BOO!!

                         Claude Rains in The Wolf Man (1941)

Who was that I saw you with last night?

 I wish I had just a tad bit more information re this photograph.  Let's see, we're in New York City at the Stork Club.  From the ribbons on Bob's uniform, it is probably 1943 and Lt. Comdr. Montgomery has been assigned duties stateside after serving in the Pacific Theater.  And, from all the glassware on the table, at least two persons have excused themselves from being photographed with a celebrity at a bar.  Now, the big question:  Who the heck is the lady with Bob?  

STUDIO QUARTERS . . .

 . . . Robert Montgomery, M.G.M, star in his new dressing room at the studio.  The room is done in Early American style, having walls and ceiling of knotty pine and colorful rugs and drapes.  In the background can be seen his built-in dressing table.  The screen is made from caricature map.

One Handsome Lad Indeed!

Submarines and Designer Swimsuits ... Not Quite a Match

Nice photograph of Madge Evans, taken as part of the ad campaign for Hell Below (1933).  The bathing suit almost blends in to make it appear Madge is wearing only straps and a belt.  Not that it wasn't intentional, I'm sure.  I still wonder about high-heeled shoes being paired with a swimsuit and swimming cap.  Just never saw that at the beach.  

                            Madge Evans, 1933, Hell Below

Hey, Bob! Got something for you to do in your spare time!

 "Robert Montgomery, juvenile player who has forged ahead and developed a tremendous fan following, with his work in The Divorcee (1930) and The Big House (1930), is said to receive the largest volume of mail at the M-G-M studio.  Some of it comes wrapped up on stocks, such as the letter Montgomery is now trying to decipher from Persia.".  

"Wrapped up on stocks?"  Which means??  It is interesting how language changes over the years, but kinda frustrating when you cannot find a good translation.  I'm thinking stocks could be replaced with scrolls, maybe.  Unless stocks refer to the wooden bars only?  Enuf.  One should just admire the handsome young man in the photo, the important part of life.  

You've Got to be Kidding Me ...

 93-years-ago a gun was removed from a lobby card for the movie Mother's Millions.  It was done by the movie company to appease the censors.  The gun became a blue smudge, leaving a pointed finger to scare the young man and his mom (May Robson).  

Present day.  Amazon Prime Video UK released these James Bond posters.  Taking the gun away from Bond ... Really?!!  Truly disgusting.  Amazon "disappeared" the entire images by the next day after a whole lot of negative response online.  This time, there is no official board of censors to blame for their actions.  Amazon is just a bunch of wooses.  

Three October Birthday Ladies

 ... and three very different actress types.  But they all loved our Mr. Montgomery.  Let's see, Janet Gaynor, born on October 6th and a very tiny person, 4'11-1/2", was in Three Loves Has Nancy (1938).  

                        Janet Gaynor in One More Spring (1935)

Carole Lombard was also born on October 6th.  A great match for Bob in Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941). 

        Fred MacMurray & Carole Lombard in True Confession (1937)

And Helen Hayes, born October 10th, made two films with Bob, Another Language (1933) and Vanessa, Her Love Story (1935).  Happy Birthday, Ladies!

   Helen Hayes & Bob Montgomery in Vanessa, Her Love Story (1935)

A Night at the Races

 Sometimes, having no information about a photograph can make it more interesting.  Are the boys watching a race?  Most probably.  But, then could they have all eyes for the blonde (s) passing by?  Hmmm.  Or both?  Or a combination?  Are long-time marrieds Bob and Basil being good boys and bachelor Jimmy enjoying whatever the evening brings?  Most probably.

   Bob, Basil Rathbone and James Stewart enjoy a night at the races.

I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight ...

     Watching the rich and famous go about their lives has been a fun pastime for the rest of us for a couple centuries now.  They are different from the rest of us.  Their lives are different.  They entertain us.  

In the photo below, we have two wealthy men who are also famous, for being actors.  Raymond Massey and wife Dorothy have decided to go out for a drink at, I believe, the Stork Club (based on Bob's preference).  Perhaps they've come from seeing a Broadway play.  There isn't anything special about their being out on the town, that is just what one does.  And it is an opportunity to see other rich and famous people.  Like our Mr. Montgomery.

I'm guessing the photo was taken mid-late 1940s which makes Bob more famous than rich.  He may well be checking in with the Masseys to see if they would like to invest in his struggling production company.  And Mr. Massey would have been a good target for an investment.  His grandfather started the family business in the early 1900s.  The world needed tractors and Massey decided to provide them.  Today, Massey-Ferguson is the world's largest producer of agricultural vehicles.  As a farm girl, I'm rather impressed by all that wealth.  

