Lobby Cards | Hollywood Yesterday

Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, and Linda Darnell: My Darling Clementine (1946)

July 18, 2022 By Joi

Henry Fonda and Victor Mature, My Darling Clementine

The wonderful 1946 Western My Darling Clementine (directed by the legendary John Ford) comes up A LOT in my old Hollywood conversations.

It’s one of my top three favorite westerns.
It’s my favorite Victor Mature role and performance.
It’s one of my favorite Henry Fonda Roles.
It’s my favorite Linda Darnell performance.
It’s one of my favorite John Ford movies – in the top three.

It’s absolutely perfect and I couldn’t possibly love it any more than I do. While Fonda is perfect in the role of Wyatt Earp and Linda Darnell gives the film a lot of heart and soul as Chihuahua, I have to kind of single out Victor Mature for the job he does in bringing Doc Holliday to life. His portrayal is, in my opinion, the best – no actor can touch what he did with the role.

The cast also includes Cathy Downs as Clementine (she makes a lot out of a very small role and leaves you completely understanding Wyatt Earp’s fascination), Ward Bond, Time Holt, Jane Darwell, and Walter Brennan as most of us are unaccustomed to seeing him.. NASTY! He does a great job as a villain, even though it seems odd rooting against him instead of for him.

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

Linda Darnell and Victor Mature, My Darling Clementine

Tallulah Bankhead, The Cheat Lobby Card (1931)

July 15, 2022 By Joi

Tallulah Bankhead, The Cheat

The Cheat is a 1931 drama directed by George Abbott. The movie stars Tallulah Bankhead, Harvey Stephens, and Irving Pichel.

You can find The Cheat on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link). It doesn’t appear to be on Prime Video.

The Cincinnati Kid Lobby Cards: Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret and Karl Malden

July 30, 2021 By Joi

Ann-Margret and Steve McQueen

The Cincinnati Kid (1965) was directed by Norman Jewison and has a ridiculously STRONG cast… Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden, Tuesday Weld, Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Rip Torn, Cab Calloway.. I mean, really? What a lineup of stars!

I like this one a lot. It’s one of those movies that, as you’re caught up in the moment, you wonder why it isn’t better-known.

You can find The Cincinnati Kid on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video. Either way, this cast is waiting to blow you away.

Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret, and Karl Malden

Kay Kendall and Yul Brenner in Once More, With Feeling

July 15, 2021 By Joi

Once More with Feeling, Starring Kay Kendall and Yul Brenner

There isn’t anything I don’t love about this wonderful Once More With Feeling lobby card. The colors… the font, the photography… I have to say, though, the thing I love most is the charisma provided by the one and only, extraordinary Kay Kendall. It’s as if the photographer knew, “If you want to make this a movie people will be drawn to, just focus on Kay.”

She’s all that’s necessary.

Kay Kendall

Once More With Feeling is a 1960 romantic drama-comedy starring the afore adored Kay Kendall and Yul Brenner… no cheese sandwich, himself. It was directed by a director I, frankly, don’t talk nearly enough about, Stanley Donen. Donen also directed Singin’ in the Rain, Indiscreet, Funny Face, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and On the Town among others.

Excellent director with a lot of versatility.

You can find the wildly fun and colorful Once More with Feeling on dvd (Amazon link). Just be warned… you’ll fall head over heels in love with Kay Kendall. She’s like a British Lucille Ball IMO.

Kay Kendall

The Outstanding Cast of El Dorado.. The Supporting Stars Give This One its Magic

June 26, 2021 By Joi

Charlene Holt, El Dorado

One of this western fanatic’s favorite movies is El Dorado (1966). Directed by the wonderful Howard Hawks, the incredibly (downright perfect if we’re being honest) talented cast includes John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ed Asner, Michele Carey, Christopher George, Paul Fix, and briefly Johnny Crawford (best loved as Mark McCain on The Rifleman).

A movie is only as good as it’s stars and the characters they play, which is why El Dorado is movie gold. The colorful, larger than life characters this cast gives us is a gift that keeps on giving. I honestly believe I fall more in love with this movie each time I see it. The same is true of another Howard Hawks and John Wayne western, Rio Bravo.

James Caan and Michele Carey

The two lead stars in this western (John Wayne and Robert Mitchum) are excellent as always. There is something so right about watching a John Wayne Western and it’s made even more magical when the stars around him were/are just as larger than life and colorful as he was. In El Dorado, the Duke is surrounded by such stars!

Robert Mitchum and Arthur Hunnicutt go with John Wayne as beautifully as Dean Martin and Walter Brennan do in Rio Bravo. When they’re on the screen together, you’re pretty sure they were born for the moment.

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt

When it comes to supporting stars, El Dorado also has an embarrassment of riches: James Caan, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ed Asner, Christopher George, Michele Carey, and Charlene Holt do exactly what a supporting cast should do.

They simply make the film even better.

James Caan could just as easily be considered a lead star in this film (he gives my favorite performance in the film), he is usually treated as a supporting star… you couldn’t ask for any more support than he gives! The same is true of Arthur Hunnicutt, Christopher George, Ed Asner, and Charlene Holt. This movie wouldn’t be as timeless and perfect without this group of talent.

You can find El Dorado on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the wonderful western on Prime Video.

