If you’ve never seen Jezebel, by all means see it as soon as possible. It is outstanding and the cast is as good as it gets. Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, Theresa Harris, Spring Byington, George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Fay Bainter, Donald Crisp, Richard Cromwell… one outstanding performance after another.

You can find Jezebel on dvd (Amazon link) or you can watch the wonderful movie Prime Video (link to the movie).

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis

Henry Fonda and Vera Miles, The Wrong Man

November 9, 2020 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Vera Miles, The Wrong Man

Ever stop and think how funny it is that (very often), our favorite actors or actresses aren’t (even by our own judgement) the best actresses and actors. We just like them and that’s that. Every now and then, though, the two worlds collide and our favorites are, undoubtedly, among the very best. That’s the case with quite a few of my own personal favorites but none any more glaringly so than Henry Fonda (and his close friend James Stewart, too, for that matter).

Henry Fonda was as talented an actor as one could ever hope to find. Drama, comedy, westerns, romantic films.. he did everything and did it flawlessly.

The photos, shown here as the pictures of the day, are from his wonderful 1956 film-noir The Wrong Man. The movie co-stars Vera Miles and was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It’s an especially good movie and Fonda and Miles are exceptional.

You can find The Wrong Man (link to the dvd on Amazon) on Amazon.

Henry Fonda and Vera Miles, The Wrong Man

The Cheyenne Social Club: A Wonderful Cast Makes This One A LOT of Fun

October 22, 2020 By Joi

The Excellent Cast of The Cheyenne Social Club

One of my favorite films is The Cheyenne Social Club – I absolutely love it. I suppose there are several reasons for this…

Westerns and Comedies are my favorite genres and this combines the two beautifully.
James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Shirley Jones, and Sue Ane Langdon are personal favorites.
It’s outrageous FUN!

I always get a kick out of the cast – for the most part, they seemed to really enjoy making this film. Sue Ane Langdon and Henry Fonda bring so much energy to their roles, they practically jump off the screen.

I also love that Jackie Joseph (best-remembered and so loved so much!) as Erenst T. Bass’ girlfriend Ramona on The Andy Griffith Show plays one of the lovely “girls” in the movie. I’m sure you’ll recognize her beautiful face third from the right above.

The rest of the beautiful Cheyenne Social Club employees were played by Elaine Devry, Jackie Russell, and Sharon DeBord.

The only way I’ve been able to find The Cheyenne Social Club on dvd is as part of a James Stewart and Henry Fonda “Double Feature” DVD Set on Amazon – The Cheyenne Social Club and Firecreek (Amazon link). They’re both great films, so it’s very much worth it but I hope the film is available on its own and on Prime Video soon. I’m very anxious for more people to see this hilarious movie.

Henry Fonda in War and Peace (The Resemblance to his Son, Peter, is Stunning)

August 3, 2020 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Barry Jones, War and Peace

One of my favorite actors is, has always been, and will always be Henry Fonda. I don’t believe there has ever been a better actor. Sure, there have been actors “as good,” but better? You’d never convince me of that.

In today’s picture of the day, the great actor is pictured with Barry Jones in the 1956 film War and Peace (directed by King Vidor). Henry Fonda and his son Peter Fonda often resembled one another but never more so than in this photo. The glasses, the hair… even the expression… I see Peter Fonda in this photo more than I see Henry Fonda.

My word what a talented family. I mean, if you stop and think about it for a minute…. WOW!

If you’ve never seen War and Peace (link to the dvd on Amazon), you really have to get your hands on it. Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, and Audrey Hepburn are exceptional, as always.