Anyway, I kinda wish the photo was in color.  It's Dorothy's hat.  As is, it looks like she is just having a really bad hair day, all frizzed up.  Seeing it in color would surely help.  And the baubles on her arm ... are they gold or silver?  America needs to know!  

Open Letter from Mr. Montgomery

"This is an ill-tempered book, but not, I hope one the reader will think merely polemic.  The anger which inspires it is not an end in itself.  It is intended to awaken in the television viewer some conception of the dangers inherent in the free-wheeling oligopoly which dominates the mass entertainment and information given to us nearly twenty-four hours a day by network television.  I am especially angry and concerned about the threat this oligopoly holds for a free society."  

The above quote is from the forward to "Open Letter from a Television Viewer", written by Robert Montgomery in 1968.  I have tried several times to read it but just haven't been successful in doing so.  It is only 152 pages long and a paperback   Mr. Montgomery does talk briefly about his experiences at the White House, and that's a fun read.  Anyway, think I'll try one more time ...

Bob's autograph rather adds to the joy of having his book.  

Dressing for Success

 Just love the hat ... simply gorgeous.  As is Mr. Montgomery with it on.  It appears at the beginning of The Mystery of Mr. X (1934) when Bob (as Nick) is with his lady friend Jane, as portrayed by Elizabeth Allan.  My, how could one say no to that look on Bob's face!  

Mystery is a surprisingly good movie.  It's seldom included as one of Bob's better movies so you don't expect it to be all that good.  Granted it's no great drama, but it is a pleasing mystery with a particularly good action sequence with Nick chasing Mr. X at night.  And Bob's wardrobe is superb, the perfect hat for each attire.  A top hat is included of course.

This chapeau is my favorite, fits nicely in scenes with Nick chasing down Mr. X.   I believe this photo shows him realizing the blood on his glove means Mr. X has stuck once again.  Blood on his white glove.  What a shame.  

The Mystery of Mr. X is streaming on TCM through October 15th.  Do watch it if you have the chance.  

Stars in "The Petrified Forest" on Television

 "Robert Montgomery hitch-hikes his way into trouble as Allan Squier, down-and-out-dreamer in Robert E. Sherwood's powerhouse of drama, "The Petrified Forest," seen on "Robert Montgomery Presents -- Your Lucky Strike Theatre, Monday, October 23 ... "

The NBC news release is dated 10/17/50, six days before the show was aired.  However, according to the Classic TV Archive (CTVA) listing of Anthology Series (which lists all RM Presents shows with casts and crews) Bob is not listed in the cast.  Brian Aherne has filled in for Mr. Montgomery.  I'm assuming Bob was ill.  Three cheers for Aherne being able to fill in on live television with such short notice.  Oh, and IMDB does not list Aherne as being on the show.  Ah, sweet mystery of life ... 

Ahoy, My Handsome Young Man!

 Nice photograph.  Signed by the young man himself.  Lucky Ann!

Just a standard fan card, but still a great photo of young Bob.  I'm sure there were thousands of fans who were quite happy to have it.  Hey, I'm happy to have it now.  

WHEN THE CAMERAS AREN'T GRINDING

 - you'll probably find Warren William sailing or working on his boat, the Pegasus, a 50-foot schooner.  An extended cruise is the favorite between-picture pastime of the popular actor, currently co-featured with Karen Morlen in "Outcast."  (Photo stamped Feb. 24, 1937.)

He looks like he knows what he is doing.

In the 1930s, I would've bought every fanzine on the rack!

 The popularity of fan magazines in the 1930s, kept the public relations departments of the studios quite busy.  Most all of the magazines used a one-page format of a single photograph of the star with a brief biography and/or mention of their current film.  The magazines, the p.r. departments and the fans all loved the format.  

"Young America's new "boy friend" gets less and less American with each succeeding film.  See him as a quarrelsome English husband in "Private Lives," playing the part acted on the stage by the author, Noel Coward."

"After a decided personal triumph in "Petticoat Fever," in which he co-starred with Myrna Loy, Robert Montgomery will seek new laurels in a follow-up picture teamed again with the lovely Loy.  The title of this one is "Love on the Run," and it has to do with an American news reporter in London and a duchess who is running away from an unwelcome marriage.  You can expect plenty of laughs, with Montgomery at his best as the reporter."

