Bob and Joan in Letty Lynton

 Beautiful couple, but there's just something not quite perfect.          

Well, yes, a great pairing, but ...

Ah, Bob alone.  Yes, that's it.  Perfection.

And Herbert was 14 years older ...

 Herbert Marshall was born May 23, 1890, in London, England.  After early training as an accountant, Mr. Marshall chose to become an actor, gaining 20 years of experience on the stage before making his first movie.  He was a very private and reserved gentleman, traits carried over into his acting style.  The five-time married actor was the father of two girls.

Herbert has the almost unique distinction as having been in a movie with both Robert (Riptide, 1934) and Robert Jr. (College Confidential, 1960).  He shares that distinction with Jayne Meadows who was in The Lady in the Lake (1946) with Robert and in College Confidential with Skip.  

Happy 121st Birthday Mr. Montgomery!!

 121 years ago ... my.  

Thought I'd share a pair of photographs taken in the early 1950s of Bob and Buffy vacationing in Zermatt, Switzerland, the small town at the base of the Matterhorn.  Great photos, great subjects and a wonderful setting.  Both Bob and Buffy look to be happy, Buffy with her big smile and Bob with a slight grin and eyes almost closed because he has placed his sunglasses on top of his head for the photograph.  One can imagine the glare from the sun in that snowy landscape.  

Bob was an avid and excellent skier, taking two-weeks' vacation most every February throughout the 1950s for sure.  Do take note of the near absence of people in this fantastic location.  There are 2 adults and a child behind the pair, you can partially see them behind Bob's right arm.  And that's it.  (Oh, yes, there is a photographer.)  Just amazing.  

Just a lovely couple.

And one handsome dude.  Those baby blues needed sunglasses in the bright sunlight.  And he is perfectly attired for the sport, as always.  

This second photograph was taken at the same spot, only the subjects have been distracted and are now looking away from the camera.  They have also created a space between them.  In the first photo their bodies are actually touching!  Egads.  

Bob plays King of the Hill!  

Buffy, always the pleasant-looking lady with a great smile.  

Dug up this photograph of Bob taken January 17, 1938 in Sun Valley.  Note the sunglasses propped on his forehead.  

A quick reminder of the seven-movie marathon showing on TCM today. The May 15th post lists the movies being shown.  Well, Happy Birthday, Robert.  Now, to decide which movies to watch, always a difficult task.  

A Man and his Horse

 EXCLUSIVE, STARS AND THEIR HOBBIES  -  Robert Montgomery, popular Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star, has a stable of excellent riding horses at his Southern California estate and finds ample time while working in pictures for outdoor activities.  Montgomery is currently appearing in M-G-M's "Fast and Loose," co-starring with Rosalind Russell.

TYPICAL OUTDOOR GENTLEMAN ... Is Robert Montgomery, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star, who, besides owning a farm in New York state, also has a stable of excellent riding horses at his Southern California estate Montgomery spends three months of each year on his New York farm and even while working in pictures finds ample time for outdoor activities.

Don't forget Wednesday is Bob's birthday.  TCM is showing seven of his movies (rah! rah! TCM!). 

So Clear Your Busy Schedules on May 21 and Watch Some Bob!

 Gorgeous photo.  As is the subject!  

                      By Hurrell for Blondie of the Follies (1932)

TCM has come through with a seven-movie Montgomery marathon for his birthday!  Mr. Montgomery would have appreciated that.   

 The list of movies with show times in PDT:

                 6:00 a.m. Piccadilly Jim (1936)

                 8:00 a.m. The Last of Mrs. Cheney (1937)

                10:00 a.m. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

                12:00 p.m. They Were Expendable (1945)

                2:30 p.m. Night Must Fall (1937)***

                4:30 p.m. When Ladies Meet (1933)

                6:00 p.m. The Lady in the Lake (1946)

*** The TCM schedule lists the 1964 version of Night Must Fall.  I do hope someone catches that error!  

When Ladies Meet is the only pre-code movie.  This is a collection of Bob movies wherein he has developed into an excellent actor.  From a dramatic thriller (Night Must Fall), to a screwball comedy (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), to a dramatic war movie (They Were Expendable), Mr. Montgomery simply excelled.

And, yes, the photograph does not match up with the rest of the post. But ain't it sweet!

Bob Montgomery at Labor Hearing on 11-22-1937

"Robert Montgomery, President of the Screen Actors Guild, testified before the California Assembly Interim Committee at Los Angeles of labor conditions in the movie industry.  Montgomery said the International Alliance of Theatrical and State Employees was attempting to obtain jurisdiction over actors, writers, and directors as well as other film Workers."

I am fairly certain that Bob is just a little peeved.  He is both enunciating his words clearly and wanting to grab or choke something or someone.  Perhaps it is the politician on the podium, who is assuming a rather odd look at Bob.  Go for it, Mr. Montgomery!

Handsome gent, isn't he. 

 

Happy Victory in Europe Day!

 The Brits know how to celebrate.  Having the Royals to head the celebrations is a plus.  And VE Day is good cause to throw a party.  WWII was hellish for so many millions of people.  If you survived it in Europe, you were one lucky soul.  

I'm sure my Dad participated in a party or two, or more likely a continuous party from the time of the announcement of Germany's surrendering to the last bottle of spirits.  He was in Europe at the time, still recovering from being wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.  VE Day meant a lot to the over 2,000,000 U.S. troops who were in Europe during the war.  At least having one part of the war end was a cause of happiness.  Facing the possibility of fighting in the Pacific front was something to worry about a later day.    

Yes, I totally forgot my Tuesday post and was too lazy to play catch-up.  Sigh, the joys of old age ...

H.B. to 6' 3-1/2" Hunk Brian Aherne!

Brian Aherne was born May 2, 1902, in Worcestershire, England.  His first marriage (1939-1945) was to Joan Fontaine born October 22, 1917 in Tokyo, Japan.  It is kind of amazing that the two even met each other, much less got married, with a 15-year age gap and all.  Yet they appeared to be one suave/smooth/urbane/sophisticated/debonair couple!  And totally handsome.