James Stewart | Hollywood Yesterday

Juliet Mills, Maureen O’Hara, and James Stewart Behind the Scenes of The Rare Breed

May 6, 2023 By Joi

Juliet Mills, Maureen O’Hara, and James Stewart

The Rare Breed is one of those films that delightfully caught me off guard. Not because I enjoyed it (I fully expected to) but more by WHY I thoroughly enjoyed it. You see, Maureen O’Hara and James Stewart have been in my Top 4 favorite stars since I was a little girl. They’re two of the reasons I fell in love with old movies in the first place. So, naturally, when the film began, I expected to be caught up in their magic and that the movie would be a joy to watch.

Imagine my surprise when the TRUE magic in the movie came from Juliet Mills and Brian Keith! Not that my much loved Maureen O’Hara and James Stewart weren’t wonderful – I mean, come on, of course they were! However, make no mistake about it, Juliet Mills and Brian Keith are the reason this movie works – they’re lovable, entertaining and in all ways brilliant in this one.

Brian Keith is nearly unrecognizable in the role but he absolutely steals every scene he’s in… and some he ISN’T in!

You can find The Rare Breed on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Maureen O’Hara, Brian Keith, and James Stewart.. Yes, Brian Keith!

Josephine Hull and James Stewart in the Wonderfully FUN Harvey (1950)

April 30, 2023 By Joi

Josephine Hull and James Stewart, Harvey

Josephine Hull and James Stewart were each nominated for an Emmy for their wonderful performances in Harvey (’50). Unfortunately Stewart lost to Jose Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac), but Hull deservedly won Best Actress, Supporting Role.

When she won, she even thanked Harvey!

Josephine Hull was always such a complete JOY to watch – Arsenic and Old Lace, Harvey, or The Lady from Texas. Problem is, that’s (literally) nearly all the films she made. She had a long, wonderful career on Broadway before making her first film and I know I’m not the only one who realizes that Broadway’s gain was Hollywood’s loss. The lady was MAGIC and I downright kind of grieve for all the movies she could have made had Hollywood been paying attention.

You can find Harvey on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the very entertaining film on Prime Video.

Harvey Lobby Card

It’s a Wonderful Life: James Stewart and Donna Reed Publicity Still

December 8, 2022 By Joi

James Stewart and Donna Reed, It’s a Wonderful Life

Am I posting an absolute storm of It’s a Wonderful Life posts on Hollywood Yesterday?

I am absolutely posting an absolute storm of It’s a Wonderful Life posts on Hollywood Yesterday!

Will I be slowing down anytime soon?

Highly doubtful! Not until December 26th anyway and I can’t promise not to have a Christmas 2022 sendoff with a photo or two then.

What can I say, I am absolutely infatuated with everything about this movie… I have been for over half my life. Truth be told, I believe I fall more and more in love with it each year.

You can buy It’s a Wonderful Life on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the magic on Prime Video.

BOTD in 1900, the Extraordinary Agnes Moorehead…

December 6, 2022 By Joi

James Stewart, Agnes Moorehead, and June Allyson in The Stratton Story

The extraordinary Agnes Moorehead was born on December 6, 1900 in Clinton, Massachusetts. In some ways, it’s almost unfortunate that she’s most remembered for her role as Endora on Bewitched. I say “almost” because she created one of the most colorful and entertaining characters ever portrayed on television and gave one outstanding performance after another. I say “unfortunate,” because, in her own words, she didn’t want to be remembered as a witch.

“I’ve been in movies and played theater from coast to coast, so I was quite well-known before ‘Bewitched’ and I don’t particularly want to be identified as a witch.” ~ Agnes Moorehead

Can’t blame her.

Agnes Moorehead’s filmography is filled with wonderful films. In fact, four of her films have been honored in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant: Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), All That Heaven Allows (1955) and How the West Was Won (1962). in each of these, as in each of EVERY film or appearace, she gave an excellent performance. My personal favorite of her performances is one I don’t see often mentioned: Ma Stratton in The Stratton Story (1949, directed by Sam Wood).

She gives such a completely believable, beautiful performance in a role that many actresses would have over-sold. She allowed the script to tell the story, gave her co-stars all the space they needed and never once tried to upstage one of them or the script, itself. She played the role of a woman who had had to be strong all her life, and when tragedy comes to her family, she remains so TRUE to character it’s mesmerizing. She had always been the strong one for her son and she handles his horrible accident in the same manner.

Agnes Moorehead was an extraordinary actress but seems to have been an even more extraordinary person. Known for being a very Spiritual person, she would often show up to work with a script in one hand and a Bible in the other.

I LOVE that so much!

Happy Heavenly birthday to one of the truly great ones.

You can buy The Stratton Story on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the wonderul movie on Prime Video.

It’s a Wonderful Life Lobby Card with Lionel Barrymore, Frank Hagney, Donna Reed, and James Stewart

November 29, 2022 By Joi

It’s a Wonderful Life Lobby Card

Another day, another It’s a Wonderful Life post. What can I say, this movie is an absolute obsession with me and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Before next Christmas, I would LOVE to have the beginnings of an It’s a Wonderful Life lobby card and movie poster collection.

