musicals | Hollywood Yesterday

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.

Lena Horne and Ernest Whitman, Stormy Weather

October 12, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lena Horne and Ernest Whitman, Stormy Weather

If you’ve never seen the 1943 musical Stormy Weather (link to the movie on Prime Video), I hope you’ll see it as soon as possible. The movie stars Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers, Ernest Whitman, Ada Brown and more.

Trust me, it’s a cast few others can even begin to touch.

The charismatic movie is sort of a compilation of genres – comedy, musical, and drama. It’s unique and it’s wonderful.

You can also find Stormy Weather on dvd (link to the dvd on Amazon).

Beautiful Lena Horne

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly, An American in Paris

March 7, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly, An American in Paris

Ever love a movie so much you’re overcome with warm feelings even when you simply see promotional pictures? That’s me and some of my very favorites, including An American in Paris.

Ready for an unpopular opinion that may blow your hat off? I like this Gene Kelly musical 10x more than Singin’ in the Rain.

Go ahead and pick your hat up. I’ll be here when you get back.

They’re both wonderful musicals and each cast is outstanding. I love the music and dancing in each film. I love Gene Kelly and his sidekick Donald O’Connor in Singin’ in the Rain and I love Gene Kelly and his sidekick Oscar Levant in An American in Paris. I guess, truth be told, I enjoy Oscar’s performance a bit more.

The real difference, for me, between the two, however, is the lead actress. I buy into the Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron pairing much much more than I do the Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds one.

Now, I realize this is all a very unpopular opinion.. in fact, I’ve never heard anyone ever say anything even remotely negative about Singin’ in the Rain! It’s almost an unwritten rule – <em><strong>One must love every single thing about the musical and never mutter anything construed as anything less than glowing praise!!!</strong></em>

Ooops, I smashed that rule. Don’t get me wrong, I love Singin’ in the Rain. Gene Kelly’s performance in the rain is an iconic, one in a billion, mesmerizing work of art. I think the movie is great. I simply like An American in Paris better and it’s due to the chemistry between the main stars as much as anything.

Ironically, while I don’t think lovely Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly had even a single spark of chemistry, I think she and Donald O’Connor had tons! Every single time I’ve watched the movie, I think the same thing throughout the movie…. “Girl, you’re with the wrong guy.”

At any rate, An American in Paris (Amazon Link) is one of my all-time favorite movies, not just musicals. I love every single thing about it. If you’ve never seen it, I hope you’ll find it soon. There’s a number Gene Kelly and Oscar Levant perform in their room that’s as wonderful as any musical number you can think of.

Yes… even that one.

Ever love a movie so much you’re overcome with warm feelings even when you simply see promotional pictures? That’s me and some of my very favorites, including An American in Paris.

Ready for an unpopular opinion that may blow your hat off? I like this Gene Kelly musical 10x more than Singin’ in the Rain.

Go ahead and pick your hat up. I’ll be here when you get back.

The real difference, for me, between the two, however, is the lead actress. I buy into the Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron pairing much much more than I do the Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds one.

Now, I realize this is all a very unpopular opinion.. in fact, I’ve never heard anyone ever say anything even remotely negative about Singin’ in the Rain! It’s almost an unwritten rule – One must love every single thing about the musical and never mutter anything construed as anything less than glowing praise!!!

Yes… even that one.

Judy Garland and Gene Kelly: For Me and My Gal Sal (1942)

January 19, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

One of my all-time favorite actresses and musical stars is Judy Garland. One of my all-time favorite actors and musical stars is Gene Kelly. So, can you imagine the perfect excitement that fills my den when I’m watching a musical with both of these magical stars?

My cats can barely stand me, I’m so giddy. They truly were magical, weren’t they?

Below is the wonderful duo performing “For Me and My Gal” from the musical of the same name (1942). One of my favorite musicals of all time, it’s pretty underrated, for whatever reasons.

Maybe we can do something about that right now!

Six years later, they would team up again for another one of my favorite musicals, The Pirate. While it’s deliciously over-the-top and not remotely like this particular musical, I love it with all my heart and soul.

How could I not? It stars these two?!

June Allyson and Ray McDonald: Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

January 9, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

June Allyson and Ray McDonald, Till the Clouds Roll By

As I’ve often said, June Allyson is my Doris Day, as in the actress I most associate with sunshine. Whereas most people feel that Doris Day was the human equivalent of sunshine, June is that for me.