Of course, Bob did not appear in "Love on the Run."  The studio put Gable and Crawford in it to take advantage of the press coverage of their current affair.  And Bob did not want to make another film about buses, "Fugitive Lovers" was enough.  Bob came out ahead on this career move, "Love on the Run" not being much of a success.  

"Filmgoers have missed the smiling face of Robert Montgomery from the screen lately.  Illness caused his removal from the cast of "Mutiny on the Bounty," and other troubles kept him out of later films that had been arranged for him.  But he'll be around again soon, in a comedy interestingly entitled "Petticoat Fever," with no less a person than Myrna Loy as his starring partner.  He gives you a cheery smile, above, to show you that he's quite well again, thank you."  

Of course Bob was not sick for a year, preventing him from making "Mutiny on the Bounty." or any other movie in 1935.  Mayer kicked Bob off the movie, I've always assumed it was because of Bob's involvement with the SAG movement.  Anyway, Bob took off for New York for his 3-month vacation and refused to accept the poor projects MGM sent to him until he finally had to accept "Petticoat Fever" or void his contract.  Certainly glad he made the film!

Nifty photo of Mr. Montgomery further down in the article. And he actually mentions his brother! A rarity.

This article is from the December, 1945 issue of "New Movie Magazine."  Not bad, has a few interesting tidbits.  

Ahh ... Springtime in Beverly Hills!

 Looks like Bob is in good form for a steeplechase!  

Full concentration on Bob's part.  Wouldn't want to stumble over the wall in front of a cameraman.  

Check out the small black spot on his shirt.  Yes, it is indeed "RM".  Love it.

And a second photo of Bob walking briskly around his pool.  These two and the photos of Bob in/by the pool were used by the personal relations department in a series of articles showing how Bob keeps in shape for his movies.    Bob was big on swimming, but walking and jumping over small walls, maybe not.  

I just learned how to spell "doppelganger"

 August 28 is Charles Boyer's birthday.  He committed suicide two days before his birthday in 1978, two days after his wife died.  He fell in love with his wife Pat Paterson at first sight, their marriage lasted 44 years and Charles was a totally devoted husband - ever so rare in Hollywood, particularly for a native of France!  A sad death or ever so romantic?  Both, I guess.  

                                      Charles Boyer, 1934

Boyer was a unique Hollywood star.  Besides English and French, he could speak German, Italian and Spanish.  (I wonder what his accent sounded like in Italian!)  He earned a degree in Philosophy from the Sorbonne.  Balding significantly since his 20's, he did not wear a toupee except as required in his movies.  Wikipedia has a rather thorough write-up of his career that is definitely worth a read.  A rather interesting gentleman.  

                              Charles Boyer, Gaslight (1944)

And just what is his connection to Bob, you ask?  How about MGM bringing Boyer to the states in 1931 to portray Chester Morris's role in The Big House.  Besides, I just plain like the guy.  No one agrees with me, but I think he looks like Mr. Montgomery.  I just dug up a photo which supports my argument better.  Not exactly a doppelganger, but ...

Smoke Lowered the Temperature from 108 to 102. Traded a Headache for Coughing!

 MGM photographer Hurrell is best known for his studio work, but he did leave the studio occasionally.  In this case he did a two-part shoot with Bob.  The first was Bob with his polo ponies.  It is befitting that he would have an all-white pony to match his all-white sports attire!    A really nice photograph.

The second part was for pictures of the new baby in the household, Martha Bryan, a private request by Bob, according to an article I read about Hurrell.  I remember seeing a photo of the baby displayed on the Montgomery's piano.  I'm assuming the photos were never publicly released.  How sad to lose a 13-month-old child.  

Are we up to a little game? Hey, Bob's in it.

 I absolutely love photos like this, a shot of the cast and crew.  Unfortunately, they don't exactly work on the blog.  On the small side.  Can you tell it was taken on the set of Forsaking All Others (1934)?  Let me enlarge the major cast members. 

Guess who!  In all his splendor ...

And while we're checking out the rest of the cast, can you guess what they have in common in these photos that is different from Mr. Montgomery?  First, we have good friend Roz Russell.  Poor Roz was given a truly ugly dress to wear in the movie.  

Then, there is Billie Burke and Charles Butterworth, two excellent scene stealers.  

And, lastly, there's Mr. Gable with a big smile.  Ms. Crawford is not included in our little game, too interested in being snuggled up close to Mr. Gable.  

So, what do Roz, Billie, Charles and Clark all have in common that Bob doesn't?  They are all looking and listening to the director on their left.  Whereas Mr. Montgomery is looking directly at the camera, always appreciative of what made his success in the movies.