Happy New Year!

Even 1930 was better than 2022!!  (Well, for me, that is...)  Certainly hope that I'm the only grouch in the group.  Whatever, let's all hope 2023 will be a great year for everyone.  

Merry Christmas,

 ... and the best to you all.

                                     Prague, Czech Republic

Sorry Folks, Kathy is a Sickie!

 I barely know what day of the week it is.  Maybe I'll feel better soon....maybe.  I feel so bad that....my brother called to see what's wrong with me.  

This is pretty much how I feel.  

At Least the Swedes Knew He Was Blue-Eyed!

 Let's hear it for the Swedes to get Bob's eye color correct!!  And for using this great Montgomery photo when it's overlooked in the U.S.  Really.  

Not much movie-related material inside the magazine.  Did find this photo of four MGM gents having a chat/walk in their wardrobe outfits for the day.  The caption says something about Clark telling a funny story while Spencer, Robert and Bill await the punch line.  Could be.  And Bill wearing his normal wardrobe for the 1930s, including his top hat.  Always the best-dressed Gent in the room!  

      

"It was difficult for them to see each other eye to eye."

 No, it's not that Bob and Janet Gaynor didn't get along, but a rather significant height difference made it difficult to frame them.  Ms. Gaynor was a very petite lady, claiming to be 5' tall.  Mr. Montgomery claimed to be 6'1".  Below, she must be standing on a box, while Bob is leaning toward her.  Kudos to C. S. Bull for both getting them in frame and creating a really nifty photograph.

            Bob and Janet Gaynor in Three Loves Has Nancy (1938) 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

So, I've got the Thanksgiving meal all planned ... just need to find someone who will prepare it for me!  (Pecan pie ... to die for!)

 

  

Vacation time for the blog ... will return after Thanksgiving, on the 29th.  Kathy has to get busy on her Christmas decorating.  Time just goes by too darn fast these days. 

The Exciting Lives of Stars

 Back awhile, I purchased a small lot of celebrity snapshots which included one of Mr. Montgomery, of course.  Surprisingly, all the shots were of interest.  Like Bing Crosby standing in a parking area doing something with what appears to be a second pipe.  

And Errol Flynn picking up an item of clothing from the tailor shop.  I hope it is a jacket to replace the one that he is wearing ...

And a very young Frank Sinatra smiling.  There must be a pretty young girl off camera that has caught his attention.  

By the way, the signatures are not legit, just there to identify the stars, I assume.  At least I don't believe Errol would misspell his name.  

Thank You Veterans

 Honoring all who served.

Ready on the Set! Bob, Wake Up!

 Have always thought it was rather amazing you could get good performances from movie actors under the very adverse conditions of filming in the early sound days.  All those lights, the heat, a huge camera, sound equipment, a dozen people crammed in a few feet from you ... yukky.

In the photo below, taken on a set of Ever Since Eve (1937), the set looks almost roomy.

A tighter shot on Bob and Marion ... Marion has pencil in hand, ready for action!  

                                                                                                                                                                    

        That's one bored Robert Montgomery.                                                                                                                                                

Joel and Garda Sloane in Twin Beds

 Only in Hollywood....

                   Bob and Roz Russell in Fast and Loose (1939)

Hold 'Em Tight, Lady. He's Worth it!

November 5th is the birthday of one of my favorite leading men, Joel McCrea.  My, but he was a beautiful young man, tall with a great physique, wavy hair, etc., etc., etc.  And by all accounts, a nice guy!  Frances Dee was one lucky lady.   

         Joel McCrea and Marian Marsh in The Sport Parade (1931)**

Recognizing actresses, especially non-MGM ladies, is not my forte.  I'm thinking the lady holding onto Joel might be Priscilla Lane (she's small enough!), but can't identify a movie with the two of them.  Any ideas, anyone?   

**  Thanks to Anonymous for the info. re Marian Marsh.  

Myrna and Bob and Alice

 Alice Brady, who had appeared extensively in early silents and on Broadway, made her first talkie in 1933, When Ladies Meet.  According to Myrna Loy's autobiography, "Myrna Loy:  Being and Becoming", Myrna, Bob and Alice hung out together during the movie, and a great time was had by all.  Myrna said Bob really liked Alice.  I guess we get to imagine exactly what she meant by that!  

                 Bob and Alice Brady in When Ladies Meet (1933)

Alice was born November 2, 1892 in New York City, which is were she died in 1939 of cancer.  She was only 46.  Much, much too young.  

Traveling Cross-Country on a Bus, Desperation!

Right, Madge.  Can you really trust this fellow?  

                  Bob and Madge Evans in Fugitive Lovers (1934)

Bob's October Birthday Ladies

 Errrr .... a little late for all three ladies.  I think Gaynor, Lombard and Hayes were classy enough to forgive me for my tardiness.  Anyway, Happy Birthday ladies!  You are still remembered.  

Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor were a highly successful pair, teaming up for a dozen movies from the late 1920s and on into the 1930s.  They were a handsome couple for sure.  

                          Janet Gaynor, b.  October 6, 1906

You have to wonder how Carole Lombard's career would have progressed if she had not made that fatal flight in January, 1942.  She was only 34, but that's getting on the old side for a female star in her era.  Of course, she was still a knockout and at the top of her form.  I do know she needed to have made at least one more rom-con with Mr. Montgomery, they were really quite good together in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941).  Below, Carole is with Fredric March in Nothing Sacred (1937).  

                          Carole Lombard, b. October 6, 1908

Bob always said his favorite leading lady was Helen Hayes.  Bob seemed in awe of theater performers.  She did have the large face for a stage actor.  Much like Ethel Merman's voice could be heard clearly throughout the theater, Helen's face could be seen.  (and as Clark Gable's large head was magnetic on the big screen!)     

                          Helen Hayes, b. October 10, 1900

I'm Guessing Jr. was the Really Nice Guy in the Family. He Just Looks it.

Sure of Himself for Sure!

 An interview with a young Bob from the December, 1930 issue of New Movie Magazine.  A tad long, but interesting, and three nifty photos.  Written by a man, so no giggling!  Enjoy.  

Eek!! Is it Really Thursday Already?!!!

 How embarrassing.  My blog, the only deadline responsibility I have and I blow it.  Geesch.  Meanwhile, may I offer you a rather nifty photo of three favorite people doing their thing, giving joy to their fans.   Now where did I leave my keys ...

             Bob, Joan and Bill, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)

She Could Hold Her Own, For Sure

 Great photo of Bob and Roz.  Their facial expressions are superb.  There are a goodly number of these publicity shots taken by Clarence S. Bull.  My favorite always seems to be the one I most recently  purchased.  It may well be the last one I find.  Just can't imagine there being a better one.  Great job, guys!

                    Bob and Roz in Live, Love and Learn (1937)

1929, And So Much Success Ahead

 A very young Bob and Betty Montgomery all decked out for an evening of merriment run into an MGM photographer who captures the moment for all time.  Wonder what the occasion was.  All we know is that they appear to be enjoying themselves.  The only information on the back of the photo is a type-written "Mr. & Mrs. Robert Montgomery."  MGM is indicated in the lower right corner.  Whatever, it is nice to see them both smiling.  

My, but yes, he is so young.  The MGM PR department usually managed to add the star's current or upcoming film in a photo description.  I'm wondering if they just didn't have a movie to add, like the Montgomery's are still new to L.A.  Let's give it a guess ... It's early 1929, they are at a popular nightclub, waiting for a table (Bob is a nobody at this time) and hoping to be seen by someone important.  At least the photographer knew he was somebody.

The Future According to MGM

 MGM's Screen Forecast for 1934 - 1935, is a small publication, about 3-1/2" x 4-1/2", with 28 pages.  I'm assuming it was given out as a freebee at theaters and tells briefly the movies MGM stars were cast in for release in 1934-35.  And just like the weather, MGM's forecast was somewhat limited in accuracy.  

