Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors
Sophia Loren, Legend of the Lost
We celebrate the life, career, and radiance of Sophia Loren on her birthday. Sofia Scicolone was born in Rome, Lazio, Italy in 1934. Her career is filled with mesmerizing performances and wonderfully entertaining films.
“The two big advantages I had at birth were to have been born wise and to have been born in poverty.” ~ Sophia Loren
Happiest of birthdays to a radiant light that keeps shining brightly.
Sophia Loren
The stunningly beautiful Sophia Loren has been uncommonly lovely every day of her life – but I’m not sure she has ever been any more beautiful than she was in The Miller’s Beautiful Wife.
Suffice to say, nature has always been very kind to her and she completely strutted in during this film.
Make no mistake about it, though, she has never been just a beautiful face (and then some), she is a very talented and charismatic actress – and a strong one, at that. She has always been known what was best for her and never had any intention of anyone second guess her!
These photos are from the wonderful 1955 film The Miller’s Beautiful Wife (directed by Mario Camerini).
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck
Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck co-starred in the wonderful 1966 action-adventure Arabesque, directed by Stanley Donen.
Sophia Loren said of Gregory Peck, “One of the most charming men I’ve ever met.” As a Gregory Peck fan, I always love reading positive things his co-stars said about him.. fortunately they only had wonderful things to say about him.
Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck
It would appear he was a wonderful person and treated everyone with great respect!
You can find Arabesque on dvd (Amazon link).
Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren in Arabesque (1966)
Cary Grant and Sophia Loren
Two of Hollywood’s most popular and beloved stars ever, Cary Grant and Sophia Loren star in the 1957 film The Pride and the Passion. Directed by the wonderful Stanley Kramer, the film also stars Frank Sinatra and Jay Novello (love them both!).
Sophia Loren, about Cary Grant: “I learned many things working with Cary Grant. He has such tremendous concentration. Many actors do not have the courage to stand still. Cary Grant knows how to concentrate, how to look directly at you, but always with great relaxation.”
You can find The Pride and the Passion on DVD (Amazon link). It’s a film that you don’t hear a lot about and one that, unfortunately, isn’t shown on television often (probably why you don’t hear more about it!) but it is VERY good and very much worth watching. The performances by the leads are outstanding and Jay Novello is never anything but completely entertaining.
Cary Grant and Sophia Loren in The Pride and the Passion
Sophia Loren, Boy on a Dolphin
As is often the case with my pictures of the day, I am dropping the beauty bombs on you and running! I may (or may not) have mentioned before that I have the BLESSING of getting to watch my grandbabies while their moms and dads work – and, as is the case with baby/toddler BLESSINGS… they mean a MiMi is very much in motion all day long!
And loves every minute of it more than I could ever say.
So, as you’d imagine, my time at a computer is very limited. I simply have no intention of being at the computer when my grandbabies need me in the den floor playing with Hot Wheels, in the yard allowing them to spray me until I’m SOAKED, or in the kitchen serving up popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes, popsicles, and any thing else they desire.
If my posts ever strike you as short, there are three very good (also short!) reasons for this!
Stay well, stay safe, and stay happy. ~ Joi
Sophia Loren
You can watch Boy on a Dolphin on Prime or buy the dvd on Amazon.
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??
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!
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
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…
