Happy New Year!

Party like it's 1940 - you go, Bing!

Warmer Wishes

What? No snow or cold?

Christmas Wishes

I hope everyone has a safe holiday. May a movie you're looking for find a home under your tree!

Required Santa hat photo

Random Photo: Polo Anyone?

Clarence Bull photo

It's 2010. Do you know where your favorite stars are?

I vaguely remember in the back of my mind the series of Diet Coke commercials with dead movie stars in them. Cary Grant is the only star I really remember. John Wayne may have been another, although I can't picture John Wayne drinking anything with the word "diet" in it.

The reason I bring this up is an article floating around the interwebs about George Lucas purchasing film rights to dead celebrities. Add to that 3D.

First off, 3D is ok. My only experience with modern 3D technology was via a demo at a Sony outlet store. After noting how dumb it was - nothing looked 3D - the clerk kindly asked if the glasses were "on." Slight oversight.

Anyhow, back to the topic. What are your thoughts on dead movie stars being generated in a new movie?

I'm torn. Part of me thinks it would be pretty slick, but then they'd give Robert Montgomery blonde hair. In general, it's the novelty that appeals to me.

On the flip side, many stars were pretty adamant about what types of movies they wanted to appear in (or not). C'mon, can't you picture middle-aged Orson Welles "inserted" into a National Lampoon college humor movie?

Any dream scenario you'd like to see?

Watch Cary Grant age in 60 seconds...

Night Must Fall coming to DVD

Thanks to Reynolds for sharing that Night Must Fall is coming out on DVD via the Warner Archive. Better yet, it has been remastered, so let's hope for the best! I'm willing to bet the DVD will also include the trailer.

Classic Stats

I just noticed that Blogger offers stats for the blog, so I had to dig around.

Here's an interesting one . . . most visitors find the blog via the following search keywords.

1.) Joan Crawford

2.) Classic Montgomery
Voila!

3.) Ray Milland
Seriously, he beat Bob? There must be a pent up demand for Milland photos out there. Someone jump on the opportunity!

4.) Robert Montgomery

OK, I knew he'd show up at some point. No, not LB Mayer. Really, I think they're doing SEO keyword research to help them rank better on the web.

5.) Gloria Stewart (not Stuart)
One photo on the blog and it hits the top five. Wow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Still defrosting the bird...

1932 Hurrell

If you're looking for a little something for yourself, buy this off of ebay. I've bought photos from this seller and he's top notch. The beauty of these photos are the way they're processed: thicker paper with a a beautiful sheen (read the description, it's better than I could write).

Mister and Missus

Robert Montgomery, popular Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star, with his wife on their arrival in New york for a short vacation. Mr. Montgomery last appeared in "Shipmates." which incidental was his first starring vehicle. On his return to the coast, he will be starred in "A Man in Possession."

Thanks to Reynolds for the photo!

Boo! Three Live Ghosts (1929)

Being Halloween, I thought it would be perfect to bring up Bob's first "starring" role in Three Ghosts. I'd love to tell you more, but it is the only Bob movie I have never seen - it's lost. For a quick plot overview, I'll run you over to IMDB. In the meantime, there is the 1936 version with Richard Arlen and Beryl Mercer, who was also in the 1929 version. Wonder if that's on DVD...

A Colorful Life

Reynolds is my hero. She found me the only decent color photo of Bob that I own!

It looks like he's sporting a Ruptured Duck lapel pin, so if that's true, this would have been taken just after his Naval service. So, mid 40s-ish.

War Nurse (1939)

I was pleasantly surprised to find this clip. War Nurse isn't exactly a film you see played on TV everyday:

What Happened to Your VHS Tapes?

When I was in high school, I recorded old movies onto VHS like there was no tomorrow. Back then, AMC was AMC (you know what I mean) and TNT showed old movies in prime time (gasp). Ahh yes, I remember setting up the timer on the VHS player, adding five minutes at the beginning and an hour at the end, just so I wouldn't cut off the precious conclusion.

I just realized that I recorded ton of movies that are rarely played on TV now.

And I threw them all out.

I'm not quite sure I remember why I did that. Introduction of DVD? Broken player? Clunky & hard to store? That stupid tracking knob that would (or would not) remove the snow from the screen? Probably all of the above.

How about you? Did you keep your VHS tapes?

Grr....

Update: As I think more about this topic, I have keep all of my laser discs and know exactly where they are! There's a handful that haven't been released on DVD yet!

Random Photo (Postcard) Day

Bob Names the Best

I've seen the debate online a few times regarding which film Bob felt was his best or favorite. Well, in this Jan 7, 1955 New York Journal article, he names a few. Mr. Montgomery also notes his thoughts on best actor and actress.

See if you can spot the fact typo in this article. Clue: a Helen Hayes movie.

Thanks to Tracy for digging this up (a while ago, but not forgotten).

Bob's Coke Wagon (* Sigh *)

Two loves: Bob & Coca-Cola. The only think that would make this photo better would be Ray Milland in the background holding a bowl of tortilla chips.

