That's Our Bob

 ... always a ready smile for the fairer sex.

"WHO WOULDN'T ENJOY REHEARSING WITH INGRID BERGMAN?  Robert Montgomery seems to enjoy it, going over his lines with the lovely Swedish star for the new starring MGM picture, Rage in Heaven."   (Photo Caption)

Spangler Arlington Brugh ... rrrfff!!

Yes, there were other MGM male stars besides our Bob.  There was even another Robert who was a gorgeous young man.  Ahhh ... Mr. Taylor.  When I first heard of a movie titled The Gorgeous Hussy, I did not know if it referred to Bob's or Joan's role.  Then I looked up the word Hussy ... yeah, definitely Joan. 

The Gorgeous Hussy (1936)

Two years later, Robert has begun the change from gorgeous to extremely handsome. 

                                  The Crowd Roars (1938)

Robert has been on my mind of late, having finally thrown myself into reading "A Life of Barbara Stanwyck" by Victoria Wilson.  Great book, really, but HEAVY!  1,044 pages, including almost 200 pages of notes, appendixes, and what have you.  Not your usual Hollywood biography wherein the main source is the author's imagination.  

Ann Sheridan and George Brent? And They Thought the Marriage Would Last?

I have always liked Ann Sheridan, one good-looking, sexy lady, adept at both comedic and dramatic roles.  My favorites were the tough, wisecracking ladies in some classic movies:  The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942), George Washington Slept Here (1942) and I Was a Male War Bride (1949).  Equally bright and tough off screen, Ann continually fought Warner Brothers for better roles, to the point of going on strike in 1941.  The photo of her and then boyfriend George Brent (a marriage follows that lasts one year) was taken Oct. 18, 1940, but was used to illustrate a story about her strike. 

Other than the date, I do not have any other information on the photo.  That's always frustrating for me.  Let's see ... 1940 ... A Screen Actors Guild meeting?  A presidential campaign event?  Too many possibilities to narrow it down.

And after all this, have you noticed what's REALLY interesting about this photo, what prompted me to buy the photo?  An imaginary award for being a true movie fan goes out to all of you who know!

It's the Argyle Socks!

                     On the set of  Live, Love and Learn (1937)

Love the Pleats!

Now, aren't these two a cute couple.  They are merely rehearsing, but both are impeccably dressed, with matching outfits ... and the pleats in those pants, wow.  Almost perfect ... but, Bob's collar is turned up in back!  Just scandalous.  I think there's a valet about to lose his job.  

Have you ever noticed how extremely small Janet Gaynor was?  Her bio lists her at 5' even.  I'm guessing she was even shorter.  Norma Shearer claimed to be 5' 1", Crawford 5' 3".  As this picture shows, it is difficult to frame a shot when the parties are of considerably different heights.  So, did Bob's leading ladies stand on boxes or did Bob walk in ditches? 

Bob and Janet Gaynor preparing for A Star is Born on CBS radio, broadcast on Sept. 13, 1937

Three Live Ghosts, Lost Again

When I first saw this photo, it seemed familiar but I just could not place it.    It was on sale on eBay for some time, listed a tad on the high side.  And, then, when the price was lowered, I paused rather than buying it right away and managed to lose it to some lucky Bob fan. 

                                 Three Live Ghosts (1929)

At least I finally realized why it was familiar.   The photo on the wall of Bob's home is from the same photo shoot, Bob is looking away in this one.  So, that lucky fan not only has a great photo of the very young Bob, but has basically the same photo Bob had in his home.  That's just nifty. 

What is a Riptide?

An alternate universe wherein:  pigs fly;  a deserving performer is never overlooked in the Oscar In Memoriam segment; and Norma Shearer chooses Herbert* Marshall over Robert Montgomery. 

                                        Riptide (1934)

* Corrected...did I REALLY type George instead of Herbert?!   Sorry, Herb.

WB - You Forgot the Best One!

When Warner Brothers Archives released their five new Joan Crawford movies, they asserted that all Joan Crawford MGM movies were now available on DVD.  Wrong.  They overlooked what is probably the best pairing of Bob and Joan .......LETTY LYNTON!!  Oh, shucks, are we ever going to see a good copy of that beautiful movie?!  Sigh...  (Hats off to Robert for catching that ad oversight.) 

                                    Letty Lynton (1932)

Two New Bob DVDs - Buyer Alert

It's always great to hear that more of Bob's movies are now available on DVD.  This time the WB has released five Crawford movies, Bob is in Our Blushing Brides and The Last of Mrs. Cheyney.  Check out warnerarchive.com.  They are not remastered, but the site is showing an excerpt of each so you can get an idea of the condition of each.  Right now they are $18.95 each, plus $2.50 shipping.  Of course, they are already available on eBay...BUT the cost is considerably more!!  Personally, I'll wait for one of WB's great sales ... need to recover from a very, expensive February. 

If Those Walls Could Only Talk

Spencer Tracy welcomes Bob back from the war and points out Bob's old dressing room awaits him.  I'm sure there was quite the pecking order among the stars, including the women, as to the dressing rooms they were assigned.  Besides, of course, Marion Davies for whom Daddy built her own building on the lot.
 

                                   MENS APTS.  Dec, 1944              
                       First Floor                       Second Floor
                A   Clark Gable                E  Robert Montgomery
                B   Spencer Tracy            F  Walter Huston
                C   William Powell          G  Fred Astaire
                D   Lionel Barrymore       H  Edward G. Robinson

                                      MENS  APTS. 1937

Bob comes back to a floor of new neighbors.  Robert Taylor is still in the service, replaced temporarily by Walter Huston.  Tracy has moved to the first floor to take over Nelson Eddy's vacated apartment - his contract was not renewed in 1942.  Fred Astaire is on the lot while making The Ziegfeld Follies and Yolanda and the Thief.  Lionel Barrymore has relocated to the first floor because of his severe arthritis, making room for Edward G. Robinson who filmed Our Vines Have Tender Grapes at MGM.

And Donald Loomis ... as in, who the heck was he that he had an apartment among the top men stars at MGM in 1937??  I did finally track him down.  He was the personal trainer for the stars, located there for their convenience, I assume.  An interesting job for sure!