musicals | Hollywood Yesterday

Jean Hagen: Behind the Scenes Singin’ in the Rain

April 11, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jean Hagen

Jean Hagen is one of those actresses with a lack of popularity I can’t quite figure out. She was so talented, beautiful, and colorful… how can she not be better-known. It can’t be her, personally, because she has no flaw and never comes up short in any performance.

The only thing I can think of as a possible reason is perhaps her roles weren’t “front and center” often enough. She gave strong performances and had some wonderful films – but she was more often than not a supporting player. You know, the type of player a team can’t possibly function without but often falls under the heading of, “I know that face…. what’s the name again???”

I’m working my way through her filmography and I grow to love her more with each and every scene.

The photo here is a behind the scenes picture from Singin’ in the Rain.

You can find Singin’ in the Rain (Amazon link) on dvd – a classic every old Hollywood lover must have in their collection!

Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds: Singin’ in the Rain Promo Pic

March 30, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds

One of the best-loved movies in the history of movies is represented by the pictures here… Singin’ in the Rain. While I love the cast, I used to have a problem with the chemistry between Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. I’ve always loved both stars to distraction (and back) but the lack of chemistry or spark between them always caused me to enjoy the movie a bit less than most people are able to.

While I still don’t think they had much of a spark, I revisited the iconic movie recently and loved it more than I ever have. There’s absolutely enough spark there to make things work!

I think my problem may have been three-fold:

I watch a lot (make that A LOT) of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movies… as in over and over… and their chemistry was off the charts.
One of my favorite musicals is An American in Paris and Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron had TONS of chemistry.
I frequently watch other Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly films where they have so much rapport with their co-stars – for example, Debbie Reynolds and James Garner sparked so much you could FEEL it (see How Sweet It Is for proof!).

I finally managed to get out of my own way and appreciate this wonderful movie for what it is – a truly iconic, feel-great musical that deserves the fame it enjoys. Sometimes we have to do just that… get out of our own way and allow the magic to come shining through.

When it comes to old Hollywood, it almost always does.

You can find Singin’ in the Rain (Amazon link) on dvd or watch it on Prime Video (link to Amazon’s Prime Video).

Jane Powell and Howard Keel: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Promotional Picture

March 22, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jane Powell and Howard Keel

I can’t say with absolute certainty that Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is the first musical I ever saw, but it IS the first one I remember. I loved everything about it, then, as a little girl, and I love everything about it now… with three little girls of my own all grown!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was directed by Stanley Donen and boasts an absolutely incredible cast including Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Russ Tamlyn, Jeff Richards, Julie Newmar, and Ruta Lee. It’s beautiful, joyful, and deliciously colorful entertainment that is timeless.

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An interesting bit of trivia about this wonderful musical: MGM had (for whatever reasons!) low financial expectations for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. With these low expectations in mind, they chose to allocate resources, instead, to Rose Marie and Brigadoon. Ironically, neither of these films had anywhere near the commercial and critical success of Seven Brides.

In fact, Seven Brides is, to this day, the most popular of the three!

You can watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on Prime Video (Amazon link) or buy the dvd (link to the dvd on Amazon).

Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, and Jane Powell: Hit the Deck

March 4, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, and Jane Powell

Hit the Deck is one of those musicals that’s just a delight to watch. The dresses, the hairstyles, the shoes, the jewelry, the beautiful dancing and singing – it’s just a pleasure to watch and I take pleasure in it every time it’s on. I will be buying the dvd soon because Jane Powell is one of the stars I collect.. which means I must have everything pertaining to her – movies, magazines, books, collector’s cards, photos – ALL OF IT!

There are a number of stars who I, personally, am trying to make better known. Jane Powell is one of them. There are a few reasons why Jane Powell may not be as well-known as other actresses from old Hollywood and none of them have anything to do with the beautiful and talented actress, herself.

