Man Just Can't Outdo Mother Nature

 I finally broke down and added this photograph to my collection.  It has been available to purchase on eBay for years, but the price was always just a tad higher than I could justify spending for a photo I considered an oddity.  Then the vendor offered it with a discount.  Had to have it.  

                   Robert Montgomery in Trouble for Two (1936)

Yes, it's the moustache.  Clark Gable needed a moustache, looked strange without it.  Bob's beautiful face did not need one, it just makes him look ... well, the word I used to use is probably socially incorrect these days, so, err, let's just go with strange.  And the hairstyle doesn't help.  And that uniform ... thankfully he's not wearing the cap. 

Why mess with perfection?

And a Star is Born!

 The following review of Shipmates (1931) is found in the June, 1931, issue of Movie Romances.  

          Cliff Edwards and MGM's newest star, Robert Montgomery

                                     Bob and Dorothy Jordan

Now I'm not saying the review was influenced by MGM.  It is just a coincidence, I'm sure, that this full-page color advertisement for Shipmates also appeared in the magazine.  

So, Bob was only a Substitute on the Team?

 

Nora Gregor and Robert Montgomery.

 

Ralph Forbes standing at the trophy table.  That's Neil Hamilton, seated, with the soft hat and the dark glasses.  Behind him is Spencer Tracy.

Guinn Williams, Dr. Wilson, Harry Branders (with broken wrist) and Robert Montgomery helping him off the field.  Bob will change his clothes and take the injured player's place on the field.

At the edge of the field, Bob Montgomery, Henri de la Falaise, Constance Bennett and Guinn Williams.

After the game there was much business of autographing the polo balls.  Below, Bob Montgomery is signing on the stitched line.  Constance Bennett, Mrs. J. Thompson, Henri de la Falaise de la Coudraye and David Manners are also in the group.

And now Constance adds her famous signature.

Constance Talmadge, Mrs. Jack Lawrence, Guinn Williams (back to camera), Johnny Mack Brown and Will Rogers.  

I'd put good money on the possibility that the blurry young man in his polo outfit who is entertaining the ladies, is Mr. Montgomery.  

What's Better than Bob? Six Bobs ....

Good month for Bob on TCM.  There are six movies coming and going, all of them in the better Robert Montgomery films group.  

Two movies are almost through their showing.  Private Lives (1931) ends on the 21st and Piccadilly Jim (1936) the 23rd.  The Divorcee (1930) will be shown until May 1st.  The Man in Possession (1931) is just being shown this morning.  Hope it gets a long run.  Everybody should see the role just made for the young Mr. Montgomery.  He handles it so well.  And an excellent cast simply makes this movie a gem of pre-code Hollywood.  Cheers for Charlotte Greenwood, Irene Purcell, Reginald Owen, C. Aubrey Smith and Beryl Mercer.  

And two more movies will "open" in April:  Lady in the Lake (1946) on the 20th and Night Must Fall (1937) on the 30th.  And everybody should see these two movies ... Mr. Montgomery's passions.  

Some great viewing!  Enjoy.  

Bravo, Ms. Crawford!!

It has been forever since I last did a blog entry on Joan Crawford.  Used to think she got enough coverage from other sites so that it would be best to spend my time on Bob, who so seldom gets mentioned these days.  However, it does seem the remembrances of her are from those trashy horror films she made late in her career, and, more positively, the tough broad films of the 1940s.  

Joan Crawford, to me, is the young star of the 1930s.  She reaches the very top of her profession in her mid-20's, and she definitely came up all the way from the very bottom with a determination unmatched by few souls.  I mean, having teeth pulled to sharpen your facial image was a mild step for her to take in that uphill climb.  

Doug and Joan ... the best-looking couple ever?  Darn close, if not.  

I'm guessing most Crawford fans would have to agree that the blonde look did not work for Joan.  

The caption for this magazine clipping discusses Joan's well-maintained body.  That her face may not be beautiful, but the rest of her makes up for it.  And I'm sure she worked hard at it, as she apparently did for everything she wanted.  (The magazine gave Hurrell credit for the photograph.  Not his usual style.)

Gooooo, Joanie!  

Not a Bob by Hurrell, But Ever So Nice

                    Clark Gable, Photo by C. S. Bull, Sept., 1936 

 

My.

Have to Have Me Some Hurrell Once in a While

                    Robert Montgomery by George Hurrell (1932)

Yum.

I Wonder How Many Tuxes Bob Had at Hand

" NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 1961 -- Bystanders greet former President Eisenhower as he enters the New York Coliseum last night to attend dinner-rally for Republicans seeking election to municipal offices in the city.  Behind Eisenhower is New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller.  To Eisenhower's right are Louis Lefkowitz, with glasses, candidate for mayor, and actor Robert Montgomery."

Outstaging all the big/powerful gents in the photo, are the two ladies with their remarkable hats, big puffs of fur with God knows what sticking out.  I think the lady on the left is about to lose hers, poor thing ready to make a dash to safety.  

A closer shot of the gentlemen.  Rockefeller seems to be enjoying himself, chatting with the tall youngish man to his right.  I'm guessing it is one of his sons, seems like they were all tallish.  

Looks like Bob is elbowing the mayoral candidate to get next to Eisenhower, or perhaps the secret service agent.  Bob continued to assist Eisenhower after Ike left office.  I'm sure he enjoyed rubbing elbows with biggies in his political circle.      

And How Did Actors Kill Time Between Scenes?

 Well, there was the obvious way actors (and actresses) entertained themselves during down time, but we'll take a pass on that for this mostly family-friendly blog.  

The first photo shows Bob and Virginia on the set of The First 100 Years having coffee and cookies.  Handling coffee with food on the saucer was a bit of a skill back then.  Now the saucers have virtually disappeared, replaced by coffee mugs.  Another lost art ...

      Bob Montgomery & Virginia Bruce in The First 100 Years (1937)

Looks like Warren is trying to have a chat with Binnie who is taking the industrious approach to filling in time by crocheting something or another.  Personally, I'd chose just listening to Warren who was an inventor/tinkerer and a basically interesting gent.  Assuming Bob would be busy ...

      Warren William & Binnie Barnes in The First 100 Years (1937)