Golden Age of Hollywood
Maureen O’Hara, Bagdad
Bagdad is a lush, colorful… downright delicious technicolor film from 1949. Directed by Charles Lamont, Bagdad stars Maureen O’Hara, Paul Hubschmid, and Vincent Price. As a HUGE star of
Maureen O’Hara and a HUGE star of Vincent Price, I wish they had done a lot more movies together.
It would have most certainly floated my pirate boat. If you’ve never seen this one, I hope you check it out soon.
You can find Bagdad (link to the dvd) on Amazon.
Maureen O’Hara, Bagdad
Maureen O’Hara
Like the rest of us, some old Hollywood stars aged better than others. Maureen O’Hara? The lady was on to some secret fountain of youth – long before Halle Berry ever discovered her own…
Seriously, is Halle Berry ever going to age??
This gorgeous picture of Maureen in a publicity photo for her 1959 film Our Man in Havana, directed by Carol Reed.
Maureen O’Hara, How Green Was My Valley
One of Maureen O’Hara’s earliest films was How Green Was My Valley (1941). While often not as popular as her Westerns or Swashbuckling films, this is a beautiful movie with many outstanding performances, including Maureen’s. If you’ve never seen it, I hope you’ll check it out soon.
Maureen O’Hara, How Green Was My Valley
Maureen O’Hara
If you know anything about me, you know how much I adore Maureen O’Hara. I mean, I wouldn’t be a walking/talking Maureen O’Hara expert if I didn’t, right??
There’s just something about her that resonates with me and has since I saw my first Maureen O’Hara movie, Miracle on 34th Street. Even as a child, I knew talent when I saw it (in spite of the fact that I spent half the movie mad at her character!).
Maureen O’Hara
I love everything about this beautiful actress – her acting, her strength, her charisma, her beauty, her faith, her character, her personality…. everything. Period. There’s something about certain stars that draws each of us to them, isn’t there? Something we see in particular stars that resonates with us, somehow.
Maureen O’Hara resonates with me like sunshine on a summer day…. it’s as simple as that.
These gorgeous photos are publicity pictures for the 1949 film Bagdad. It was directed by Charles Lamont and co-starred Vincent Price and Paul Hubschmid. Excellent cast, beautiful direction (and sets!), gorgeous wardrobe, and a highly entertaining movie.
Plus… it has the Queen of Technicolor… what more could you ask for???
Maureen O’Hara, Bagdad Publicity Photo
Sinbad the Sailor Lobby Card
I have an obsession with lobby cards and movie posters that defies description – I love them with everything I’ve got. The Sinbad the Sailor Lobby Card pictured above is especially beautiful, isn’t it?
LOVE the colors!
Maureen O’Hara, Louis Hayward, and Lucille Ball
Anyone who knows me at all knows that two of my greatest obsessions are Lucille Ball and Maureen O’Hara (along with Ann-Margret, Rita Hayworth, and Katharine Hepburn… yes, more redheads!). How could I not be all about Dance, Girl, Dance (Amazon dvd link) – the 1940 film starring BOTH of these beautiful and incredibly talented ladies. The movie is fun, spirited, entertaining, and packed with personality and charisma – just like its lovely stars.
Another cool thing about Dance, Girl, Dance is that it was directed by Dorothy Arzner, one of the bold ground-breakers for females in film-making. She didn’t just open the door for other female directors, she flung it open. The lady was absolutely wonderful.
The film makes for a very entertaining afternoon or evening and the photo makes for my kind of picture of the day!
Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood, Miracle on 34th Street
One of my greatest obsessions in this world is Christmas – so, naturally I love Christmas movies as much as one can possibly love anything! Miracle on 34th Street (Amazon link to the Black and White version… the best version in my opinion), It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas in Connecticut, and all classic animated Christmas films make the season EVEN sweeter. As a Christian, I certainty realize that there is only One who is worth celebrating (it’s His birthday we’re remembering after all!), but all of these films are very dear to my heart.
I want to wish you and your loved ones a beautiful, happy, peaceful, and joy-filled Christmas. Thank you for visiting Hollywood Yesterday – you absolutely honor me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)
Maureen O’Hara, Kelsey Mulrooney, Richard Thomas, and Annette O’Toole The Christmas Box
The Christmas Box (TV Movie, 1995) was Maureen O’Hara’s first TV film role since The Red Pony in ’73. The film starred Maureen O’Hara, Richard Thomas, Kelsey Mulrooney, and Annette O’Toole.
When asked if anything had changed in the business since she’d last worked, Maureen replied, “I’ll tell you what hasn’t changed. You’re still waiting for the gift of a great writer giving you a great script. And I think The Christmas Box is a wonderful gift.”
It’s a wonderful movie – each of the stars are outstanding. Each time I see it, I always wish Richard Thomas and Annette O’Toole made more movies. I’m a huge fan of both of theirs.
Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne
Maureen O’Hara is one of my VERY favorite actresses, so you can bet I’ve seen Miracle on 34th Street more times than the average movie fan. Honestly… I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times, because I watch it multiple times each year.
John Payne and Maureen O’Hara
Heck, I’ve been known to watch in in the middle of July!
Each time I watch it, I love it even more. The cast was simply perfect – from Maureen, Natalie Wood, John Payne, and Edmund Gwenn to William Frawley, Porter Hall, Jerome Cowan, and Gene Lockhart. Each was spectacular and (obviously) knew they were part of something extra EXTRA special.
Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne
A few things in particular strike me with each viewing:
Natalie Wood, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne
The beauty above is Silent Film star Mildred Davis. She was a frequent co-star (and longtime wife) of legendary actor Harold Lloyd. She’s one of my favorite silent film actresses and one I can’t understand not being a household name!
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
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…
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!
