Two Old Friends Chatting About....?? We Can Only Wonder.

Official caption on the photo:  "SPENCER TRACY AND ROBERT MONTGOMERY ARE JUST A COUPLE OF OLD FRIENDS ... talking over autos and horses on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot."  Who knows, maybe they are.  It's the mischievous smiles they are both displaying that makes one think it's an entirely different conversation.  

Bob's Bentley was shipped to the U.S. in September, 1935.  Guessing he drove directly to the studio to show it off.  Bob, having a complete wardrobe for all sports in which he had an interest, is beautifully attired in tie, sport coat and driving gloves, of course.  

Join Bob, Gertrude & Noel at the Party!

 It is June 24th, 1935 in London.  The gang has gotten together to help set up for the Theatrical Garden Party in Queen Mary's Garden, Regent's Park, London.  Mr. Montgomery is to be a Special Guest during the afternoon festivities.  

Bob is enjoying his role as bass drum player.

That's Gertrude Lawrence, star of both the London and New York stages, holding onto Bob's drum.  

And the Big Man himself, Mr. Noel Coward directing the gang.  He started (1920) and shepherded the Theatrical Garden Party through the years to raise money for the Actors' Orphanage.  

And fun was had by all ...

Hugs go out to the Birthday Boy!

Ahh...one look and you just have to love Van Johnson.  The nice, friendly-looking kind of guy you always dreamed about meeting on a blind date.  Quite the smile.  Just want to hug him.  

                Van Johnson, b. August 25th, 1916 in Newport, RI

His Face is his Fortune --- and his Misfortune

 This article is from the July 29, 1939 issue of "Film Weekly", a mere month from the start of WWII in Europe.  Bob and Betty were able to get the kids on a ship that landed in New York on Sept. 13th, and they followed on Sept. 18th.  From life at a luxurious hotel to madly arranging passage home to escape WWII ... when life became quite serious.  

Yes, the article is a tad long, but worth the read.  Bob's recollection of his life as a teen is somewhat different, another version!  

Tallulah has a Bad Day

                       Tallulah Bankhead in The Cheat (1931)

Happy Birthday, Ann Blyth!

 Glad to see Ms. Blyth is still with us, the last of Bob's leading ladies.  Must be the "Killer Instinct"!!  

                

Bob and Ann Blyth in Once More, My Darling (1949)

B. 8-16-1928 in Mt. Kisco, NY

Wearing a Pantsuit at the Beach in 1940. Different.

 The editor who wrote the photo caption (see below) was treading dangerous ground in his description of Ms. Shearer.  I mean, "... no longer a young girl"!  Lets hope 38-year-old Norma was in a gracious mood when she read that.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to Norma Shearer, born Aug. 10th, 1902, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  Yeah, she looks darn good for a 38-year-old.  

"The camera caught Norma Shearer in this natural, rear pose, an acid test for any figure.  Young, lithe and lovely are her lines, though Miss Shearer is no longer a young girl."

It's August and all those Bob Birthday Ladies

 Let's see, I did manage to do a birthday post for Myrna.  Since then I have missed Anita Page, Aug. 4th, and Ann Harding and Irene Purcell, both born on Aug. 7th.  And I remembered Reginald Owen and his Aug. 5th birthday.  Yes, not a leading lady, but being in seven Bob movies puts him in a special class.  

Dorothy Jordan, born Aug. 9th, and Bob were a precious pair in both Love in the Rough (1930) and Shipmates (1931).  There was a big MGM publicity push for Bob becoming a Star!, including starring him in Shipmates.  Wish they had given him a better movie.  They did take a fair number of publicity shots of Bob and Dorothy.  Now they are just great.  

                    Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Shipmates (1931)

It's the Mukluks & Fur Coat that make the Man!

 And a Happy Birthday remembrance of the wonderful character actor Mr. Reginald Owen!  Just love the man.  Totally impressed by his ability to create so many characters with relish, never short-changing the audience with an ill-prepared role.  

Mr. Owen was born August 5th, 1887 in England and died November 5th, 1972 in Boise, Idaho.  85, a good run.  

                      Reginald Owen in Petticoat Fever (1936)

List of Robert Montgomery movies Reginald appeared in:  Man in Possession (1931); Lovers Courageous (1932); Petticoat Fever (1936); Trouble for Two (1936); Three Loves Has Nancy (1938); Fast and Loose (1939) and Earl of Chicago (1940).  Seven Bob movies made better by the efforts of Mr. Owen.  Thank you, kind sir.

Not Even a Bit of Gossip!

 Nice photo of Bob and Helen Hayes from Another Language (1933) on the cover of the January, 1934 issue of Film Pictorial.  You'd think there would be something inside about Bob, and/or the movie, but there isn't a darn thing!  (I was a tad disappointed when I received it...)  

Anyway, it does have this nifty photo of Mr. Cagney ... a real dude.