Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

BOTD in 1917, the Wonderful Dean Martin!

June 7, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Dean Martin

Dino Paul Crocetti was BOTD in1917 in Steubenville, Ohio, to Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber who was an Italian immigrant, and his wife, Angela, who was born in Ohio.

We often talk about great singers and obviously name Dean Martin. We talk about great comedy teams and obviously name Lewis & Martin. We all talk about great entertainers and obviously name Dean Martin. However, when we talk about all-time great comedians, we don’t bring up the name Dean Martin nearly enough.

Yet, the man was absolutely hilarious. When you watch his comedy routines and his hilarious talk show appearances, you realize he had a wonderful gift for comedy. I think the reason many don’t realize it is they believed him to always be drunk off his butt. He wasn’t, of course, but he acted the part to absolute perfection.

(Continued Below Dude…)

Dean Martin as Dude, Rio Bravo (1959)

Another thing Dean Martin doesn’t’ get enough credit for (IMO) is his acting. He gave each and every one of his roles exactly what it needed. He was never too large for the scene and certainly never too small. Drama, comedy, and everything in between. I love his westerns, comedies, and most definitely his Matt Helm movies.

Delirious fun!

My personal favorite Dean Martin Movies:

Rio Bravo (in arguably his best performance)
The Stooge
The Wrecking Crew
The Silencers
Airport
The Cannonball Run
Oceans 11
The Sons of Katie Elder
Artists and Models
Hollywood or Bust
You’re Never too Young
Pardners
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Living it Up
3 Ring Circus
The Caddy
That’s My Boy
At War with the Army
My Friend Irma
My Friend Irma Goes West
Sailor Beware
Jumping Jacks
Money from Home

Suffice to say, I’m a HUGE fan.

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Behind the Scenes of The Stooge

Gene Tierney and Louise Beavers, Belle Starr: The Bandit Queen

May 29, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gene Tierney and Louise Beavers, Belle Starr: The Bandit Queen

The two actresses pictured above?? LOVE them! Gene Tierney and Louise Beavers sharing screen-time is almost too much goodness for my heart. Like movies starring Henry Fonda and James Stewart… or Murphy’s Romance with James Garner and Sally Field… or the one film that starred Maureen O’Hara and Lucille Ball (Dance, Girl, Dance).

Almost too much for my heart and mind to handle.

Belle Starr: The Bandit Queen (1941) is such a good Western and the cast, which also includes Randolph Scott and Dana Andrews, could not possibly be any better.

I have absolutely no idea why it isn’t better-known. I mention it and 9 times out of 10, someone asks, “Who was in that one?” or they say, “Never heard of it!”

Sigh. The life of a classic film lover. So many movies and so many stars to try to shine a spotlight on. So much work – I mean there are just countless movies from silents through the 80s and even more stars to either introduce people to or remind others of. Exhausting.

Yeah. I love every second of it.

You can find Belle Starr: The Bandit Queen on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video. I very much hope you’ll seek this one out. Gene Tierney and Louise Beavers deserve to be seen and appreciated.

Happy Birthday, John Wayne!

May 26, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

John Wayne, The Searchers

I’ll have a follow-up post later about the wonderful John Wayne, but I wanted to simply say… as a Western-fanatic… I SO appreciate this man’s career and all he did for the genre.

He’s one of my very favorite actors and I say that without an ounce of hesitation. He gave films everything he had and it was absolutely more than enough.

Pictured: The excellent The Searchers (on dvd on Amazon or Prime Video)

John Wayne, The Searchers

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, Dodge City (1939)

April 21, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn in Dodge City

Three of old Hollywood’s greatest stars (Olivia de Havilland, Ann Sheridan, and Errol Flynn) starred in a 1939 western you don’t hear nearly enough about today – Dodge City. Directed by the great Michael Curtiz, this is one I highly, highly recommend.