I’m not going to lie… I would leave them hanging all year. After all, you can never have too much Christmas magic in your life and this movie is JUST that.

You can buy It’s a Wonderful Life on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

It’s a Wonderful Life Behind the Scenes Pictures

November 28, 2022 By Joi

It’s a Wonderful Life Behind the Scenes

“I thought it was the greatest film I ever made. Better yet, I thought it was the greatest film anybody had ever made…. It was my kind of film for my kind of people.” ~ Frank Capra, director

One of my favorite movies in the world is It’s a Wonderful Life. The film is absolutely magical in every way and I honestly grow to love it more each time I see it. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street are two of the reasons I became obsessed with classic movies in the first place.

Behind the Scenes Photo from It’s A Wonderful Life

In fact, to this day, Maureen O’Hara, James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore are four of my VERY favorites.

I hope you enjoy these behind the scenes pictures from the movie. They bring about such wonderfully nostalgic memories!

On the Set of It’s a Wonderful Life

You can buy It’s a Wonderful Life on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the magic on Prime Video.

Behind the Scenes, It’s a Wonderful Life

James Stewart and Donna Reed

It’s a Wonderful Life Gifts on Amazon… Holy Cats, I NEED These Like a Fish Needs Water

November 27, 2022 By Joi

It’s a Wonderful Life

I was browsing Amazon a few minutes ago and had just seen a gorgeous It’s a Wonderful Life Canvas Print (Amazon link) I desperately need (not want, y’all, NEED). Before I could recover from the excitement of that find, I saw another great need… the stunningly beautiful It’s a Wonderful Life Blanket (Amazon link).

Seriously, how am I expected to make it through another month without either of these?!

Little dramatic? Possibly. It’s a side effect of watching old movies like it’s your job for more years than I care to count.

I love that both feature the same photo – it means they’ll pack a double whammy when hanging out in my den.

If you’re as in love with this movie and its wonderful stars as I am, you might want to hurry up and drop these hints to Santa before it’s too late.

Or… I guess you could just go on to Amazon and buy them for yourself. What’s wrong with a little self-care during the holidays, right?

I’ll meet you there! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin: Behind the Scenes of Bandolero

August 18, 2022 By Joi

Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin

I don’t have a lot of Raquel Welch on the Old Hollywood blog, but it has nothing at all to do with how I feel about her. I adore her! Not only do I think she’s one of the most beautiful actresses of all time, I think she’s very underrated for her talent. She has always been so much more than just a beautiful face and great figure.

The reason I’ve never done photos or posts about her is a simple one… I’ve never thought of her as “old Hollywood!” Some of my all-time favorite actresses could actually (and should actually) be featured more on the blog – I just have to remind myself that Hollywood Yesterday is about all stars and all films from “yesterday,” whether the yesterday was 1930 or 1980.

SO, with that said, expect to see a lot more comparatively modern stars like Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren, Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, Paul Newman, James Garner…. stars I adore and am very excited to spotlight more frequently.

Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin star in the wonderful 1968 Western Bandolero! Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen (the wonderful actor Victor McLaglen’s son), the movie also stars George Kennedy, Denver Pyle, Clint Richie, Andrew Prine, and Will Geer.

You can find Bandolero! on dvd or blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Henry Fonda and James Stewart as Wyatt Earp

August 10, 2022 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Cathy Downs, My Darling Clementine

Ironically, real-life close friends James Stewart and Henry Fonda BOTH played Wyatt Earp in westerns that were directed by the legendary John Ford. They’re my top two favorite actors of all time, so I have (of course) seen both movies more than a few times.

Henry Fonda in My Darling Clementine (1946)
James Stewart was Wyatt Earp in Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

While I personally prefer My Darling Clementine, I think they’re both wonderful movies and each actor gives an outstanding performance.

James Stewart and Arthur Kennedy, Cheyenne Autumn

You can find My Darling Clementine on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

You can find Cheyenne Autumn on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

John Ford on the set of Cheyenne Autumn

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: One of the Best Movies EVER Made

August 5, 2022 By Joi

James Stewart and Jean Arthur

The 1939 classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is, without a doubt, one of the most extraordinary films ever made. Directed by Frank Capra, the movie features an unusually strong cast that includes James Stewart, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, and Jean Arthur. Admittedly, I love Jean Arthur in everything but she is ABOVE AND BEYOND in this role. The chemistry she and James Stewart had was palpable.

She’s simply always a joy to watch.

Claude Rains and James Stewart

The entire cast is outstanding, with one excellent performance after another. Claude Rains, one of the most versatile actors of all time, is deliciously despicable and Thomas Mitchell is as lovable as ever.

Naturally, the star of the film is, unquestionably, James Stewart and he gives one of his best performances. James Stewart and Frank Capra made movie magic together and did so more than once! The legends also worked together on the Classic (with a capital C) It’s a Wonderful Life.

You can find Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on DVD (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.