She only made 26 feature films. While this absolutely makes a wonderful career, fewer movies made = fewer people seeing a particular star.
Except for one (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), her movies aren’t shown as often as many other old movies.
Generally speaking, with few exceptions, musicals aren’t watched by the whole family as other films are.
While Jane Powell was/is remarkably beautiful, it was never her beauty that was publicized. Actresses who weren’t “pinups” didn’t have the free publicity that comes with being seen just about everywhere.

You can watch Hit the Deck on Prime Video or order the dvd (Amazon link).

Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, and Jane Powell

Jane Powell: Three Sailors and Girl Promo Picture

February 2, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jane Powell

Today’s picture of the day is of one of my all-time favorites, Jane Powell. This is a promo pic from Three Sailors and a Girl (spoiler alert: She was the girl!).

Three Sailors and a Girl (1953) was directed by Roy Del Ruth and also stars Gordon MacRae, Sam Levene, and Gene Nelson.

You can watch Three Sailors and a Girl on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon.

Shirley Jones and Hermione Gingold: The Music Man!

January 31, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Shirley Jones and Hermione Gingold

The Music Man was recently shown on television and I knew straight away that Shirley Jones had to star in my pictures of the day today!

Shirley Jones, Janet Leigh, Cyd Charisse, and Ann Miller are four stars that fascinate me. Incredibly talented and unmistakably beautiful and charismatic… and yet, somehow, their beauty always sneaks up on you. How can that be, with four such beauties?!

It happened, again, with Shirley while I was watching The Music Man. Each time it cut to her, I thought, “Whoa… what a perfect face! That complexion… wow.” I mean… I know what a beauty the actress is – why does she always sneak up on me like that?!

It happened not long ago with Janet Leigh, while watching The Naked Spur – I know she was a beautiful actress, but AGAIN, I kept thinking, “What a wonderful face!” Ann Miller and Cyd Charisse are the same way.

I can’t say with absolute certainty, but some may have to do with the fact that these ladies didn’t do the “Gaze upon my gorgeousness, you mortals! GAZE!” glam shots a lot of actresses did. I am not remotely knocking these photos – they were all part of the job. Some actresses just seemed to (for the most part) avoid the types of photo shoots other actresses had or chose to do. Unfortunately for some and fortunately for others, these glamour shots have become ingrained in our minds and some are more associated with beauty than others are.

And yet… when you watch the stars in movies, you realize that many weren’t just as beautiful as those who are ingrained… but often even more so!

Suffice to say, Shirley Jones is and has always been one of the most beautiful, most talented, and charismatic stars we’ve ever had on television or film. Sometimes I think she is cursed by her perfection – it’s easy to take her huge talent, angel face and flawless figure for granted.

If you haven’t seen The Music Man in a while, I hope you’ll check it out – it’s a ridiculously fun musical and Shirley Jones is… you guessed it…. flawless.

You can find The Music Man on dvd (Amazon Link) or watch it on Prime Video.

Sneaky Gorgeous Shirley Jones

Jane Powell: Great Three Sailors and a Girl Behind the Scenes Photo

January 7, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jane Powell, Three Sailors and a Girl

There’s just something about the beautiful Jane Powell that always makes me happy. Whether it’s watching one of her movies, listening to her sing, or seeing one of her pictures… she just makes me smile. Without fail. Every single time.

One reason may be that she’s one of my favorite stars. Also, I associate her with happiness. I mean, really, does happy get any happier than when you’re watching a musical?!

Another reason she makes me smile may be the fact that she, herself, is often smiling! She always seems so happy, confident, and… well… just pleased to be alive.

What’s not to love about that attitude?!

Three Sailors and a Girl (1953) was directed by Roy Del Ruth and also stars Gordon MacRae, Sam Levene, and Gene Nelson.

You can watch Three Sailors and a Girl on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon. I need this one for my Jane Powell collection!

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Shall We Dance (1937)

November 16, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Fred Astaire

Some stars in Old Hollywood were just so RIGHT that we kind of take them for granted. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, IMO, fall into this category. They were so perfect (every move, every step, every inflection, every expression…) that we kind of take them for granted.

