Melvyn Douglas | Hollywood Yesterday

Picture of the Day: Melvyn Douglas and Ava Gardner (My Forbidden Past, 1951)

December 2, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas

We all have “Old Hollywood” regrets, don’t we? Roles we wish our favorite stars had played (roles we wish our favorite stars had NOT played!), pairings that never happened we wish had happened, etc.

One of my Classic Film regrets is that Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas (two of my favorites) weren’t paired romantically in, say, a great film noir. While I enjoy their film My Forbidden Past a great deal, not only are they cousins but she has both of her eyes on Robert Mitchum!

I would have loved a film where her beautiful eyes were only on Melvyn.

Oh well, sometimes we have to take what we can get! You can read more about My Forbidden Past here.

Find My Forbidden Past on Amazon.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House: Melvyn Douglas, Cary Grant & Myrna Loy (Picture of the Day)

November 28, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House stars Melvyn Douglas, Cary Grant & Myrna Loy

Cary Grant and Myrna Loy star as married couple Jim and Muriel Blandings who decide to build their dream house in the country. What they assume will be a pretty run-of-the-mill task turns into anything but!

It’s a really cute, especially fun film that also stars Melvyn Douglas (you had to know I’d be on board if he’s in the cast).

Find Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House on Amazon.

Picture of the Day: Melvyn Douglas, Maureen O’Hara, and Gloria Grahame

November 22, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

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

Two of my absolute favorite actresses are Maureen O’Hara and Gloria Grahame. One of my absolute favorite actors (right up there, shoulder to shoulder with Bogart, Keaton, and Stewart) is Melvyn Douglas. How in the world am I NOT going to be completely obsessed with A Woman’s Secret (1949) starring all three?!

Fortunately, it also happens to be a very good movie. It’d be a darn shame for me if it wasn’t, wouldn’t it?! I have a feeling I’d like it even if it was a turkey, simply because it has these three.

I’m working on my review of this wonderful film-noir, but for now, here’s a little tease as the picture of the day.

Iconic! Four Legendary Actors from Ghost Story (1981)

November 14, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Fred Astaire, John Houseman, and Melvyn Douglas

Talk about an ICONIC photo! These four men aren’t just legends, they’re four of the greatest actors of our (or any) time. This is from the wonderful 1981 film Ghost Story. It would mark the last theatrical feature film for Melvyn Douglas, Fred Astaire, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.. I am, and forever will be, amazed and thankful that these men were teamed for a film.

Melvyn Douglas and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. are two of the stars I “collect” – as in all of their films, articles, etc… but this particular film, oddly enough, is proving to be difficult for me to find! I’m accustomed (as an avid collector of my favorites) to struggling to find some older films, but this one is from 1981, it should be easy peasy.

IF you can ever get your hands on it, or find it on TV (also often difficult), be sure to watch it. It’s a darn good movie, wonderful plot… and the cast?? CAN’T BE BEAT!

My Forbidden Past with Ava Gardner, Robert Mitchum, and Melvyn Douglas

April 7, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas, My Forbidden Past

It’s always a special treat when two absolute favorites appear in one film together, isn’t it? Ava Gardner was thoughtful enough to team with my favorite actors quite a few times (Melvyn Douglas, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart to name a few). Melvyn Douglas and Ava were each spectacular in My Forbidden Past (1951).

It is actually their performances (as well as an excellent performance by Robert Mitchum) that make the film take flight. Melvyn Douglas is known, primarily, for his lovable characters but in this particular role, he’s a bit of a cad! It’s actually a lot of fun seeing this side of him and, while I could be wrong, he seemed to enjoy playing this type of character. He brings a great deal of humor to the role and film.

Dr. Mark Lucas (Robert Mitchum) and Barbara Beaurevel (Ava Gardner) are star-crossed lovers in My Forbidden Past – basically a tale of a woman scorned!

The film is set in 1890s New Orleans and the costumes and sets are positively delicious.

(Continued Below…)

Ava Gardner and Robert Mitchum

Lucas, wrongly, believed that Barbara stoop him up when they were on the verge of eloping. In a fit of something between raw emotions and a temper tantrum, he takes off for South Africa and marries a woman named Corinne (played by Janis Carter) on the rebound.

Not one to take defeat well, beautiful Barbara bribes her cousin (played to the hilt by Melvin Douglas) to break up their marriage. It’s all fun and games until the scheme ends in Corinne’s death, with her husband Dr. Lucas suspected of murder.

The chemistry between both Ava Gardner and Robert Mitchum AND Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas are palpable.

Find My Forbidden Past on Amazon.

Ava Gardner and Gordon Oliver

The Candidate, Starring Melvyn Douglas and Robert Redford

December 3, 2018 By Joi Leave a Comment

Robert Redford and Melvyn Douglas, The Candidate (1972)

While The Candidate is a 1972 film and, therefore, much more modern than the films I normally showcase on Hollywood Yesterday, I have a reason that can be summed up in two words: Melvyn Douglas.

As I’ve often said, he’s one of my absolute favorites – right up there in rarefied air breathed by Humphrey Bogart, Buster Keaton, and a gentleman named James Stewart. Right. There. With. Them.

While Douglas didn’t have the same number of much-ballyhooed blockbuster movies some of his contemporaries enjoyed, he was (make no mistake about it) as gifted an actor as any. Better than many, if we’re being honest.

He was the reason I watched this film and is definitely one of the reasons I enjoyed it as much as I did. He and Robert Redford were excellent in this fun (not to be taken overly-seriously for crying out loud) movie.

Below are a few fast facts about The Candidate:

Groucho Marx has an uncredited cameo in this movie – it would be his last screen appearance.
Robert Redford plays Bill McKay, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California.
A prop campaign button from The Candidate is on display at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History in Washington… alongside other authentic campaign buttons.
Was shot in just 41 days.