When I first saw it, I wasn’t sure how I’d like Errol Flynn (who I’d only known as a swashbuckler and Robin Hood at the time) in a western, but he fit the role and the genre so well, I found myself VERY much wishing he’d made more westerns.

Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, and Ann Sheridan

You can find Dodge City on Amazon (link to the dvd) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland

Rio Grande: John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, The Magic Begins!

April 21, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Many John Wayne Westerns get more attention than Rio Grande but, to my John Wayne loving heart, this is one of his best Westerns. Granted, Rio Bravo, El Dorado, McLintock!, The Searchers, Stagecoach and many others are extraordinary but so is Rio Grande.

Rio Grande was directed by the legend, himself, John Ford. Ford directed John Wayne in quite a few of his films, as well as Maureen O’Hara.

Speaking of Maureen O’Hara (something I, her biggest fan, do many times throughout the day), this was Maureen and John Wayne’s first movie together. I love the fact that, even in this their first film, the magic is most definitely already there. They had something extra special and they had to have known it from the start.

This wonderful Western also stars… among others…. Claude Jarman Jr (wonderful as their son), Ben Johnson, Chill Wills, Harry Carey Jr., and Victor McLaglen, in my favorite of all of his roles. He almost steals every scene he’s in! It was an exceptional story with an exceptional director who was given an exceptional cast.

What more could you ask for?!

You can find Rio Grande on dvd (Amazon link).

Claude Jarman Jr. and Maureen O’Hara

A Little Gunsmoke Trivia and a Few Pictures of its WONDERFUL Stars

April 6, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

James Arness and Ken Curtis

I’ve spent so much time in Dodge City in my life that looking at pictures of its stars (James Arness, Ken Curtis, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, Dennis Weaver, Buck Taylor, Glenn Strange…) is kind of like looking at pictures of family! My love for this series and its larger than life characters knows no limits.

A little Gunsmoke Trivia:

In the show’s twenty-year run, James Arness (Matt Dillon) was the only actor who appeared in every episode.
James Arness and John Wayne were friends. It was after a talk with the Duke that Arness decided to accept the role.
Dennis Weaver (Chester) said that he actually regretted giving Chester his limp. Apparently it became burdensome to maintain the limp in everything Chester did!
After sixteen seasons, the producers decided to let Milburn Stone (Doc Adams) choose Doc’s first name, as he had always simply been known as Doc Adams. Stone chose Galen, which was the surname of an ancient Greek physician and medical researcher.
James Arness and Milburn Stone are the only two regular cast members to stay with the show for its entire twenty-year, six hundred thirty-five-episode duration on CBS. In 1971, however, after Milburn Stone suffered a heart attack, Pat Hingle (portraying the character of Dr. John Chapman), replaced Stone for six episodes while he recovered. You can’t keep a good man down, though, and Stone AND Doc Adams returned.
During the show’s 20 seasons, Matt Dillon kissed only one lady and it wasn’t even Miss Kitty! He kissed Michael Learned’s character in the episode Matt’s Love Story (1973). Those of us who lived for his romance with Miss Kitty can take solace in the fact that he had suffered amnesia!
At 20 years and 635 episodes, Gunsmoke is the second longest-running American primetime television series to date. Unfortunately (for those of us who wanted Gunsmoke to retain the title), The Simpsons surpassed it.
The series was the final film project of Glenn Strange, who played the part of Sam, the bartender.

James Arness and Amanda Blake

The complete series of Gunsmoke is available on dvd. Obviously, because it’s TWENTY seasons, the price can be a little high. Worth it? Absolutely… but kind of high nonetheless. It is available “used,” however, for less money. I think what I’m going to do (which will probably cost more money in the long run) is buy each season individually. I desperately want the series in my collection, though, so one way or another I’m going to buy it!

