A little color for a change

I have discovered the limit of heat my body can withstand; 111 degrees while floating on a raft for 3 hours in our pool.  And the main symptoms of heat exhaustion are nausea, dizziness and fatigue.  Just grand.  Meanwhile, I broke off a crown/tooth at gum level!  Ah, life can be just so wonderful.  Anyway, for now, how about a nifty color photo for a change until I can regain control of my body.  

                                          Gene Raymond

Having difficult time imagining Bob speaking Portuguese

 Cinefilo, meaning film enthusiast or lover, was a Portuguese magazine published in Brazil during the 1930s.  The issue below was published September 5, 1931.  Considering it was printed on inexpensive paper 95 years ago; it is in rather good condition.   

The photograph MGM sent the magazine of Mr. Montgomery was printed on an inexpensive newsprint rather than photographic paper.  It is the same as the photo used in picture frames for sale.  Shipping rates to Brazil from the U.S. must have been quite high in 1931 ... that's one long boat ride.  

It still amazes me how successful Paul Whiteman was during this period.  Not too many portly, balding and middle-aged men make the bigtime these days.  

Irene Purcell's photo is on the back of the magazine.  There are no associated articles inside featuring the stars on the front or back.  That's okay.  I'm not up to having to use google translate these days. Oh, yes, August 7th is Irene's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Ms. Purcell!

Battle of the Reginald's

 Everybody Sing (1938) starred Alan Jones and Judy Garland.  It may not have been a highly rated movie, but it did have some excellent supporting actors to attempt to save it from being too much of a bomb.  Reginald Owen, Reginald Gardiner and Billie Burke, each in their own unique way, were great actors.  Mr. Owen, whose birthday is August 5th, could seemingly play any type of role to perfection.   Mr. Gardiner was really good at playing the "upper-crust English twit."  And Ms. Burke was a master at portraying "Billie Burke", one of a kind for sure.  

Thumbs up to Mr. Gardiner for going face-to-face with Mr. Owen.  I'd say the eyes have it!  (Sorry, I'm working on this much too late in the day.)

A slightly late update of Bob on TCM ... June Bride (1948) is available until August 11th and The Big House (1930) ends a brief run on August 7th.  

Such a Nifty Couple

Hide-Out:  the movie simply cries out for a follow-up episode.  Yes, will prison turn Lucky into a real bad guy?  Will Pauline be still waiting for him?  Will Lucky be able to "go straight"?  Will Willie (Mickey Rooney) still be a pest?  Can you just imagine how cute their kids could be?  

                      Bob and Maureen O'Sullivan in Hide-Out (1934)

  It's easy to tell Bob and Maureen enjoyed working together.  Cuteness Personified!

The Ever-Dapper Mr. Powell

It's a very Happy Birthday greeting to the delightful Mr. William Powell, born July 29th, 1892.  He's one of those rather rare celebrities one would like to meet, with little fear of disappointment.  

Ah, the suave, most elegant, etc., etc. younger Mr. Powell.  Takes me back to my smoking days when I could sit back with cigarette in hand and dream of Bill asking if I would like a light.  Rrff.

Then there is the 1947 version of Mr. Powell as Clarence Day in Life With Father.  It's two decades later, but he is still the suave gent dressed impeccably.  

And a delightful caricature of Bill found on a cigarette trade card from England.  Yes, quite the dapper gent.  

Quite the Relief ... Turns out to be a good movie!!

Yes, Letty Lynton has FINALLY arrived in Bakersfield (all the way from LA?).  Hopefully everyone else has theirs as well.  Thoroughly enjoyed watching it without getting a mild headache squinting for a clearer image.  Beautiful print.  Bob just perfect in his first scene wearing that gorgeous white suit.  Had warned my husband we'd be watching it the same day it arrived.  He actually laughed out loud during the scene with Jerry and Letty in the boat's dining room.  Their exchange of one-liners is really quite good.  One of my favorite scenes is with Bob running up a flight of steps while carrying Joan.  He was in good shape, for sure.  Anyway, the nifty thing is that he stops his run with one step to go, one foot still in camera range.  You'd think there would've been a landing for him to step onto and put Joan down, but...or maybe he just ran out of gas!  

