Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors
Maureen O’Hara and Joel McCrea
Maureen O’Hara and Joel McCrea lead an outstanding cast in the 1944 Western Buffalo Bill. Directed by William A. Wellman, the cast also includes Linda Darnell, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, and Anthony Quinn.
The movie, based on the life of Buffalo Bill Cody blends fiction with non-fiction and is always a great film to spend a little time with. Beautifully filmed and directed, it’s a movie I always enjoy.
Maureen O’Hara and Joel McCrea
Angela Lansbury, Behind the Scenes of The Harvey Girls (1946)
The extraordinary Angela Lansbury is one of those rare stars everyone seems to love.. and, come on, who can blame us?! She was so incredibly talented, charismatic, colorful, and genuinely lovable and such a gift to those of us who love movies AND those of us who love great classic television.
It’s really, really hard to believe she’s gone, isn’t it? She is and will be missed so much. She’s a great example of the adage, “Live your life so that you will be greatly missed when you’re gone.”
I rewatched The Harvey Girls recently and kept thinking, “I’d forgotten how beautiful she was!” She had a unique, sassy type of beauty that… as far as I’m concerned… is impossible to beat.
The 1946 musical-western was directed by George Sidney and also stars Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, John Hodiak, Preston Foster, Cyd Charisse, Marjorie Main, Chill Wills, and Virginia O’Brien.
You can find The Harvey Girls on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Katy Jurado
“I am very proud to make this picture because I look and act like a Mexican – not imitation. Some Mexicans go to Hollywood and lose career in Mexico, because they play imitation. I don’t want this to happen to me.” ~ Katy Jurado, High Noon (1952, directed by Fred Zinnemann)
The exotic, talented, and beautiful Katy Jurado all but steals High Noon right out from under the rest of the cast. There’s just something so touching and believable about her character and her performance.
I only wish she’d been onscreen more!
You can buy High Noon on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the iconic Western on Prime Video.
Yvonne De Carlo, Frontier Gal
One of Yvonne De Carlo’s Westerns is the wildly entreating Frontier Gal from 1945. The cast includes Yvonne De Carlo, Rod Cameron, Fuzzy Knight, and Andy Devine. As you’d expect from a film with both Andy Devine and Fuzzy Knight, there’s plenty of fun to be had.
You can find Frontier Gal on dvd (Amazon link). Unfortunately it isn’t on Prime Video… it’s also hardly ever shown on television. Truth be told, it’s downright impossible to find anywhere! BUT, it’s worth the effort… it’s really a fun Western.
Fuzzy Knight, Rod Cameron, and Yvonne De Carlo in Frontier Gal
Yvonne De Carlo
If you know anything at all about me, you know that Yvonne De Carlo is one of my favorites. Whether she’s Lilly Munster on The Munsters or one of her MANY colorful characters in movies, she’s always as good as good gets in my world. Phenomenal actress and so beautiful it’s almost distracting!
The beautiful photos, here, are promotional pictures for the 1945 Western Frontier Gal. In addition to Yvonne De Carlo, the cast also includes Rod Cameron, Fuzzy Knight, and Andy Devine.
You can find Frontier Gal on dvd (Amazon link), but be warned, it is NOT cheap! Yvonne De Carlo is one of the stars I “collect,” so I need this one for my collection… but holy cats is it pricey?!
Yvonne De Carlo in Frontier Gal
Silver River, Starring Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn
The wonderful western Silver River (1948) was directed by the Raoul Walsh and boasts an outstanding cast which includes Thomas Mitchell, Tom D’Andrea, and Bruce Bennett.
You can find Silver River on dvd (Amazon link).
Errol Flynn, Silver River
Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn
There are many film couples who made movie magic:
But one of the couples I’d put on my list of favorites (right up there with the all-time greats) is one others may overlook…. Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn. They didn’t make NEARLY enough movies together, but I absolutely cherish the few they did make – with Silver River being my favorite. Silver River (1948) was directed by the wonderful Raoul Walsh and also stars Thomas Mitchell, Tom D’Andrea (love him in this role… well, actually, I love him in everything), and Bruce Bennett.
You can find Silver River on dvd (Amazon link). I absolutely love it.
Ann Sheridan and Errol Flynn in Silver River
Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin
I don’t have a lot of Raquel Welch on the Old Hollywood blog, but it has nothing at all to do with how I feel about her. I adore her! Not only do I think she’s one of the most beautiful actresses of all time, I think she’s very underrated for her talent. She has always been so much more than just a beautiful face and great figure.
The reason I’ve never done photos or posts about her is a simple one… I’ve never thought of her as “old Hollywood!” Some of my all-time favorite actresses could actually (and should actually) be featured more on the blog – I just have to remind myself that Hollywood Yesterday is about all stars and all films from “yesterday,” whether the yesterday was 1930 or 1980.
SO, with that said, expect to see a lot more comparatively modern stars like Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren, Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, Paul Newman, James Garner…. stars I adore and am very excited to spotlight more frequently.
Raquel Welch, James Stewart, and Dean Martin star in the wonderful 1968 Western Bandolero! Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen (the wonderful actor Victor McLaglen’s son), the movie also stars George Kennedy, Denver Pyle, Clint Richie, Andrew Prine, and Will Geer.
You can find Bandolero! on dvd or blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Henry Fonda and Cathy Downs, My Darling Clementine
Ironically, real-life close friends James Stewart and Henry Fonda BOTH played Wyatt Earp in westerns that were directed by the legendary John Ford. They’re my top two favorite actors of all time, so I have (of course) seen both movies more than a few times.
While I personally prefer My Darling Clementine, I think they’re both wonderful movies and each actor gives an outstanding performance.
James Stewart and Arthur Kennedy, Cheyenne Autumn
You can find My Darling Clementine on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
You can find Cheyenne Autumn on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
John Ford on the set of Cheyenne Autumn
Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda
Two of my favorite actors in one Western (my favorite genre)??? Pop the popcorn, pour the raspberry tea, and call me when it’s on. I could literally watch Jesse James (1939) once a week and be perfectly content. The great Western also stars the underrated (and underused) Nancy Kelly, Randolph Scott, Henry Hull, Slim Summerville, John Carradine, Donald Meek, and Jane Darwell.
Wonderful cast, wonderful film.
You can find this great film (with its outstanding cast) on dvd or blu-ray – Jesse James (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.
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…
