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Hollywood Yesterday

Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors

You are here: Home / Archives for Ruby Dee

Nat King Cole and Ruby Dee, St. Louis Blues (1958)

January 21, 2023 By Joi

Nat King Cole and Ruby Dee, St. Louis Blues

 

Nat King Cole and Ruby Dee

 

Nat King Cole and Ruby Dee lead a phenomenal cast in the 1958 biography-musical St. Louis Blues. Directed by Allen Reisner, the film features a cast that includes Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, and Mahalia Jackson.

I can only imagine what it must have been like to have been in the company of that many iconic legends!

Nat King Cole brilliantly portrays W. C. Handy, the Father of the Blues. This was Cole’s only lead role in a Hollywood film and that’s a darn shame.

At the age of 85 W.C. Handy actually served as a consultant on this film, but SADLY he passed away before the film opened.
I can’t find a dvd to link to and the film doesn’t appear to be on Prime Video – but I’m looking regularly. I need the dvd for my Ruby Dee movie collection!

Nat King Cole and Ruby Dee, St. Louis Blues

Nat King Cole and Ruby Dee, St. Louis Blues

Filed Under: Musicals, Nat King Cole, Picture of the Day, Ruby Dee Tagged With: Nat King Cole, Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee’s Favorite Quote (Love it!)

June 18, 2021 By Joi

Ruby Dee, The Jackie Robinson Story

One of beautiful actress Ruby Dee’s favorite quotes was from the wonderful book, Charlotte’s Web (Amazon link):

“‘Isn’t life peculiar!’ said Jeremy. ‘Compared to what?’ said the spider.”

Charlotte's Web

Filed Under: Ruby Dee Tagged With: Ruby Dee

Beautiful Ruby Dee and Two of Her Leading Men: Ossie Davis and Sidney Poitier

June 17, 2021 By Joi

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A Raisin in the Sun Lobby Card, Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee

A lot of stars are notorious for portraying exceptional couples in film:

  • Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne
  • Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart
  • Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire
  • Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy

You can most certainly add Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier to the list. They were phenomenal together, with a natural, unforced chemistry that always led you to believe they were married in real life! (Not only were they not married, they weren’t even romantically involved! I always have to remind myself of this when I see one of their films.)

Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier appeared together in:
  • No Way Out (1950)
  • Edge of the City (1957)
  • A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
  • Buck and the Preacher (1972)
  • Go Man Go (1954)

Buck and the Preacher Lobby Card

Buck and the Preacher: Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Harry Belafonte

Of course, I have to quickly add that Ruby also had a great deal of chemistry with another talented actor by the name of Ossie Davis. THEY appeared together in NINE films:

  • No Way Out (1950)
  • Gone Are the Days! (1963)
  • The Sheriff (1971)
  • Cool Red (1976)
  • Roots: The Next Generations (1979)
  • All God’s Children (1980)
  • Do the Right Thing (1989)
  • Jungle Fever (1991)
  • The Stand (1994)

The biggest difference between the two pairing? Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis had one of Hollywood’s most successful marriages – from 1948 to his death in 2005! They had three children. It is still so hard to imagine that these two are no longer with us.

Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Do The Right Thing

Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Do The Right Thing

You can find A Raisin in the Sun on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.

Filed Under: Ossie Davis, Picture of the Day, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier Tagged With: Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier

Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, and Harry Belafonte: Buck and the Preacher Lobby Card

March 5, 2021 By Joi

Buck and the Preacher Lobby Card: Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Harry Belafonte

Three of my favorite all-time stars together in one film? Pop the popcorn and sign me up! Not only am I obsessed with westerns, I can never get enough of this film’s three stars: Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Harry Belafonte.

I also love the fact that Sidney Poitier did more than just star in the movie, he directed it! For whatever reasons, I am floored by actors/actresses who also direct the film they star in. The talent level to pull something like that off is mind-blowing.

Buck and the Preacher (1972) isn’t shown on television very often, unfortunately, so you may have to make a bit of an effort to see it. It is, however, worth it.

You can find Buck and the Preacher on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon.

 

Filed Under: Harry Belafonte, Picture of the Day, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, Westerns Tagged With: Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, Westerns

Diana Sands, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee – A Raisin in the Sun (LOVE this Photo!)

February 12, 2021 By Joi

Diana Sands, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee - A Raisin in the Sun

Diana Sands, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee

Diana Sands, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee starred in the wonderful 1961 film A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Daniel Petrie. I wanted a photo from the film for my picture of the day and thought I’d use one of my favorite pictures from any film!

