Ruby Dee | Hollywood Yesterday

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

January 21, 2023 By Joi

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

Ruby Dee’s Favorite Quote (Love it!)

June 18, 2021 By Joi

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.”

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

June 17, 2021 By Joi

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: 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

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

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

March 5, 2021 By Joi

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.

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

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?!!?

Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier, A Raisin in the Sun

November 18, 2020 By Joi

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.

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 (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…)

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?