Anyway, it is a most enjoyable watch.  A beautiful print with beautiful stars and a decent enough storyline, especially for a 1932 movie.  That's only three years since the advent of the talkies.  Such a long time ago.  And we're just now getting to enjoy it.  For me it was worth the wait.  

Now, if someone would hunt down a copy of Three Live Ghosts(1929) ... Or a decent copy of Unfinished Business (1941).  Or Hell Below on DVD.  Or .... at least the list is one movie shorter!

                  Bob and Joan Crawford in Letty Lynton (1932)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Cagney!

 James Francis Cagney, born this day July 17th on the lower east side of Manhattan in 1899.    A compelling performer.  For sure.  

Just love the print below.  All that energy bundled up and ready to explode.  Dig the eyelashes.  I'm envious.  

A mustache worked okay for young Mr. Cagney, in his tough guy roles in particular.  Much better than Bob.  For sure.  

Jim and best friend Frank McHugh practicing being tough with one another.  I wonder how many movies they made together.  

Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhh, Part 2!

 So....Amazon has delayed the (hopeful) delivery of the Letty Lynton DVD once again, until July 20 to July 22.  And they actually asked if I still wanted my order.  Aaarrghh!  These people just don't get it.  Waiting all these years .... sigh.  (I know ... get a grip, woman!)

               Nils Asther and Joan Crawford, Letty Lynton (1932)

Meanwhile, June Bride (1948) is available for streaming on TCM until August 11th and When Ladies Meet (1933) only until July 18th.  

HAPPY 250TH TO THE USA!!

 

Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!

 My Letty Lynton DVD has been delayed (yours too, I'd imagine) until July 9th to July 12th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  No explanation by Amazon as to why ... of course not.  Calm down, calm down.  What's another week or two after all these years ... an eternity it is.  

Letty Lynton Coming Soon ...

 My preorder receipt said my DVD would be delivered June 30th.  Current listing states DVD to arrive July 10th or July 15th.  Whatever, it just can't come too soon.

                    

Bob's Last Leading Lady Dies

 Condolences to the Blyth family.  Ann was apparently a class act.  

                Ann Blyth, August 16, 1927 to June 24, 2026 (98)

And Just What Are You Doing, Cary?

 After so many years in the business, it is easy to understand how an actor/photographer can run out of poses for a movie's publicity shots.  I'd say Mr. Grant is giving it his all, but ... 

1959 ... Lordy, has it really been 67 years since Petticoat came out?!  I was in my Cary Grant/Clark Gable stage at the time and remember the movie in quite some detail.  (Just don't ask me what I had for dinner last night ...)  

                    Cary Grant in Operation Petticoat (1959)

Yeah, he could've passed as the villain!

A really nice photograph.  Love all the light angles, the highlighted white tie, Bob's pouty lips ... 

               Robert Montgomery in The Mystery of Mr. X (1934)

Who's In the Doghouse?

"Lt. Commander Robert Montgomery and Mrs. Montgomery at the premiere of 'Since You Went Away' directed by John Cromwell."  June, 1944

It's Bob's expression:  does he look on the verge of losing it, or what?  Betty, as is highly unusual, is walking a distance away and in front of Bob.  She looks very stern/determined, as in daring anyone to get in her way, or for Bob to say anything to her at all.  Since You Went Away is 2 hrs. and 57 min. long.  That must have been a very exhausting experience.  

Goooo, Charles, Irene and Charles!!

 KEEP IT CLEAN - Charles Boyer, Irene Dunne and Charles Coburn do a polish job on the status of the town's hero in Columbia's gay comedy, "Together Again."

I can't imagine a more awkward trio of pitchmen.  But the old pros that they are, all have their best grins for the cameraman. 

How Robert Montgomery helped daughter Liz

 

When you can't afford the originals (pt.2) ...

 Think Small, Think Postcards

George Hurrell took a lot of portraits of Robert Montgomery.  Unfortunately, very few are in circulation.  Heck, even the postcard versions are rare.  

It is Norma Shearer being won over by Bob in this publicity shot for Strangers May Kiss (1931).  Yes, even posing for publicity shots could be enjoyable with the right partner.  

Hurrell took a goodly number of photographs for Riptide (1934), with Bob, Norma and Herbert Marshall.  They were taken to highlight Norma; the silk gown and no underwear helped.   

Forsaking All Others (1934) was filmed late in the year, after Hurrell left MGM.  A gent named Tanner took this photo of Bob, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable.  Joan was in between marriages, enjoying her affair with Clark; Bob was enjoying working with friend Gable, and not with Hurrell.  

Bob and Carole ...

 Two excellent pros in a delightful comedy.

Carole Lombard & Robert Montgomery in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

Bob and Madge made such a great couple

TCM update for June:  Fast and Loose (1939) and Night Must Fall (1937) will begin their June showings on June 4th and Lovers Courageous (1932) on June 13th.  Meanwhile, three movies from May will continue to run until June 14th (The Divorcee and The Easiest Way) and June 15th (They Were Expendable).  That's a lot of Bob available to watch!  

I definitely need to check out Lovers Courageous.  It has been ages.  Bob and Madge made such a great couple.  

                 Bob and Madge Evans, Lovers Courageous (1932)

When you can't afford the originals ...

Think Small, Think Trade cards

   Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, Alice Brady and Bob in When Ladies Meet 

               Bob and Rosalind Russell in Night Must Fall (1937)

            Bob, Roz and Alan Dinehart in Fast and Loose (1939)

And, when you definitely do not have the extra money for an original Hurrell, try this trade card.

       Bob, Joan Crawford and Franchot Tone in No More Ladies (1935)

Aargh ... the only thing wrong with a three-day weekend is not having Monday to recuperate.

Nifty postcard of a very young Mr. Gable.  Only one small problem with it.  

The handkerchief is on the wrong side ... the image is flipped.  Still nifty.  

Happy Birthday, Mr. Montgomery!

 And what better way for Bob to celebrate his birthday then with friends (maybe family) at a hot new nightclub.  He would have enjoyed that.  This photo was not a birthday celebration, however.  It was taken in August 1940 at Ciro's, which was a hot new nightclub.  And they all are friends.  The occasion is a fundraiser for War Relief.   

The attendees are from left to right:  Bob, holding court; Pat Paterson, Mrs. Boyer; Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; an unknown lady; and the back of Mary Lee, Mrs. Fairbanks.

 

 On the other side of the table are Charles Boyer; Betty Montgomery, partially hidden by Boyer's glass; and a very tall unknown gentleman.  

Since I don't recognize the lady at the far end of the table, nor the gent across from her, I'm going to take a wild guess ... how about Bob's brother Don and his wife.  Two of the few things I know about the brother are that he was taller than bob, by at least a couple inches, and he was in L.A. at least during the war when he handled Bob's businesses.  Like I said, just a fun guess.  

Anyway, for those of us not planning to go out on the town today, TCM has four Bob movies available for streaming at present:  Riptide, until June 5th; The Divorcee and The Easiest Way, until June 14th; and They Were Expendable, until June 15th.  Not a bad selection.  Just think, next year we'll be able to watch our Letty Lynton DVD!!!!

Panic ... who me? Get your orders in now!!!!

Yikes ... Carrie just told me that pre-ordering on Amazon for Letty Lynton began today!  I just ordered mine.  Not knowing how many are available ... it will be delivered on June 30th.  Can't wait!!

Bob - "Knight on a white horse!"

 Don't know for sure, but best guess is that a good friend or sister has captured a photo of Jack Paar from his Friday night show, The Jack Paar Program which ran from 1962 to 1965.  The writer is probably English, the date format of 21/12/62 (21st of December,1962) indicates that.  And best guess is that the good friend or sister is in England after spending time in the States, getting to know of Robert Montgomery.  

Enough guessing.  Please just read the note ... it is priceless.