Interested? It's on ebay now. If you win, send me a scan, would ya?

34 and Holding

Going through my junk this afternoon and found these stills. I never realized they were from the same photo shoot. The interesting part is how they're labeled:

Dated 1941.

Dated 1943 for Lady in the Dark with Ginger Rogers.

Danny & Olivia

Another "Possessed" Bob Fan

Lol, I'm a pusher - a pusher of Bob movies that is.

Check out Kelley's review of The Man in Possession on her blog, Confessions of a Film Addict.

Riptide now on DVD

On Tuesday, Warner Classics announced their new releases list and Riptide is one of them.

I love how the Warner site describes the story: Can an Insect Man and a Lady Sky Bug find happiness together?

Nope.

Yeah, it's that weird. Riptide has always had an odd vibe for me. I think it's the combination of the insect costume scene and Herbert Marshall.

Go out and support Warner Classics & Bob & buy a copy.

All Aboard

Random photo for today. And please, watch your step.

More Ladies Meeting

TCM likes to show both versions of When Ladies Meet (1933 vs. 1941) quite often. Which one's better? I have to vote for 1933 with Ann Harding.

Via Dr. Macro

Robert Montgomery on OTR

I think I've finally found the most comprehensive list of Robert Montgomery appearances on radio, thanks to RadioGoldIndex.com. Count 'em, 71 programs!

Not too long ago I was flipping around XM Radio stations in my car and popped on XM Radio Classics. An episode of Suspense was ending and Bob's voice seemingly came out of nowhere as he added the show's end narration. Odd how you "tune" into things like that.

Welcome to August

Thinking a bit cooler on this hot August day. A somewhat odd photo from Petticoat Fever.

See Mr. Milland's Style Selections for Summer

I'm still on the old ad kick:

Larger ad

Randomness

OK, why is it again that Ray movies are hardly on TV? Never mind, I think I know. Just venting.

Many thanks to Carrie for sending me a copy of I Wanted Wings. Believe it or not, it was missing from the collection!

And finally, anyone have a high-res version of the below image they can share? I think it's safe to say that's in my top 10 favorite classic photos.

Finest Beer I Ever Tasted!

I've noticed that a couple of blogs I read have been posting advertisements with classic stars. I have to add my contribution to the mix:

From 1948. Too bad Relentless didn't have a plot similar to The Lost Weekend. There'd be an odd movie tie-in.

See the others at:

• Hollywood Dreamland
• Skeins of Thought

I'll have to do some more digging to see what I can find....

Yup

Just settling in for John Dall nite here at the ranch. Something in the Wind, Gun Crazy and a beer or two thrown in for good measure.

I Should Watch More WIlliam Holden

Popping out of the screen! The Bridges at Toko-Ri

Happy 4th!

Yeah, a bit overboard on the theme, but I can't pass up classic color like this!

Let's Talk Hitchcock for a Moment

I must have been living under a rock - just ran into my new favorite site: HitchcockWiki.com.

Tons of details and photo downloads. My favorite find so far . . . Know the movie?

Did I mention photos? Be sure to check out Mr. and Mrs Smith and your other favorites.

Related, I was driving home from work today and flipped to the Radio Classics channel on XM. I caught the tail end of a discussion of Ray Milland starring in a version of Strangers on a Train. From what I've dug up so far, it's dated 51-12-03 from the Lux Radio Theater. If you have a copy on MP3 and would like to share, please drop me a note! If I can get a copy, I'll post it on the blog as well for everyone.

UPDATE: Kelsey found a link to the MP3 of Milland's Strangers on a Train over at Calfkiller OTR. Thanks!

When Youngsters Attack

MEETING THE PUBLIC...Because they are public figures and their private lives are only a small part of their existence, screen actors must always be prepared to Meet the Public, whether in the matter of giving autographs, making appearances or answering letters from their fans.

Here is a re-enactment of a rush for autographs from a star with Robert Young as the star. This is a scene for "Honolulu" with Young playing a star but such a manhandling of stars is not unusual, although not a regular thing. Both Joan Crawford and Rosemary Lane were jabbed close to their eyes by pencils in such a rush. Clark Gable once had fans start to top over a taxi-cab in which he was riding in New York and he was forced to hop out and sign autographs before be was allowed any peace. Robert Taylor couldn't get off a boat in Honolulu because of crowds and had to sail back home to escape a mob of fans.

When Lily Pons Came to Town

Lily Pons, of grand opera fame, seems to have gone "up in the air" over move folk during her current Los Angeles visit. Here she is, seeing the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, assisted by those two good-looking young stars, Robert Montgomery and Ramon Novarro, whose guests she was at lunch.

Lily Pons, star of the Metropolitan opera, visits the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio on her visit to Hollywood and is greeted by Robert Montgomery, whose next picture is “Pig Boats.” Joan Crawford, who just returned from a trip to Europe, and Ramon Novarro, whose shaved head is part of his make-up for his role in “Son Daughter.”

Note: Pig Boats would become the film Hell Below.

More June For Your Bride

Cake Boss

Sure, they hated each other's guts, but they still made a hell of a power couple. Love this shot.