Nothing in the world against Doris Day, mind you! It’s simply that I’ve seen all but a few June Allyson films (I watch, re-watch, and collect them like my life depends on it) and I have seen…. are you ready for this?…. only one Doris Day film.

One!

I’m not sure how she has missed my radar, but she has almost completely. I need to watch more of her films this year, don’t I?

Today’s picture of the day is the wonderful June Allyson and the wonderful Ray McDonald in the musical Till The Clouds Roll By (1946). I will always wonder what might have been with Ray McDonald. He was only 38 years old when he died. Could the man ever dance?!?!

If you’ve never seen this musical (or if you have and it’s time for a re-watch), I hope you’ll check it out soon. Judy Garland, June Allyson, Lena Horne, Angela Lansbury, Robert Walker, Van Johnson, Kathryn Grayson, Van Heflin, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore…. what a cast!

Love, Love, Love, Love Her!

Rita Hayworth: Music in My Heart (1940)

December 18, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Hayworth, Music in My Heart Publicity Photo

Rita Hayworth and recording artist Tony Martin star Music in My Heart (Amazon DVD link), a musical comedy featuring the wonderful, wonderful, wonderful music of Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra.

This is one of those films that is a definite feast for the eyes AND ears.

Rita Hayworth: Promo Photo from Music in My Heart

November 2, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Hayworth, Music in My Heart (1940)

Rita Hayworth and musicals waltz beautifully together. While she is known (let’s face it, for obvious reasons) as an icon of great beauty, she was also an uncommonly talented actress as well as dancer.

In fact, Fred Astaire once said she was his favorite dancing partner and he danced with the best dancers in the business.

Including himself!

If you only know Rita Hayworth from the wonderful film-noir Gilda, I hope you’ll venture out and see her musicals (You Were Never Lovelier, Cover Girl, Music in My Heart…). She really was extraordinary.

Lena Horne: The Lady is a Tramp (One of my Favorite Lena Horne Performances)

October 11, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

There are many actresses, actors, and performers who I always find myself wondering, “How is everyone in the world not a HUGE fan?!” Lena Horne is one of these under-celebrated stars (at least in my opinion).

What do I (personally) consider to be under-celebrated?

If the average person (not someone in our Old Hollywood community) can’t name at least one of their movies or songs, they’re under-celebrated.
If those of us within the community can’t name at least three of their movies or songs, they’re under-celebrated.

While Lena Horned, obviously, doesn’t fall through the completely unknown crack, she should be more heartily celebrated.

The lady had more talent in her left eyebrow than a lot of stars did.

That’s right, I said it.

This is actually one of the best things about having an Old Hollywood blog (and Twitter account) – I can go on and on and on and on and on about my favorites and feel like I’m (hopefully) helping keep their name familiar, their body of work work alive and their face forever smiling.

I know, a little deep for a Friday, but… blame it on Lena. She puts me in my feels.

When you watch Lena perform in the video above (which I surely hope you will at least once), pay close attention to her facial expressions and her hand gestures. I think she was simply brilliant – and the stage command! The lady was doing what she was born to do and, if you ask me, that is always breathtaking.

Gene Kelly: The Title Number from Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

August 7, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gene Kelly, Singin’ in the Rain

Gene Kelly’s Singin’ in the Rain (Amazon link) performance in the musical of the same name is so iconic and famous EVEN people who aren’t fans of old movies know it.

The title was actually originally meant to be a showcase for the three leads but Gene Kelly thought a solo performance would better illustrate his character’s joie de vivre.

The most remarkable thing about this performance to me, however, is the fact that Gene Kelly was actually quite sick during filming. His fever was at least 101 but, ever the trooper, he not only performed to perfection, he ad -libbed most of it and it only took one take – the one you see in the film.

Remarkable talent.

Rita Moreno, West Side Story: Mesmerizing Performer in an Iconic Movie!

June 9, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Moreno, West Side Story

Very often, my favorite stars or characters in a film aren’t even the leads. It happens so often that I’ve even asked myself, “What is your problem with leads??!” Naturally, there are exceptions, but peg me as one who is drawn to the colorful, fun, and sometimes off beat stars who give a film it’s pulse. Stars like, you guessed it, Rita Moreno.

And what a pulse she gives everything she touches!

While the entire cast, directing, writing, and production of West Side Story (Amazon Link) is exceptional and the movie soars from start to finish, without Rita Moreno it doesn’t even get off the ground. I suspect everyone tied to the film realized it.

How could they not?!