Sidney Poitier’s charisma, energy, and sheer God-given talent makes him one of the greatest stars of our time. Ruby Dee, Diana Sands, Claudia McNeil are just as excellent in the film – and, if we’re being completely honest, not a one of these powerful actresses gets her due.

If you’ve never seen A Raisin in the Sun or if (like me) it’s been entirely too long since you visited these remarkable characters, I hope you’ll find it on Prime Video or, better yet, add the dvd (links to the Criterion Collection dvd on Amazon… one’s already in my cart!) to your collection. I have one dvd in my Ruby Dee collection and one on the way for my Sidney Poitier collection. Yes, as a matter of fact, I take my old Hollywood collections VERY seriously… or could you tell?!!?

Claudia McNeil and Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun

Filed Under: Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Picture of the Day, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier Tagged With: A Raisin in the Sun, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier

Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier, A Raisin in the Sun

November 18, 2020 By Joi

A Raisin in the Sun Lobby Card, Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier

Ever rewatch a movie and fall in love with it all over again?  It had been years since I’d seen A Raisin in the Sun (in spite of the fact that I love Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee to distraction). I decided it was high time to revisit the movie and am I ever glad I did. I was reminded of the very unique dynamic these two stars had together.

There’s just something about taking two incredibly intense, powerful, talented.. and, let’s face it… beautiful!… stars and putting them in one film together. There are times when it seems they produce too much electricity for the screen to contain.

If you haven’t seen A Raisin in the Sun in a few years, I hope you’ll revisit it soon. If you’ve NEVER seen it…. please, please, please watch it! This is a vital piece of film history and its stars will blow you away.

You can find A Raisin in the Sun on dvd (Amazon link) or watch (today’s a great time!) on Prime Video.

Filed Under: Picture of the Day, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier Tagged With: Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier

Pictures of the Day: Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Ruby Dee (Buck and the Preacher)

March 5, 2020 By Joi

Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, Buck and the Preacher

Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, Buck and the Preacher (1972)

How’s this for a great picture of the day? Two of my favorite actors in one place… BANG! Well, literally bang because this picture of the talented twosome is a scene from the wonderful western Buck and the Preacher (Amazon link).

(Continued Below Ruby Dee…)

Ruby Dee, Buck and the Preacher

 

This western isn’t shown often on television and it’s a real shame. Ruby Dee and Cameron Mitchell also starred in this one. Ruby Dee is, as always, mesmerizing in her role as Ruth. This talented lady was quite an actress and should be as much of a household name as anyone.

Speaking of household names, I love the way Sidney Poitier (who also directed the film) and Harry Belafonte worked together in Buck and the Preacher and wish they’d made a lot more movies together.

I hope you’ll check this western out as soon as possible. Phenomenal cast and the directing… by Mr. Poitier.. is excellent.

Seriously… is there anything this man can’t do?


 

Filed Under: Harry Belafonte, Picture of the Day, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, Westerns Tagged With: Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

Movie Collections on Amazon

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Recent Posts

  • Beautiful, Talented, and in ALL Ways Extraordinary… Dorothy Malone!
  • Doris Day, Ethel Barrymore, and Frank Sinatra in Young at Heart
  • Jennifer Jones Promotional Picture for Duel in the Sun (1946)
  • Shirley Jones: Beautiful and Talented Star of Film, Musicals, and Television
  • Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan on the Set of Gigi (1958)
  • Martha Hyer: “Universal’s Answer to Grace Kelly”
  • Elizabeth Taylor, Actress and Humanitarian was BOTD in 1932
  • Esther Williams and Friends Tom & Jerry… Dangerous When Wet!

Movie Night, ANY Night…

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt in El Dorado
Have movie night ANY night with Prime Video on Amazon:  Prime Video (Amazon link)

Thank You for Visiting!

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times
Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!

Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!

Wait. What did I just admit to?? 

Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!

Old Hollywood Movies

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Top Hat Cheek to Cheek

There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.

Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)

We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)

The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)

The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)

The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)

Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)

El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)

Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)

Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)

The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)

Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)

To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)

Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)

Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)

The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)

More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews

Classic Hollywood Books & Biographies (Reviews)

Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn

 

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

 

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
More Old Hollywood Book Reviews!

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Poster

Getting to Know the Gorgeous and Talented Dorothy Dandridge

My Lucy Obsession

Lucille Ball

Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…

Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

When you click through an affiliate (product, book, dvds..) link, I earn a small portion of the money you spend IF you purchase anything. This does not cost you any extra money, of course. This is how I am able to work from home and support my cats! – Joi (“Joy”)

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