Maureen O'Hara | Hollywood Yesterday

Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara in The Deadly Companions

January 21, 2022 By Joi

Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara

Two of my favorite stars (Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara) teamed up for several films – one being 1961 western The Deadly Companion. Westerns are a personal obsession of mine, so this one has a very special place in my heart – two favorites AND a great Western… I am SO there.

This particular western has a wonderful cast and is beautifully, beautifully directed. The scenery is gorgeous and nearly everything about it is perfect. It’s of my western-loving, downright obsessed mind that this film would be much better known and loved if only the plot had not involved the shooting and death of a child. Had the plot centered around, say, the young boy being shot and driven to a doctor rather than his burial spot, more would have seen (and loved) this Western.

In fact, it’s this dark (miserably dark!) part of the story that made me wait so long to watch it. It was much better than I expected and the grisly part was handled well. To be perfectly honest, I still wish the plot had involved the boy needing a doctor (they’d have still needed to make the journey, after all).

If you’ve never seen this very well-done Western, I hope you’ll find it soon.

You can find The Deadly Companions on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.

Maureen O’Hara and Brian Keith, The Parent Trap (1961)

January 12, 2022 By Joi

Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara, The Parent Trap

The 1961 comedy The Parent Trap is, as far as I’m concerned one of the best movies ever made. Brian Keith, Maureen O’Hara, Hayley Mills, Una Merkel, and Joanna Barnes combine to make this a movie I’ve watched countless times and will watch countless more times in the coming years.

It’s THAT wonderful.

I love the chemistry between Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara so much. They were good friends in real life and it shows onscreen.

You can buy The Parent Trap on Amazon (link to the dvd) or watch it on Prime.

Brian Keith and Maureen O’Hara

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne in the Wonderful Miracle on 34th Street

December 16, 2021 By Joi

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne

There are presents to wrap, presents to buy, candy to make, and candy to eat… so I am literally sharing today’s picture of the day and running back to the kitchen! This is a wonderful publicity photo for one of the best movies ever made, Miracle on 34th Street. Directed to perfection by George Seaton, this is one of my favorite viewings of the Christmas season.

I hope you’re enjoying every last drop of the holiday season this year and (even when busy) smiling and maybe even humming a Christmas carol or two!

You can find the iconic 1947 Miracle on 34th Street (Amazon link) on Amazon… and you really, really should!

John Payne and Maureen O’Hara – Miracle on 34th Street

December 13, 2021 By Joi

John Payne and Maureen O’Hara

As I said yesterday, one of the films that launched me into a lifetime of being obsessed with classic movies was It’s a Wonderful Life. Another film and another star that participated in this launch was Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and Maureen O’Hara. I’ve loved the film AND the actress for what seems like my entire life.

George Seaton directed the wonderful Christmas classic and was given a first rate cast to work with: Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn, William Frawley, and Gene Lockhart.

I love Maureen’s sweet, natural chemistry with John Payne in this film and the magic between Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn is palpable. It’s just a beautiful, beautiful story very beautifully told.

John Payne and Maureen O’Hara

You can find the wonderful 1947 Miracle on 34th Street (Amazon link) on Amazon.

The Quiet Man Does…. Proof That the Perfect Movie DOES Exist!

November 18, 2021 By Joi

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man (1952, directed by the wonderful John Ford) stars a cast that’s as great a cast as you’ll ever see assembled: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick, and Maureen O’Hara’s own brothers James O’Hara and Charles B. Fitzsimons.

One of the greatest stars in this film wasn’t even human… Ireland. The landscape and, somehow, the very soul of its beautiful people is on full display in this film and it will take your breath away if you aren’t careful.

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

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, The Quiet Man

BOTD in Ireland in 1920, the Extraordinary Maureen O’Hara

August 17, 2021 By Joi

Maureen O’Hara

The beautiful, talented, charismatic, colorful, and (in every way as far as I’m concerned) Maureen O’Hara was born on this date in 1920 in Ireland.

Maureen FitzSimons would go on to become…

One of Hollywood’s first female action stars
Half of a legendary screen couple (with her friend John Wayne)
Part of an iconic Christmas film seen and loved for generations
The Queen of Technicolor!

What’s more, she did it all with class, style, pride, and very, very, very much on her own terms.

My love for old Hollywood…. its films and its stars… is one of the things that most defines me today. Oddly enough, it pretty much has always been that way. Even as a little girl (and then teenager), I MUCH preferred watching old movies with my mom, dad, and/or our cat and dog. It was Maureen O’Hara (in Miracle on 34th Street and The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Westerns, Shirley Temple, Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin, and James Stewart (It’s a Wonderful Life) that hooked me as a child and… if we’re being honest… I love them all just as much today as I did then. Possibly more.

I plan to spend Maureen O’Hara Day reading from her autobiography (after all, I’ve only read it, like 50 times by now) and settling in to rewatch one of her movies later. I’m in the mood for a swashbuckler, so I’ve narrowed it down to one of these great films:

The Spanish Main
The Black Swan
At Sword’s Point

The good thing about collecting her films, is I have all of them to choose from!