John Wayne, Christopher George, and Ed Asner

Angie Dickinson, Glenn Ford, and Chad Everett in The Last Challenge

June 23, 2021 By Joi

Angie Dickinson and Glenn Ford, The Last Challenge

While I am a bona fide Westerns fanatic AND one of Angie Dickinson’s most devoted fans, I only saw The Last Challenge in the last few years. I have no idea why, actually… I guess I don’t quit watching and rewatching John Westerns long enough to venture out! Seriously, I just rewatched The Sons of Katie Elder for, like, the sixth time and that’s no where near as often as I’ve seen Rio Bravo, El Dorado, The Trian Robbers, Stagecoach, or The Searchers!

The Last Challenge is a very good western and I love the three leads – Angie Dickinson, Glenn Ford, and Chad Everett. There’s just something very agreeable about Glenn Ford in a western and the same can be said about Angie Dickinson. I also love Chad Everett in his role. I have to admit, sentimentally, I wish the film had gone in the direction I personally wanted it to but fairy tales don’t often play out in the old west. Nor should they.

I often have to remind myself of this very thing when I’m caught up in the middle of a great western and this is most certainly a great one.

Chad Everett and Angie Dickinson

Anna May Wong, Island of Lost Men lobby card

February 18, 2021 By Joi

The exotic and beautiful Anna May Wong possessed a unique quality that always mesmerizes me. She often (at once, mind you) appeared to be as fragile, lovely, and delicate as a hyacinth but as powerful, fierce, and confident as a tigress. When I watch her, it always occurs to me that she is one of the few stars who embodied such a fascinating contradiction.

Anna May Wong films can be tough to come by – whether you’re trying to watch them on television or Prime Video or looking to buy a dvd, so if you come across one… grab it!

The gorgeous Island of Lost Men Lobby Card pictured at the top IS readily available, however. The link will take you to Amazon where the card is less expensive than I’ve seen it other places.

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!)

Lady in the Lake, Starring Robert Montgomery and Audrey Totter

January 22, 2021 By Joi

Lady in the Lake Lobby Card

One of my favorite film-noirs (and one of the three that actually pulled me into the genre) is the classic masterpiece Lady in the Lake from 1946. Robert Montgomery both directs and stars in the unique, bold film and it’s a real work of art.

The movie also stars the always outstanding Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Jean Meadows, and Leon Ames.

As I mentioned above, this film-noir is one of three (A Woman’s Secret and A Woman’s Face being the others) that actually made me really give film-noirs a chance. By nature, I am most drawn to Westerns, comedies, Sherlock Holmes movies, swashbucklers, Charlie Chan, and musicals. Put me in front of Elvis movies or a John Wayne marathon and I am as happy as a cat sleeping in a bed of catnip. The dark contrast of film-noirs never appealed to me until I gave them a real chance. The three I’ve named drew me into the genre further and I’ve found that I absolutely love it.

Lady in the Lake is best known for the way the film was shot – from Robert Montgomery’s Philip Marlowe’s viewpoint. You only see his face at the beginning of the film (when he talks into the camera), a few times during the film when he sees a mirror, and the end of the film.

I won’t lie, when I first watched it, I spent the first 10 minutes trying to decide if I was going to bail or not. I was afraid it’d get tiresome. I stuck with it and, after a mere 5 more minutes, I was delighted that I had.

By the middle of the movie I was praising it’s boldness, artistry, exceptional story, flawless direction, and (of course) the beautiful powerhouse that was Audrey Totter.

If you’ve never seen Lady in the Lake, I hope you’ll make a point of seeing it soon. It truly is breathtaking. You can watch it on Prime Video or buy Lady in the Lake on dvd. I, personally, need it for my Audrey Totter collection, so that’s the route I’m taking!

Lady in the Lake Lobby Card

Anna and the King of Siam

November 2, 2020 By Joi

Anna and the King of Siam with Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison

Rex Harrison is one of those stars who you can love one minute and feel all but indifferent about the next. Or maybe it’s just me. That’s always possible, but it seems his likability (as an actor) kind of switches gears from film to film.

Again, it could very well just be me, so don’t take it as the Gospel truth or anything, but he simply doesn’t strike me as an actor who maintains either a high opinion or a low one. That could actually work toward his benefit (she says, after recently rewatching The Foxes of Harrow to see if it was any better the second time… it wasn’t – and my beloved Maureen O’Hara’s in it, if anyone would love it, I would but, unfortunately, it’s pretty average).

Some stars can come out of a bad or average film unscathed, while others carry it with them like a stench. Rex Harrison, for me, is somewhere between the two.

Don’t get me wrong, I think he was a very, very fine actor and when he was given a role and a movie that showcased his talent, he was extraordinary (Anna and the King of Siam, My Fair Lady…). For me, however, in the lesser films, he was simply quite average. I wish he had avoided the films that brought his reputation as an actor down and had only done the ones that lived up to his talent.

Anna and the King of Siam is one of my favorite Rex Harrison films. You can tell that he took care with his speech and worked hard on the role. It shows. He is wonderful in this film.

Naturally Irene Dunne is also outstanding as Anna. This extraordinary actress was one of the greatest actresses of all time and so incredibly versatile.

She’s also one of the stars with an inexplicable lack of name-recognition that irks me most. Seriously, she should be a household name, yet it’s generally only those of us who spend most of our days in Old Hollywood who are familiar with her and her work. I simply hate it when stars don’t have the lasting recognition they deserve.

Hollywood Yesterday is, more than anything, my personal mission to bring attention to as many stars as I possibly can.

You can watch Anna and the King of Siam on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon.