He Was Here, There, & Everywhere!

 Picked up these photos from bulk buys of miscellaneous stills.  Usually, there's maybe one Bob in the batch that I want, and the rest are usually not of interest.  Occasionally, something catches my eye, like another Ward Bond sighting.  I'm not particularly a fan of Mr. Bond as a person, but his career was most impressive.  IMDB lists 276 acting credits and he was in so many great movies (It Happened One Night, Gone With the Wind, The Maltese Falcon ... ).  And a darn good natural character actor to boot.  From appearing as a fireman in a Tim McCoy movie ... 

                Ward Bond and Tim McCoy in A Man's Game (1934)

... to playing the leading bad guy in a Kim Maynard western, Bond kept himself very busy.  

            Ken Maynard and Ward Bond in The Cattle Thief (1937)

Bond has only a small role in this Edward Everett Horton comedy, but it's a large studio production (Universal) and I'm sure better paying than the two previous independently produced films.  The film has a 7.3 rating on IMDB.  Sounds like a fun movie, but couldn't find it for viewing or buying.  Darn it.  

       Edward Everett Horton and Ward Bond in His Night Out (1937)              

Off to Paris to Fight a War ... Good Choice!

 In 1940 Robert Montgomery signed up with the American Field Service, a voluntary group serving as ambulance drivers in France.  He arrived in Paris on May 30th to begin his tour.  By June 14th, the Germans are entering Paris and Bob has managed to hire a private plane to fly him to Lisbon, from where he flies back to the States.  So, he was a driver for only a short span of time.  But, hey, he tried!

Today, Marlene, Robert Montgomery researcher extraordinaire, forwarded the following link to me.  It's an episode of Hollywood and the Stars, a 1963-64 TV series produced by David L. Wolper, quite good as I remember it.  The episode is titled Hollywood Goes to War, a quite entertaining watch ... PLUS, it has footage of AFS member Robert Montgomery!  There are a few photos of Bob and his ambulance, but this is the first film coverage I've seen of him, even has the sound!  He's on the screen all of 27 seconds so don't plan on blinking too much.  Starts at about 4:22 into the show.  I'd forward to about 4:00 and start concentrating so you don't miss him!  My link starts a couple minutes into the show, you'll just have to scroll it back.  It starts here   I agree with Marlene, the cap looks better on him than does the U.S. Navy officer's hat.  Love the jodhpurs.  They're so Montgomery!

 Marlene inspired me to do a little of my own research, and I ran across this photo I hadn't seen before on the AFS site.  The helmet is not a flattering look for Bob. 

My, Oh My, What a Beautiful Boy!

 Just LOVE this portrait of Bob.  I've had a 16x20 framed poster print of this on the wall above my computer desk for years.  Finally ran across this original print only last fall.  It cost a nice sum,  but not as much as I would have expected.  And not nearly as much as I was willing to shell out!  A Merry Christmas to Kathy.  

I like it just the way it is.  There's no question about it being an original print.  

I could touch it up a bit to approximate the way it looked when new.  Not bad.  But without the appeal of the nicely aged version, for me anyway.  

Another way to determine if a photo is made from the original negative is to enlarge a small area to see if the image holds true.  Being able to see the reflection of the photographer's lights in Bob's pupil is a good sign!  

Offering Service to a Discerning Clientele - But Not Moi, Darn it!

 I was looking through my old copies of  the "Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club Advertiser" when ... LOL, like I would ever have a need for such a publication!  It is neat that the 1995 issue below features a photo of Mr. Robert Montgomery and his new toy, a 1935 Bentley 3-1/2 litre lightweight tourer by Vanden Plas (the coachwork company).  Impressive vehicle.  Bob and Betty would take a car tour of Europe with it that year.  Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it!  

A slightly larger copy of the photo.

And to prove it really is Bob in the car ...

He Looks so Comfortable with that Mike

 Bob appeared before congressional committees five times, that I can think of.  This is his last appearance, January 15, 1960, a mere 62 years ago.  Two photos follow, one from each of the major wire services, Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI).  Between the two captions, one gets a good idea of the story.  

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 --- MONTGOMERY TESTIFIES --- Robert Montgomery, actor and director, testifies today before the Federal Communications Committee in its inquiry into questionable practices in the broadcasting industry.  AP 1960

1/15/60 WASHINGTON: TV producer Robert Montgomery is shown as he appears before the FCC 1/15.  He charged that rumors of rigged TV quiz shows and payola were widespread throughout the broadcast industry long before they came to public light.  He said the broadcasters should be given a chance at self regulation - but the chance should be limited.  UPI

Robert Montgomery, aka Danny

 Bob so captured the essence of Danny, the charming psychopath of Night Must Fall.  He was certainly in character when the publicity stills were taken, this portrait is downright mesmerizing.  (And that houndstooth jacket doesn't help any!)  

                    Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall (1937)

You're On Your Own, Elizabeth!

Hi!  Hope everybody had a super holiday season.  And now we're all ready and raring for another fun year.   Right?  Well, ready perhaps.

This is a fun interview with father Robert Montgomery re daughter Elizabeth.  I got this in a group of clippings and the very end of it is missing, which does not harm the article.  It appears to have been written in the spring of 1953.  

Ray Milland's Birthday is January 3rd ... Now write that on the blackboard 50 times.

 Starting the new year off in usual form ... Ray's birthday was yesterday.  Sigh.  Anyway, love the lobby card for Ambassador Bill (1931), a Will Rogers vehicle with a young Ray (24) in a featured role.  I'm glad he didn't stay with the mustache.  

           Ray Milland and Marguerite Churchill in Ambassador Bill