Of course, not all were incorrect ... Robert Montgomery did co-star with Ann Harding in Biography of a Bachelor Girl (1935).  

Unfortunately, Robert Montgomery did not appear in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). 

 

William Powell and Myrna Loy appeared in a whole lot of movies together, but The Casino Murder Case (1935) was not one of them.  Paul Lukas and Rosalind Russell inherited this crime mystery.  

Some slight changes were made to the Shearer romance movie, Marie Antoinette, not released until 1938.  Lets see, it lost Charles Laughton and Herbert Marshall, and gained Tyrone Power and John Barrymore.  Must have been some changes in the storyline as well.  I mean, I just can't see Herbert Marshall and Tyrone Power up for the same role.  No way.

And, saving the best for last, and I quote:  "Gloria Swanson will co-star with Clark Gable in a thrilling romance."  Now that's funny.  Gable must have choked on his steak when the MGM rep. brought up that idea.  Perhaps he let Joan Crawford take care of Swanson.  Trying to move in on her guy ... really.

Mr. Jordan is Looking at Joe. Bette is Looking at Joe. And Joe is Looking at ____?

  Evelyn Keyes, Bob & Claude Rains in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

Yeah, I'd like to get my hands on him too!

Mr. Cagney & Mr. Montgomery

 They were both born in the state of New York, but were worlds apart.  The young Cagney grew up in the lower east side of Manhattan, Montgomery in an upper middle class home in upstate New York.  Bob attended a private prep school, but left before he could graduate when his father died.  Cagney, somewhat surprisingly, completed high school and attended a semester of college before dropping out when his father died.  Cagney started in show business as a dancer, Bob went straight to acting and began his movie career in 1929, followed the next year by Jimmy.  They were both successful, rising to the top rapidly.  

Anyway, they seemed more different than they actually were.  Both became involved in the Screen Actors Guild when it started.  I've always assumed that's how they met, not really sure.  Bob was very busy at MGM, and the same for Jimmy at Warner Bros.  And they did not hang about in the same social circles, for sure.   

     James Cagney, Chester Morris and Robert Montgomery visit Mary 

            Boland on set to sell tickets to a SAG fund-raising event.

Below, Cagney visits Montgomery on the set of The Night Must Fall in 1937.  Besides just wanting to check in on a friend, it was great PR having a Warner Bros. star visit a friend on an MGM set.  

Bob returns the favor in 1940, visiting Jimmy on the set of City of Conquest.

And Cagney scored a big coup getting Lt. Montgomery to attend the premiere of Yankee Doodle Dandy on May 29, 1942 in New York City.  Politically, Bob was a good friend to have when you were facing trouble due to past leftist activities.  

On September 10, 1956, Cagney appeared in an episode of Robert Montgomery Presents, titled "Soldiers from the War Returning" which was the opening episode of the show's final season.  It was a big favor to Montgomery ratings wise, the movie star Cagney appearing in a very dramatic role on live television.  The newness was a real challenge for Jimmy.  

In 1959 the two finally got a project going that they could do together.  Of course Cagney starred in and Montgomery directed The Gallant Hours, which was released in 1960.  It is a Cagney/Montgomery production, with Bob more involved with the actual production.  It was Bob's idea to make the movie about Admiral Halsey with Cagney ideal in the lead role.  It was a great movie for Bob to wrap up his movie career in.  They obviously enjoyed working together.    

Cagney would make one more movie, One, Two, Three in 1961 before retirement (not counting minor appearances in his later years).  There was talk of doing another project together, but nothing came of it.  Wouldn't it have been great to see them act together.  

Today, September 27th, marks the anniversary of Mr. Montgomery's passing at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, NYC.  He was 77.  Cagney passed in 1986 at the age of 86 on his farm near the village of Stanfordville, NY.  True-blue New Yorkers.