In the Golden Age of Hollywood, there was no shortage of bad guys. But one actor who stood out from the rest was Lee Van Cleef. With his piercing eyes and intimidating ‘mean mug’, Van Cleef was a favorite among fans of the era. But was he really a Hollywood bad guy? Van Cleef was…
Category: Actors
Errol Flynn: The King of Swashbuckler Films
During the Golden Age of Hollywood, nobody wielded a stage-prop sword like Errol Flynn. The Australian-born actor, who in his youth was a world traveler, athlete, adventurer, and sailor, was often cast in romantic swashbuckler films that showcased his bravado, swordsmanship, and his muscular, tight-clad legs. Think Errol Flynn’s only swashbuckler movie was the 1938…
Yul Brynner, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s King
With his iconic bald head and rich singing voice, actor Yul Brynner made a splash as the exotic King Mongkut in the Broadway stage performance and film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, The King and I. Brynner was not the typical leading man of the Golden Age of Hollywood, but he proved that it…
“Swinging on a Star”: The Origins of Bing Crosby’s Hit Song
Bing Crosby’s original version of “Swinging on a Star,” with its catchy tune and poetic lyrics about moonbeams in a jar, enjoyed an impressive 28-week-run on the Billboard charts in 1944, including nine weeks in the number one position. The song, composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke, earned the Academy Award…
How Did “Citizen Kane” NOT Win the Best Picture Oscar?
Film critics and fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood consistently place the 1941 film Citizen Kane as one of the best movies ever made. So, it is surprising to learn that the classic film that was directed, produced, co-written, and starred Orson Welles did not take home the Oscar for Best Picture at the…