Ride The Pink Horse

French Movie Poster

Bob Fans Rock

The one thing I love about this blog is all the folks I get to meet who are fellow Bob fans. Check this out . . . thanks, Meri!

Thoughts on Daddy

Thanks to Debbie & Laura for letting me know about these . . . excerpts from a 1991 interview with Elizabeth. Looks like they're from the Criterion Collection Laser Disc issue of Here Comes Mr. Jordan.

June TCM Bob Schedule

Some lesser shown titles this month, which is a nice change of pace. If you can only watch one, make it Mr. X...it's the action/mystery you wish Bob made more of.

As always, check your local listings for exact times.

June 9
9 AM, Our Blushing Brides (1930)
Three roommates try to land rich husbands. Cast: Joan Crawford, Anita Page, Robert Montgomery. Dir: Harry Beaumont.

6 PM, June Bride (1948)
Two bickering reporters turn a small-town wedding into a battleground. Cast: Bette Davis, Robert Montgomery, Fay Bainter. Dir: Bretaigne Windust.

June 12
6 AM, Mystery Of Mr. X, The (1934)
A sophisticated jewel thief tries to prove himself innocent of a string of cop murders. Cast: Robert Montgomery, Elizabeth Allan, Lewis Stone. Dir: Edgar Selwyn.

June 27
6 AM, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941)
A quarrelsome couple discovers their marriage isn't legal. Cast: Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery, Gene Raymond.

June 29
7 AM, Forsaking All Others (1934)
A woman pursues the wrong man for almost twenty years. Cast: Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery. Dir: W.S. Van Dyke II.

Happy Birthday, Robert Montgomery

If I could stuff cake through the internet, I would. You know, with gooey strawberry filling.

Don't forget about the mini marathon going on today. I picked out a few to DVR. What's everyone else watching off the list?

Times shown are Eastern:

• 6:30am Big House, The (1930)
• 8:00am Divorcee, The (1930)
• 9:30am Private Lives (1931)
• 11:00am Faithless (1932)
• 12:30pm Hide-Out (1934)
• 2:00pm Night Must Fall (1937)
• 4:00pm Last of Mrs. Cheyney, The (1937)
• 5:45pm Lady in the Lake (1947)

TCM in HD on AT&T

I was flipping around the channels last night and ran into TCM HD for the first time. Although it sounds like the bulk of the movies, if not all, are upconverted to HD, the picture certainly is sharper. If you are an AT&T Uverse customer, be sure to check it out (added to the lineup May 10).

I've seen a handful of true HD classic films, all wide-screen Jimmy Stewart, on HDNet Movies. It'll be interesting to see how this progresses.

Life Movie Photos

The Life magazine archive on Google is now starting to have film stills appear:

Download larger image

If you do any searching, so far the only way I've been able to locate the stills is by searching for "cin." A handful of photos are tagged to their appropriate movie, such as Flight Command and Johnny Eager.

Enjoy!

Architectural Digest - May 2010

The May issue of AD includes Leading Ladies at Home, or as they describe it: "Beauty, talent and a sense of style—AD celebrates 10 silver screen legends memorably captured in the privacy of home." On quick glance, the online slideshow accompanying the article includes Joan Crawford, Carole Lombard, and more. A separate article on Ronald Reagan is also included.

I'm just wondering if this a modification of they're yearly Hollywood at Home issue or if that was in the April issue.

Wanted: The Youngest Profession

Anyone have a copy of this film that they might be able to share? Looks like fun. No, I don't think I'd be this crazy in 1943 - hmm, but then again...

Gotta Love Digital

Three cheers for getting copies of Photoplay and other fan magazines digitized on Archive.org.

I've started digging through some of the files already to find any Bob articles. If you do download/look at any of the issues, I've found the PDF files quite usable, especially when text searching.

and found a pair of shoes I'd love to get...

h/t: Trouble in Paradise

Book Recommendations?

Debbie posted a comment about books and I thought I'd share - see if we can stir up some discussion:

I'm reading my way through bio's on stars that either worked with RM or were friends, since RM died before he could do his autobiography. Anyone have any good suggestions? The book on Elizabeth Mongomery had some great info. So did James Cagney's. (I've read two on him since he and Bob were close buddies).

What would you recommend? I have some thoughts I'll add later.

Update: Here's some recommended reading. I can't think of any other stars' books talking about Bob, so here's some stuff in general.

Stars in Blue: Movie Actors in America's Sea Services
James E. Wise
The "Stars in..." series is a great read. This particular book includes a chapter on Bob - I'd argue it is the most accurate write-up on him out there.

Architectural Digest, April 1992
Hollywood at Home issue - Bob's Beverly Hills home is featured w/vintage pics. You can find back issues for sale online.

Dangerous Men
Mick LaSalle
A little bit of everything on everyone.

The Debonairs
James Parish & Don Stanke
Not quite sure everything is accurate, but there's a fat chapter on Bob (and other favs).

Picspam: High Wall (1947)

Squeezing a few last pics: