Myrna Loy | Hollywood Yesterday

Celebrating Myrna Loy on the Date of Her Birth!

August 2, 2021 By Joi

Myrna Loy, The Barbarian

Myrna Adele Williams was BOTD in 1905 in Helena, Montana. She’d go on to become Myrna Loy – one of the most talented, beautiful, entertaining, colorful, and enjoyable actresses the world’s ever known.

While Myrna Loy is best known for her films with William Powell, she did make a lot of other wonderful films without Powell (the same can be said of him). They were sensational apart… but together… they were absolute MAGIC. This is true with many of Hollywood’s greatest teams…

Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall
Myrna Loy and William Powell
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy

Anyone familiar with Myrna Loy and William Powell movies know just how much they deserve to be listed with this group – those who question it need to see their films!

The Thin Man Goes Home (1944): Myrna Loy and William Powell and Asta

BOTD in 1892, the Extraordinary William Powell

July 29, 2021 By Joi

Myrna Loy and William Powell, Double Wedding

William Powell was born on this day in 1892 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Hollywood is all the better for it.

“Even my best friends never fail to tell me that the smartest thing I ever did was to marry Myrna Loy on the screen.” ~ William Powell

While William Powell and Myrna Loy had tremendous success in Hollywood apart from one another, they are remembered most as a team. A fact that I’m certain wouldn’t bother either of them in the least.

They starred in 13 wonderful movies together in the 1930s and ’40s.

My favorite William Powell movie that doesn’t co-star Myrna Loy is The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) with Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery. It also happens to be one of my favorite Joan Crawford movies. It’s outstanding from the first line to the last. You can find The Last of Mrs. Cheyney on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.

The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Starring Robert Montgomery, Joan Crawford, and William Powell

Another William Powell quote about Myrna Loy that I love: “When we did a scene together, we forgot about technique, camera angels, and microphones. We weren’t acting. We were just two people in perfect harmony. Many times I’ve played with an actress who seemed to be separated from me by a plate-glass window; there was no contact at all. But Myrna, unlike some actresses who think only of themselves, has the happy faculty of being able to listen while the other fellow says his lines. She has the give and take of acting that brings out the best.” ~ William Powell

Myrna Loy and William Powell, After The Thin Man

Myrna Loy, Billie Burke, and William Powell: The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

June 4, 2021 By Joi

Myrna Loy, William Powell, and Billie Burke

The Great Ziegfeld (1936) was directed by Robert Z. Leonard and boasted a fantastic cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Luise Rainer, Frank Morgan, Fanny Bryce, Reginald Owen, Virginia Bruce, and Ray Bolger.

Myrna Loy portrayed the lovely Billie Burke and was a wonderful choice for the role. William Powell was also great in his role as Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Then again… these two were never anything but extraordinary in anything they ever did, were they?

I also love Luise Rainer in the role of Anna Held – two very under-appreciated actresses, ironically.

Billie Burke and Myrna Loy

Something I have often noticed when looking at pictures of the delicate beauty of Billie Burke is how much she reminds me of Carole Lombard. The coloring is obviously very similar and they were both petite but there’s also something unique in the eyes, a mix of softness and strength that’s difficult to pull yourself away from.

The fact that Myrna Loy, honestly, resembled Billie Burke very, very little (if any at all) and yet made the role and movie work is a huge testament to Myrna Loy. I always respected her as an actress and, yet, this role in one of her less-popular films really brought it home to me – she was extraordinary.

Myrna Loy and William Powell

The Unforgettable Myrna Loy: Born on this Date in 1905

August 2, 2020 By Joi

Myrna Loy, Double Wedding

Myrna Adele Williams on August 2, 1905 in Helena, Montana. She would go on to become the much-loved actress Myrna Loy.

What better star to shine the spotlight on than the birthday girl herself, today?!

Myrna Loy is always such a joy to watch – she had a unique acting style that was all her own and, while I’m sure it was, didn’t seem to be inspired by anyone but HER, herself. There was an underlying strength and confidence radiating from her that jumps through the screen at you.

Those of us who adore her certainly aren’t alone.

Some of her biggest fans included James Stewart, Winston Churchill, and Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt were also fans.

The beautiful photos, shown here, are from Myrna’s hilarious 1937 movie Double Wedding, with William Powell.

Talk about a magical duo… this was one of the most magical.

Myrna Loy and William Powell

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

November 28, 2019 By Joi

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.

Myrna Loy: Age Six (On the Porch of Her Grandmother’s Home)

October 2, 2019 By Joi

The adorable photo above is of Myrna Loy Age 6 with Her Cousin Laura Belle Wilder. The photo was taken on Myrna’s grandmother’s porch in Helena, Montana.

You can certainly recognize her face, can’t you? The “I will stand for NONE of your nonsense!” look is already firmly in place.

Gotta love her!

Myrna Loy: The Only Good Girl in Hollywood

16 Fast Facts About Myrna Loy

April 11, 2019 By Joi

Myrna Loy was born on a cattle ranch in Helena, Montana on August 2, 1905.
Her father, a rancher, was the youngest person ever elected to the Montana State legislature.
When her father was travelling by train in early 1905, he saw a small station called “Myrna.” This is how she got her beautiful name.
A few of Myrna’s hobbies were sculpting and dancing.
She made her Broadway debut in the 1973 revival of “The Women.”
Her first film was a small part in the production of What Price Beauty? (1925). He appeared that same year in Pretty Ladies with Joan Crawford.
Myrna was one of the few stars who made a successful transition from silent films to “talkies.” She made 129 motion pictures!
Somehow never nominated for an acting Oscar, she received an honorary Academy Award in 1991.
Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center in 1988.
In 1939, she was nearly killed when her horse bolted during the filming of The Rains Came (1939) with Tyrone Power.
“Men-Must-Marry-Myrna” Clubs were formed due to her role in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).
In 1936 Myrna was named (in a national poll) Queen of the Movies while Clark Gable was named King.
In her autobiography, she says that she did not get along with Gable in their early films. However, in her later films he developed a respect for her and they became good friends.
Some of Myrna Loy’s biggest fans included James Stewart, Winston Churchill, and the Roosevelts. Franklin D. Roosevelt invited to the White House early on in his administration, and she became especially friendly with First Lady Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.
Ever the fighter, she underwent two mastectomies after being diagnosed with breast cancer TWICE.
Myrna Loy passed away on December 14, 1993, at the age of 88 and is buried in Helena, Montana.