Happiest of Heavenly birthdays, lovely Maureen.

John Payne and Maureen O’Hara, Miracle on 34th Street

Maureen O’Hara and Melvyn Douglas, A Woman’s Secret

July 16, 2021 By Joi

Maureen O’Hara and Melvyn Douglas

One of my favorite actresses is Maureen O’Hara. If push came to shove and I HAD to name just one favorite all-time actress, she’d be it. Fortunately no one has ever threatened to push or shove me over the fact. Not even on Twitter and it can get intense over there.

Another favorite actress is Gloria Grahame and one of my favorite actors is Melvyn Douglas.. so how am I not going to watch and rewatch and rewatch a movie starring all three?! Okay, if we’re going to be honest, if the movie was crummy, I wouldn’t rewatch it even once – in spite of the cast. Fortunately A Woman’s Secret (1949, directed by Nicholas Ray) is a wonderful film noir and the stars give exceptional performances.

What’s more, the chemistry between Maureen O’Hara and Melvyn Douglas is outstanding. I SO wish they’d made many movies for me to enjoy.

As it is, I’ll just keep revisiting them and the wonderful Gloria Grahame in this one. I don’t mind one bit.

Maureen O’Hara and Gloria Grahame, A Woman’s Secret

Errol Flynn and Maureen O’Hara: Against All Flags (1952)

June 26, 2021 By Joi

Errol Flynn and Maureen O’Hara, Against All Flags

As you might expect from a HUGE Maureen O’Hara fan, I love swashbuckling movies with a great passion. As a Westerns fanatic, I have always thought of swashbuckling movies as Westerns on Water. Think about it… you have everything but the horses!

Against All Flags stars Maureen O’Hara and Errol Flynn – no stranger to swashbuckling, himself. The 1952 movie was directed by George Sherman and also stars Anthony Quinn, Alice Kelly, and Mildred Natwick.

Is Anthony Quinn outstanding in everything or is Anthony Quinn outstanding in everything?? Answer: Anthony Quinn is outstanding in everything.

BOTD in 1903, The Larger than Life Errol Flynn

June 20, 2021 By Joi

Errol Flynn, San Antonio (1945)

One of the greatest, most colorful, and certainly most popular actors of all time, Errol Flynn was BORD in 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. He often reminds me of another wonderful actor (who also died far too soon), Heath Ledger. The fact that they were both born in Australia is pretty ironic.

One of the things that fascinates me most about Flynn was his ability to (very believably) transition from role to role – oftentimes very different roles! He was just as believable as a swashbuckler as he was a cowboy and just as believable as Don Juan as he was Robin Hood.

“If I have any genius it is a genius for living.” ~ Errol Flynn

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, Dodge City

Errol Flynn is oftentimes a bit of a controversial figure among old Hollywood enthusiasts and film historians. I always hate when anyone devotes time and effort to trying to “knock down” a star who is no longer with us. They contributed to the old Hollywood that we know and love so much – why is it so hard for some people to focus on the positives and leave the negatives in the background… where, of course, they’d prefer their own faults and shortcomings to remain.

I literally encountered a woman once who (after every positive word I said about Errol Flynn), countered with a negative word. I finally just dropped the subject and asked who her favorite was. She said his name, and while I won’t mention it here out of respect to the actor, he had done everything she had just accused Errol Flynn of! When I gently pointed this out, she laughed and said, “Oh I try not to think about any of that!”

Ummm… okay? I am perfectly fine with that. Just extend the same courtesy to everyone else!

Errol Flynn lived life on his own terms, was spoken highly of by his co-stars, and was seemingly adored by his leading ladies. He left us with larger than life performances – none greater than the one of Errol Flynn, himself.

Concluded Below…

Errol Flynn and Maureen O’Hara in Against All Flags

Errol Flynn’s last words were, reportedly (and VERY believably!), “I’ve had a hell of a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

The Foxes of Harrow: Starring Maureen O’Hara and Rex Harrison

May 19, 2021 By Joi

Maureen O’Hara and Rex Harrison

Ever see a movie that was, overall, pretty good but the ending pushed it higher to the realms of very good? I’ve seen several like that and I always get a big kick out of it.

It’s far, far better than a movie that’s excellent all the way through only to have an ending that pushes it down to “fair” or “okay.” I’ve seen that happen a lot too!

The Foxes of Harrow stars two of the best, Maureen O’Hara and Rex Harrison. I love them both to distraction, so I was very excited about seeing this one a few years ago. As I watched, I thought…

Maureen O’Hara was entirely too beautiful!
Rex Harrison truly was one of the all-time great leading men.
The clothes and sets are gorgeous.
This could… well… it could be a little better….

It was good, throughout, without finding its way to great.

And then the ending came and, suddenly, it became a movie I didn’t just “like” but “loved.” A great ending can do that for you – it wraps the story up and pulls everything together.

No, this isn’t one of Maureen O’Hara or Rex Harrison’s best films – I’d be lying if I said it was. However, it is very, very good and ever so much worth seeing.