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Jean Harlow, Mary Astor, and Clark Gable, Red Dust (1932)

September 26, 2021 By Joi

Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, Red Dust

Jean Harlow and Clark Gable

One of my favorite films is the 1932 drama Red Dust, directed by Victor Fleming. Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Mary Astor are absolutely wonderful in this movie and the charisma between the three of them is what you could only call magic.

The story was retold in the 1953 film and I’ll just say this… personally, they should have never tried to retell it. Even though Clark Gable, Grace Kelly, and especially Ava Gardner are wonderful in it, the magic simply wasn’t there – through absolutely no fault of the stars or the legendary director John Ford. Magic either exists or it doesn’t – you can’t make it and you certainly can’t fake it.

You can find the magic of Red Dust on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Mary Astor and Jean Harlow in Red Dust

Jean Harlow and Mary Astor

 

Filed Under: 1930s Movies, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Mary Astor, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day, Pre-Code Movies Tagged With: 1930s movies, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Mary Astor

Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon (1941)

August 5, 2021 By Joi

Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon

Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon

One of the best actors of ALL time: Humphrey Bogart

One of the best actresses of ALL time: Mary Astor

Two of the best character actors of ALL time: Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre

One of the best directors of ALL time: John Huston

One of the best movies of ALL time: The Maltese Falcon… how could it not be when it was directed by John Houston and starred Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre?!

Most people quickly answer, “Casablanca!” when asked their favorite movie over all, but The Maltese Falcon is one of the ones that easily ties with Casablanca and my other personal favorites… three of which (Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, and Key Largo) star the wonderful Humphrey Bogart, thank you very much.

You can find The Maltese Falcon on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video. It’s always the right time to revisit Private Detective Sam Spade and The Maltese Falcon.

Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet: The Maltese Falcon

Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet

Filed Under: Film Noir, Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Picture of the Day, Sydney Greenstreet Tagged With: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, The Maltese Falcon

A Beautifully Classic Quote from a Beautifully Classic Actress (Mary Astor)

November 10, 2019 By Joi

Mary Astor

Mary Astor

“There are five stages in the life of an actor: Who’s Mary Astor? Get me Mary Astor. Get me a Mary Astor Type. Get me a young Mary Astor. Who’s Mary Astor?” ~ Mary Astor

With all due respect to this outstanding actress, it’s impossible to imagine anyone EVER asking, “Who’s Mary Astor?”

Impossible!

This lovely and powerfully talented actress has a filmography that includes The Maltese Falcon, Meet Me in St. Louis, Little Women, and Across the Pacific.

If you aren’t familiar with this wonderful actress, I hope you’ll make a point to see more of her films as soon as possible. She will leave quite an impression on you.

This, I promise.

Mary Astor and Judy Garland Meet Me in St. Louis Publicity still

Mary Astor and Judy Garland, Meet Me in St. Louis

Mary Astor Movies on Amazon

Filed Under: Mary Astor, Quotes from Old Hollywood's Stars Tagged With: Mary Astor, Mary Astor picture, Mary Astor quote

Mary Astor and Douglas Fairbanks: Don Q Son of Zorro

November 8, 2019 By Joi

Mary Astor and Douglas Fairbanks, Don Q Son of Zorro

Mary Astor and Douglas Fairbanks, Don Q Son of Zorro

My first Mary Astor film was The Maltese Falcon, so when I first saw her in a silent film (Don Q of Zorro), it caught me off guard. For some reason, I was only aware that Douglas Fairbanks starred in this film before sitting down to watch it. Very unlike me, because normally I want to know..

  • Who is in the film.
  • Who directed it.
  • Who the costume designer is.
  • Who the writers are.

The whole shebang! However, every now and then, I will throw myself down into my favorite chair, ask a cat or two to climb on board, and watch one without a bit of knowledge at hand. This was one of those times.

I remember when I first saw her in this film. It was one of those, “Where do I know you from….” moments – it didn’t take long, though, before I (literally) said out loud, “The Maltese Falcon… Mary Astor!”

You could tell it’s her, but she just looks so different. It isn’t the “age” thing as much as it is the simple fact that her face, hair, and even the way she carried herself were almost a world of difference from The Maltese Falcon.

Don’t get me wrong, I love her both ways – we Mary Astor fans will take her any way she comes.

Funny thing is… it was actually kind of fun to just sit and watch a film, come what may. Or, as in this case, come WHO may!

This film also stars Lottie Pickford as Lola. At the time Lottie was Douglas Fairbanks’ sister-in-law (as he was married to her older sister Mary Pickford). This was Lottie’s final film before her death on December 9, 1936 at the shockingly young age of 41.

If you’ve never seen Don Q Son of Zorro (Amazon), check it out, it’s a good one!


Filed Under: Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Astor, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Don Q Son of Zorro, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Astor, Silent Films, Silent Movies

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
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

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel 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

  • Ann Sheridan and George Raft, They Drive by Night
  • Stunning Ann Sheridan Canvas Poster on Amazon… Perfect Gift Idea (for Them or YOU!)
  • The Wonderful Ethel Barrymore was BOTD in 1879
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  • Arlene Dahl and Red Skelton, A Southern Yankee (1948)
  • Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson: One of Sanford and Son’s Best Episodes…
  • Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, The Misfits (1961)
  • Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable: On the Set of How to Marry a Millionaire

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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