By that I mean, how often do we fail to list Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers on our lists of favorite old Hollywood stars…. but, yet, truth be told, we love them as much as anyone!

Many times, when making a mental (or physical) list of favorites, we tend to go through the dramatic movies… the epics!… and gather up favorite stars. This is all fine and good, but let’s not forget the musicals and comedies. Comedy is even harder for an actor/actress and, let’s face it, there is no better legacy than leaving laughter behind!

When you add to this the fact that musical stars had to act AND sing AND dance, you can’t help but be blown away by their talent.

Ginger Rogers

Recently, on Twitter, I answered a poll that asked for your favorite 20 old Hollywood stars. Given that I watch every single genre from silent films through the 70s, I have many, many favorites. I was kind of proud of myself that I was able to narrow the usual suspects to 22 (I mean, just cheating by two is hardly even cheating, right?), but as soon as I hit “Tweet,” I realized I had forgotten two of the stars who, over the years, have brought me as much joy and happiness as any star – Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

I took them for granted! I replied to myself almost immediately and added them. It made me feel a little better anyway.

Whether they’re together in one of their lovely, perfectly flawless musicals or apart in one of their individual films… I simply love these two to distraction.

And I vow to never leave them out of a favorite list ever again.

You can find Shall We Dance (link to the dvd) on Amazon or watch it on Prime Video.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Shall We Dance

Ann Miller: Beautiful, Talented, Charismatic, and then Some

October 26, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ann Miller

As I’ve often said, there are certain stars who have careers or levels of fame that bumfuzzle me. How some stars hit it BIG while other, easily as talented (often even more so) stars never quite took off. How some stars are so remembered today that they’re household names EVEN in households that don’t even like old Hollywood.

Uncultured mortals!

Or how certain stars were given chances that weren’t afforded to other (again, just as worthy stars). This would be where Ann Miller’s career and filmography frustrate me. How was this stunningly beautiful and ridiculously talented lady not used in more films? Why was she not given leading lady roles – the girl everyone was chasing.

I mean.. come on… why wouldn’t they?!?

Don’t get me wrong, she has a VERY impressive filmography and outstanding body of work but her talent should have dictated a career and level of fame where, if the name were mentioned to one from the uncultured crowd, they could name, at the very least, two of her movies.

As it is… people who aren’t as engrossed in old movies and classic Hollywood as I am usually react like this when I mention Ann Miller, “I know the name… she was a brunette, right?”

Right. She was a brunette.

I sat down to post her as the picture of the day with ZERO intention of ranting and raving… and yet here we are! Ha, that’s vintage me.

Before wrapping it up, I hasten to say that I was joking… okay, mostly joking… when I referred to those unfamiliar with Old Hollywood as uncultured. I have a bunch of them in my own family, so I have nothing but love for them.

Okay… maybe a hint of contempt…

Ha… I kid!

BOTD in 1918, The Beautiful and Talented Rita Hayworth…

October 17, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, You Were Never Lovelier

Rita Hayworth has been one of my absolute favorite actresses for as long as I can remember. I remember being very, very young and walking through the living room and saw what looked like a princess from one of my storybooks come to life. I sat and watched her with my mom. While I’d give just about anything to be able to sit and watch anything with my mom again, some things haven’t changed – I still think of Rita as a fairytale princess that came to life – if only for a brief time, before leaving us.

The first Rita Hayworth film I saw (the one I watched with my mom) was You Were Never Lovelier (1942) and, to this day, I don’t know why Gilda is so much more popular than this one. Granted, Gilda is an extraordinary movie… but so is You Were Never Lovelier.

Truth be told, though, I am absolutely wild about just about every Rita Hayworth movie. The Lady from Shanghai and The Loves of Carmen aren’t high on my list, but Rita’s in them… and that’s good enough for me!

If you’ve never seen You Were Never Lovelier (link to the dvd on Amazon), I hope you’ll find it and watch it soon. If you HAVE seen it, watch it again! Each time I do, I love it even more.