Gunsmoke’s Perfect Cast: Milburn Stone, James Arness, Amanda Blake, and Ken Curtis

Henry Fonda, Once Upon a Time in the West

March 18, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Henry Fonda, Once Upon a Time in the West

Henry Fonda is, without a doubt, one of my VERY favorite actors. Has been for as long as I can remember. I’m such a huge fan that, I have a confession to make – part of me actually kind of judges a person’s opinions if he isn’t on their list of favorite actors!

Seriously, a part of me (that I never allow out to play) says, “How in the world can you consider yourself a fan of classic Hollywood or films, in general, if Henry Fonda isn’t on your list of favorite actors?!”

Okay, there you have it. My dirty little secret. When it comes to my favorites, one of the little voices in my head isn’t very nice… but, by gosh, is she ever loyal!

(Continued below Henry Fonda giving a menacing look – the same one I give people who don’t name him on their list!)

Henry Fonda, Once Upon a Time in the West

These photos are from his wonderful 1968 western Once Upon a Time in the West (originally titled C’era una volta il West). The movie was directed one of my favorite directors, Sergio Leone, and also starred Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson, Gabriele Ferzetti, and Keenan Wynn.

You can find Once Upon a Time in the West (Amazon link) on dvd or watch it on Prime Video.

Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson, Once Upon a Time in the West

Henry Fonda: Behind the Scenes of Once Upon a Time in the West

March 12, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

I’m sure I’ve already told you, probably 100 times but I am obsessed (obsessed, I tell you!) with behind the scenes pictures. There’s something absolutely magical about them as far as I’m concerned. If they happen to involve a period piece or western…. it’s even more fun!

This behind the scenes picture of Henry Fonda while making Once Upon a Time in the West is one of my favorites. Here we have a ruthless villain just… you know… reading the paper.

Love it.

You can find Once Upon a Time in the West (Amazon link) on dvd or watch it on Prime Video. I highly recommend it – wonderful western and Fonda is, as always, positively wonderful.

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

March 5, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

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.

When the Daltons Rode with Kay Francis, Randolph Scott, Frank Albertson, and Andy Devine

February 27, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

When the Daltons Rode

Kay Francis, Randolph Scott, Andy Devine, Frank Albertson, Mary Gordon, Brian Donlevy, George Bancroft, Broderick Crawford, and Stuart Erwin star in the underrated 1940 western When the Daltons Rode.

Talk about an outstanding cast! Actually, I’m not sure outstanding even covers it. Kay Francis (while not nearly as well-known to the average person as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, or Barbara Stanwyck) was second to no one when it came to talent and screen presence. I’m afraid I don’t, yet, have a lot of Kay Francis photos or information on Hollywood Yesterday. Her photos (like the popularity she deserves) are difficult to come by.

I have recently added to my Kay Francis collection, so expect to see much more of her beautiful face around these parts. Sigh, I watch so many westerns, I even talk like I live in one now. “… around these parts..” – who even says that? Apparently me and deputies, I guess.

(Continued Below…)

Randolph Scott, Broderick Crawford, and Kay Francis

When the Daltons Rode is a fictionalized story of the famous outlaw brothers, the Daltons. The story, more or less, leaves the viewer sympathizing with the Daltons and believing they were left with no choice… they HAD to become outlaws!

Needless to say, like MANY films based on real life, the story takes a LOT of liberties and, in the end, pretty much tells the story it wants to tell. Frankly, that’s all fine and well with me – fiction is often a lot more entertaining and easier to wrap your mind around.

Kay Francis and Mary Gordon

I hope you’ll seek out this western and visit with the Daltons and the women who loved them soon. This is an exceptional cast and the film is very enjoyable (I’m convinced that anything involving Frank Albertson and Andy Devine can’t help but be fun!).

You can find the dvd When the Daltons Rode on Amazon or you MAY be able to watch the movie on Prime Video – I say “MAY” because I, personally, get a message that it’s unable to be seen in my location. What the what? I mean, what does that even mean?

Oh well, I’d rather have the dvd for my Kay Francis collection anyway!