Happy Birthday, Charlotte Greenwod (Belated)

I meant to do this entry for Ms. Greenwood on her June 25th birthday.  Apparently, the image of Errol Flynn in a sleeveless t-shirt pushed her out of my thoughts.  My apologies, Charlotte.

Charlotte has always been a favorite character of mine.  Probably first became aware of her as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma (1955), one of her last performances and a darn good one at that.  Always a delight, the tall, double-jointed comedienne stole many a scene in movies such as Man in Possession (1931), in which she played Clara, Crystal Wetherby's (Irene Purcell) wise-cracking maid who is not very pleased with Raymond Dabney (Bob) the 'morning after.'  

Charlotte began her career as a dancer in vaudeville and a successful stage career followed.  This is a portrait of Charlotte taken c. 1920.   Great smile.

You really need to check out this video which shows Charlotte doing a rather amazing dance routine. 

That's Roz, But Who's the Guy in the Mustache?

               Bob and Rosalind Russell in Trouble for Two (1936)

That was my husband's response when he first saw this photo.  As in the same amazingly understanding man who has seen more photos of Robert Montgomery than most men could imagine even exist. 

He has a point.  It's that mustache....and the full head of curly hair....and no smile.

But it is Bob.  And Roz.  In another great pose.  Did you notice how the tops of their heads are on the same level, but since Bob's head is larger, he has to look up to Roz?   And don't you wonder just what they're thinking. 

Which do You Prefer - Geometric, Simple Black, Black Silk or Checkered?

The ever classy and elegant Mr. Montgomery wore dressing gowns between takes while on set to prevent mussing up his wardrobe.  In late 1933, on the set of The Mystery of Mr. X with Elizabeth Allan and Direct Edwyn Selwyn, he is shown wearing a geometric patterned gown with accompanying white scarf, of course.  Wonder what color it was ... I'm guessing blue and gold.  Or maybe green. 

In Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Bob, as playboy Farnsworth, wears a simple all black gown over his boxing attire.  Below he is shown with co-star Rita Johnson taking a cigarette break.  The bare legs and boxing shoes look a tad out of place in this setting, don't you think.

On the set of The Last of Mrs. Cheyney, Bobs looks superb in classy black silk.  Note the white handkerchief even.  Frank Morgan looks rather natty himself in a checkered gown.  I wouldn't dare play a hand of blackgammon with either of these two gents. 

Errol, What a Hunk You Were!

Errol Flynn was born on June 20, 1909.  My, but he was a handsome young man.  There weren't many stars in the 1930s who could look as good in a sleeveless top as Mr. Flynn.  He was a man who never lacked the company of adoring, beautiful women.  Or another drink.  Totally worn out and dead at the age of 50, understandably so. 

My favorite Flynn story is found in Ray Milland's autobiography, "Wide-Eyed in Babylon."  Milland enjoyed getting away from things by spending nights on his boat, which happened to be docked next to Errol's boat, Sirocco.  Jimmy Cagney owned the boat on the other side of Flynn's and would spend evenings with Milland talking about boats, or when Flynn was around, watching the activities of Errol and his lady friends.  They were able to look directly into the portholes of Errol's boat.  Errol kept them entertained and probably a bit envious.  Many of you have probably heard this one, but it's an appropriate read for the man's birthday!

"I remember one time when Errol was being sued for the deflowering of a tall, ravishing showgirl who had been one of a group invited down to the Sirocco for the weekend.  According to her complaint Errol had enticed her down to his cabin below decks to view the moon through one of the portholes, and while she was doing this --- and to her great surprise  --- he upped and did it.  Now all I can say is, the portholes of the Sirocco were about seven inches in diameter and only two feet above the waterline, and if this Aphrodite had been looking through the porthole as alleged, she would have been staring eyeball to eyeball at me.  Or Cagney, Or Ward Bond.  Or any one of a half dozen other voyeurs.  This was no penny arcade, this was a window on the world.  No doubt about it, Flynn was quite a boyo.  He must have had the most overworked prostate gland in the universe.  What a way to go." 

A Man of Many Hats (or How to Dress Properly for Any Occasion)

                                           Polo Player

                                          Cricket Fan

Bob with Helen Hayes and German actress Wera Engels.

                                      Racing Enthusiast

Bob wearing a dark gray derby and red carnation, standard attire for opening day at Santa Anita Racetrack in 1935.

                                                 Actor

                            Whoa.  A Beret, Bob?  Too much!

This Would Have Been Great to See

   Robert Montgomery Presents, The Lost Weekend, February 7, 1955
                     with Robert Montgomery and Leora Dana

An older Bob with a serious role, a great supporting cast of Edward Andrews and Walter Matthau ... yes, this had to have been a great show.  Rather frustrating that we will never see it or any of the few episodes he appeared in on his show. 

And What's Behind the Cover?

Buying movie magazines for their "Bob" content is a real hit and miss proposition.  The vendors never tell you enough, there is always the guess factor.  I bought this June, 1933 issue of Hollywood primarily for the cover.  Understandably so.  Anything found behind the cover of Bob and Madge Evans was a bonus for me.  The "movie novel" of Made on Broadway has five illustrations.  Besides this main feature, there are three mentions of Bob, including one photo.  This magazine has definitely been one of my better finds. 

      "Under the watchful eyes of Jeff and Claire, a corps of beauty
      experts wrought a miracle with the sprightly Mona Martine."  
 

If you can believe the above magazine reporter was Bob's old pal ....  Sorry about the blurry copy below.  To save your eyes, you can skip to the last paragraph for Bob. 

And, if you believe this one .... 1930s studio PR departments were very creative!

Great New Bob Sighting!!

Robert Montgomery, John Ford and John Wayne all in one great movie ... and now a pictorial history of that movie ... just fantastic.  "Behind the Scenes of They Were Expendable" was just released in May and looks great from the cover alone: a bearded Bob with skinny bare leg, just precious.  Many, many thanks to Robert for bringing this to our attention.  I owe you one, kind sir.  Meanwhile, you can find the book on Amazon.

Happy Birthday, Rosalind Russell!

Early in her career, Roz Russell was afraid she would be type cast in mousy schoolmarm roles and worked hard to prove to be the versatile actress that she was.  Of course, she proved that and more, she was quite the good actress as well.  And no one remembers Roz as being mousy ... far from it!

In Design for Scandal (1941) she plays a judge who has a conniving reporter arrested, when she finds out he had deceived her.  That's one way to keep Walter Pidgeon in line!

                                    Roz with Walter Pidgeon

She portrays an aviatrix, a fictionalized Amelia Earhart, in Flight for Freedom (1943). 
 

                           Roz with fellow pilot, Fred MacMurray

In The Feminine Touch (1941), she's the wife of a psychology professor, who doesn't have a clue. 

                                   Roz with clueless Don Ameche

Roz was just an absolute delight.  I would be thankful if she had made only Auntie Mame!  And, oh yes, the five movies she made with Bob.  That she also gave great performances in His Girl Friday, Gypsy, Picnic, The Women and dozens of other movies ... now that's just almost too much to hope for from one actress.  Thanks, Roz.

Guest Hunks in Cowboy Hats

How could one not like Glenn Ford.  Just look at that smile...almost as good as Bob's!

Joel McCrea looks good no matter the outfit, or lack thereof.  He does look comfortable in western attire.

Dan Duryea in a western outfit ... not quite comfortable but not so bad.  The scruffy beard helps.  A really good man, so I understand, who could play irritating bad guys so well.  Maybe if he had worked on his smile ...