Rhonda Fleming | Hollywood Yesterday

Beautiful Rhonda Fleming in a Stunning Promotional Photo for The Golden Hawk (1952)

January 12, 2023 By Joi

Rhonda Fleming, The Golden Hawk

I’ve talked about it before on Hollywood Yesterday (as well as Twitter, Instagram, Kroger… anywhere I happen to be) but it always fascinates me how… even after YEARS of immersing yourself in old Hollywood… you can still pick up new favorites along the way.

I’ve been a FANATIC for old movies since I was a child and while some stars have been in my top tier of favorites from the start (Maureen O’Hara, Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, John Wayne), I’ve picked up many over the years. In fact, my top 1o favorite actress list as well as my top 10 favorite actor list frequently changes when I fall under a new star’s spell.

The most recent line jumpers are Paul Henreid and Rhonda Fleming. They’d have each been firmly in their top 10 spot if I had seen “enough” of their films earlier – but I’ve only recently seen enough of their work to realize.. “Hey! I’m pretty well obsessed with this star!”

I desperately wish Rhonda Fleming had been given more lead roles in blockbuster-style films. She’d easily be better-known today if this had been the case. Some of her films were and are pretty popular (The Spiral Staircase just to name one), but if she’d had a film along the lines of Casablanca, Key Largo, Or Singin’ in the Rain she’d certainly be better known today.

You can find the wonderfully entertaining and colorful action adventure The Golden Hawk (directed by Sidney Salkow) on dvd (Amazon link). Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be on Prime Video yet.

Rhonda Fleming, The Golden Hawk

Rhonda Fleming, Kirk Douglas, and Burt Lancaster: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

June 25, 2021 By Joi

Rhonda Fleming and Burt Lancaster, Gunfight at the OK Corral

One of the movie genres most associated with me is Westerns – I’ve spent a lifetime perfecting this association. I absolutely love them. In fact, a perfect day in my book would be sitting in the den (preferably in my pajamas), drinking raspberry tea and watching one western after another.

Seriously… talk about Heaven on earth.

The photos here are from the 1957 western Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (directed by John Sturges). The entire cast is outstanding and give great performances but, as far as I’m concerned, Kirk Douglas steals the entire movie. He gives one of my all-time favorite Kirk Douglas performances as Doc Holliday.

The cast also includes Burt Lancaster (as Wyatt Earp), Rhonda Fleming, Jo Van Fleet, John Ireland, Lyle Bettger, Frank Faylen, Earl Holliman (love him in everything), Dennis Hopper, and Ted de Corsiaand.

In his autobiography The Ragman’s Son (Amazon link), Kirk Douglas detailed how he planned precisely how many coughs (and how severe they’d be) in each scene so that continuity wouldn’t be a problem when the film was edited.

The type of incredible dedication you’d expect from such a dedicated and professional actor. And boy does it show in the performance.

You can find Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on dvd (Amazon link) or Prime Video.

Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster

California Girl Rhonda Fleming: Promo Pic from Spellbound

November 25, 2019 By Joi

Rhonda Fleming

Beautiful Californian Rhonda Fleming always makes for a perfect Picture of the Day. This was a promo shot for the 1945 Alfred Hitchcock mystery/film-noir Spellbound (Amazon), co-starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck.

If you’ve never seen this one, check it out. It’s one of my favorite Gregory Peck roles – he is outstanding in this film, as are Ingrid Bergman and Rhonda Fleming.

It’s just a wonderfully entertaining movie. Vintage Hitchcock!

Rhonda Fleming and Robert Mitchum (Out of the Past)

November 18, 2019 By Joi

Today’s picture of the day is beautiful Rhonda Fleming and the wonderful Robert Mitchum from the 1947 film-noir Out of the Past (Amazon).

Robert Mitchum once told Roger Ebert that he smoked so much during this film that when the camera was rolling and Kirk Douglas (in character) offered him a cigarette and asked, “Cigarette?“, Mitchum, realized he had actually carried a cigarette into the scene!

Quick on his feet, he held up his fingers and replied, “Smoking.” His fast-thinking improvisation saved the scene and it’s the one you see, today, when you watch this film.

Picture of the Day: Arlene Dahl and Rhonda Fleming (Slightly Scarlet)

November 1, 2019 By Joi

Arlene Dahl and Rhonda Fleming (Slightly Scarlet)

I thought today called for a double-shot of beauty – what better ladies to get the job done than Arlene Dahl and Rhonda Fleming?! This is a publicity shot from their 1956 film Slightly Scarlet (Amazon).

In this underrated film-noir, Arlene Dahl plays Kleptomaniac Dorothy Lyons. She is released from prison in the custody of her sister June (Rhonda Fleming). Organized crime, politics, and (of course!) romance fuel the film.

Both actresses are outstanding in this darn good movie.