Some Favorite Character Actors

 Born in 1891, Roscoe Karns made his first movie in 1915, and his last in 1964.  Known for his rapid-fire delivery, Roscoe was perfectly cast as a reporter in His Girl Friday (1940).  I first got to know him as Jackie Cooper's Captain in the TV series Hennesey (1959-62).  Saw an episode of the show recently.  It is really dated, but Karns was still funny.  Sorry, no information on the photo, but he's looking rather snazzy.  

Victor Moore had a successful career in vaudeville and Broadway before making movies in the 1930s.  I first remember seeing him in Louisiana Purchase (1941), in the role he also played on Broadway, Senator Oliver P. Loganberry, the simple and honest politician everybody tries to corrupt.  IMDB somehow gives the movie a 6.0 --- no way.  A very funny movie, in my humble opinion.

                   Victor Moore in Gold Diggers of 1937 (1937)

Reginald Owen, I believe, has the record number of appearances in a Montgomery movie:  The Man in Possession, Lovers Courageous, Petticoat Fever, Trouble for Two, Three Loves Has Nancy, Fast and Loose, and The Earl of Chicago.  A superb actor with a great career, Mr. Owen is pictured taking a nap during the filming of Mrs. Miniver (1942).  Most famous, no doubt, for A Christmas Carol (1938).  But great in so many roles.  

I Spend Way Too Much Time on my Computer!

I have a rather large file of photos I use as wallpapers, but I often go to a select few over and over again.  Pulled out ten of those for your perusal, in no particular order.  They all look better full screen, of course.  

Bob headed for Panama during his PT stage of his military career.  Bob is second from the left.  I particularly like this photo because this is real Bob, actually doing tour duty, not assigned to LA to make training films.  It was just so admirable of him to give up all the money he was making in 1940-1941 in order to do his civic duty, even though he was past draft age.  My hero.

A publicity photo taken for Three Live Ghosts (1929), his first movie, of course.  I have a photo of Bob's house in the early 1930s with this photograph displayed on a wall.  

Cagney and Bob on the set of The Gallant Hours (1960).  Great photo of two old friends finally getting the chance to work together.  Bob actually laughing, a full face smile.  Love it.

Bob directing on the set of The Gallant Hours.  Love the bullhorn.  He's having fun.

It's 1943, Bob has returned from his Pacific tour of duty and they have him doing some PR work.  Here we find him in Chicago being a master of ceremonies for some naval program.  A few fans have cornered him for autographs.  

Blondie of the follies (1932) with Marion Davies.  Great set, needs to be seen on a full screen.  The best hat ever!

The Shipmates (1931) publicity shots are all great.  It didn't hurt to have two good-looking stars as subjects.  

One of my newer wallpapers and currently my favorite.  Such a gorgeous young mam.  Rrfff.

Key-holing: intent on revealing intimate details

 And it has nothing to do with firearms in this context.  Our language has changed in 80 years!

A Beautiful Photo of a Beautiful Young Man ... Life Just Can't Get Any Better!

He's Here, He's There, He's Everywhere!

 I have always liked this lobby card, a favorite movie, They Were Expendable (1945), and a nifty scene.  Today's special effects are truly amazing, but a lot could be done 80 years ago with a good camera man and imaginative special and visual effects units.  

How often do we see a shot of Mr. Montgomery from behind?!  

I was looking at this reprint not long ago and felt an odd presence.  I scanned it so I could blow it up and take a close look.  

Yup, it is Mr. Bond staring at Bob, with gun in hand.  To be expected, the John Ford film regulars did not welcome Bob with open arms - John Wayne had expected the lead role; he was miffed when Ford had Bob finish the movie; etc., etc.  Shall we assume there were not any real bullets in his gun?

Nice to Have Mr. Jordan on Your Side

 It is not that often Bob is paired with only a male co-star in a publicity shot.  Actually, I can't think of any besides this photo for Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) with Mr. Jordan himself, Claude Rains.  Rains did such a great job with the character, giving him just the right amount of gravitas.  

And Bob did such a great job as Joe Pendleton, the nice guy who deserved a second chance.  You can see it in those smiling blue eyes.  

En Garde!

 Have never quite understood this photo.  Is this really what the photographer intended, or is the lower right quarter just simply messed up?  Whatever, any photo of young Mr. Montgomery is just great to me.  

And Where Were You 54 Years Ago?

 Bob was in Milwaukee, WI on April 2, 1968, visiting the newsroom of the Milwaukee Sentinel.  I'm fairly certain a newspaper visit did not bring him all the way to Wisconsin, but don't know anything else about it.  I see he still has the knack of taking off his glasses before a picture is taken of him.  

The great Montgomery full-faced smile is still there.  

Being a photographer himself, Bob helps the person assigned to get a head shot by holding his glasses in a rather unique manner.  Nice shot.