A polite reminder before reading this blog entry of mine 🙂 I will not tolerate any insults or negativity towards my subject of this post. This blog entry is strictly for dyed-in-the-wool Ava Gardner fans like myself or fans in general. So once again, please be kind 🙂
Yes, I know I am two months late on this one (her 102nd birthday was on December 24, 2024), but I could care less. I would like to wish a Happy belated 102nd birthday to iconic Classical Hollywood era star Ava Gardner. Click here to view a wikipedia entry on her. Aside from being famously formerly married to Ol’ Blue Eyes himself Frank Sinatra (the widely acclaimed singer and actor), Gardner was so much more than that. Beyond her beauty on film, Ava Gardner also deserved to be celebrated as a woman with a big heart (read more about The Ava Gardner Trust by clicking here).
Click here to view a series of youtube video links that talk extensively about why Ava Gardner is such a national treasure, whether it be as a Hollywood star or human being
Click here to view the website devoted entirely to the Ava Gardner Museum located in North Carolina – the state she was born in
Now without further ado, below is a list of my favorite Ava Gardner films 🙂 All of them I gave * * * * (out of * * * *) stars to
- The Killers (1946) (Dir: Robert Siodmak) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951) (Dir: Albert Lewin) Click here to view what may be the film’s original theatrical trailer (even though it was a 2010 revival showing). Click here to view the film’s Restoration trailer
- Mogambo (1953) (Dir: John Ford) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- The Barefoot Contessa (1954) (Dir: Joseph L. Mankiewicz) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Bhowani Junction (1956) (Dir: George Cukor) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- 55 Days at Peking (1963) (Dir: Nicholas Ray) Click here to view what may be the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Seven Days in May (1964) (Dir: John Frankenheimer) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- The Night of the Iguana (1964) (Dir: John Huston) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
Let me conclude this post with three questions below for all of my dear readers
Did any of you watch some of the videos on that first youtube link from the second paragraph? Not the movie trailers, but the videos about her legacy? And If so, which ones did you watch and what did you find fascinating about that particular video?
Did any of you visit the Ava Gardner Museum website yet that I mentioned in the third paragraph? And If so, is there anything you read or watched that stood out for you in particular?
Last, but not least, what are your favorite Ava Gardner films?
cinematiccoffee 
1 On the Beach
2 The Night of the Iguana
3 Seven Days In May
4 Mogambo
5 The Sun Also Rises
6 55 Days at Peking
7 Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
8 The Killers
Let me tell you something Bill, Ava Gardner was at her most beautiful in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman 🙂 I mean she is in a lot of films, but that one stands out in particular 🙂
She was a terrific actress, which I sometimes think gets forgotten or at least overshadowed somewhat by her beauty.
I have no arguments with your selection of her film roles, I’d have included all of those myself. To those I would want to add her two appearances in Hemingway adaptations for Henry King: The Sun Also Rises and The Snows of Kilimanjaro, bot of which are great favorites of mine.
Something else I recently watched her in was The Angel Wore Red, a Spanish Civil War tale alongside Dirk Bogarde. It’s not entirely successful but it is interesting. I’d thought of writing something on it at the time – I may still do so at some point.
john, i listed my favorite films that she was in, not the ones i thought she was the best in for some reason, pandora always bored me. it is impressive in its production values, but of the many times i watched it, i dont think i ever made it to the end. and i never saw it in a theatre. sure, ava was beautiful but that isnt enough for me. also, my favorites are my favorites because of the age i was at when i saw them, and the ones i saw in their initial release made their biggest impressions on me. i dont even know if 55 days at peking is that good, but as seeing it as a 12 year old in a 3000 seat movie palace was epic.
I haven’t clicked on the links as I have to go out soon, but I do remember (like Bill) going to see ’55 Days At Peking’ with my parents on its release in London. I was 11 years old, and thought it was an incredibly exciting epic!
Best wishes, Pete.
That is awesome Pete 🙂
Gotcha Bill 🙂
I know very little about Ms. Garner, John. I like how Kate Beckinsale portrayed her in The Aviator, very straight forward and no game playing. I thought for a moment she was the actress who had saved an actor’s life after they were in a car crash together, but when I checked I was wrong–it was Elizabeth Taylor who pulled teeth out of Montgomery Clift’s throat. But I’m sure Ava would have done the same in that situation. 🙂 I wish I had time to look at one or two of the videos, but I don’t, unfortunately. But having read a little bit about her here and with my limited knowledge of her, it does seem like she was a genuinely nice person.
I agree with your choices! I will just add The Snows of Kilimanjaro, which she stole from the leads (Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward)…
I totally agree with you Eric that Ava Gardner was the scene stealer in The Snows of Kilimanjaro 🙂
Sad to report that Clive Revill has passed away. He was of course so great as the hotel manger Carlo Carlucci in Avanti! His performance was one of the many wonderful things about a wonderful film. His acting was perfect and he gave the character so much warmth and likeability. From his interview on the Kino Lorber release of Avanti! it looked like he was a happy and upbeat guy too. It’s sad but he was 94 so he had good innings.
Rest In Peace Clive Revill. Great actor.
I heard about it too Steve. Clive Revill was fantastic in Avanti! and to live till 94 is an achievement in and of itself. You will be happy to hear that Avanti! is my number one favorite Billy Wilder film 🙂