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.  

Helen Admires Her Young Co-Star

Yep, I agree, Ms. Hayes.  Mr. Montgomery is to die for.  Sigh.  You can let him go now, Helen.  Helen!

   Robert Montgomery and Helen Hayes in Another Language (1933)

Bob and Sexy Norma, via Hurrell

 The Hurrell photographs for Riptide (1934) are great, just dripping with sex ... even those with Herbert Marshall in them!  Norma gave it all for the shoot.  No underwear to mess up the lines of the gown.  Her two accompanying male stars exhausted by the vibes on set.  Gooooo, Norma!

Riptide is available to stream on TCM until June 5th.  

               

Halleluiah ... it IS here at last!

 Thanks to Carrie for the official word about the June 30 release of Letty Lynton.    

Press Release - Warner Archive Collection Press Release: Letty Lynton (1932) (Blu-ray) | Home Theater Forum

An only 40-day countdown remains.  Gosh, but how many years has it been since we began wondering when or if Letty would ever be available in a viewable format?  

Letty Update ...

 So ... the TCM Festival did decide to have a second showing of Letty Lynton, on May 3rd.  What a thrill for those lucky people.  

According to Joan Crawford's grandson, who has been involved in bringing Letty back from the grave, the DVD will be released in the "coming months."  What a tease!  Anyway, I need to start saving money for that 4G Blu-Ray.  Might be a good time to buy that 4G TV.  

Jerry and Letty find romance ...

He looks even better in the white suit.  

The Unguarded Hour with Roz?

Errr...Bob did not make "The Unguarded Hour" with Roz or anyone else.  I'm sure the studio had that planned for him when the article was written, but ...  Bob made Petticoat Fever (1936) with Myrna Loy when he returned from his extended vacation in 1935 and then Trouble for Two (1936) with Roz.  The Unguarded Hour was made by the studio, starring Franchot Tone and Loretta Young.  Personally, I am quite happy he made Petticoat Fever instead.  

A slightly different Hollywood Trio

 The movie is Louisa (1950), directed by Alexander Hall who also directed Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). The plot:  two guys (Edmund Gwynn and Charles Coburn) fight over one girl (Spring Byington).  Yeah, another Bob/Clark/Joan movie ... well, sort of.   

Anyway, Edmund decides on flowers and an evening in the parlor. Spring is interested.

Charles goes all out with assistance from Mother Nature.  Again, Spring is interested, the little hussy.

Spring's son, Ronald Reagan gets involved, demanding Edmund watch himself.  Picking on a very diminutive Edmund ... for shame Ron!  

The boys decide to settle the matter once and for all.  I'm putting my money on Edmund.  

Just Mr. Montgomery staying busy

 Bob directed "Calculated Risk" on Broadway in 1962.  It turned out to be his last work in the entertainment business.  Not a bad way to go out, directing a play on Broadway after a rather humble start as a stagehand some 40 years prior.  

I just noticed that John Beal is a cast member.  Mr. Beal's first movie was Another Language (1933), playing Bob's younger brother.  He also appeared twice on Robert Montgomery Presents.  

Bob was 58 at this time.  From this brief bio in the flyer, you could surmise he was not in retirement mode, just seeking other interests.  

Hedy and Bob together? Would have been interesting.

Yes, I know the lucky guy in the photograph is not Bob (Montgomery).  I can appreciate another good-looking fellow on occasion.  In this case, it is Bob Young with the perfectly beautiful Ms. Lamarr in a studio photo for H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941).  I like the pose ... Hedy dominating Young.  Yeah, that works well.  

Sorry for the briefness.  Didn't remember I had a post to do until I was on the way to bed.  The memory goes first ...  Enjoy your weekend!  

And a Whip Cracker is ... ???

 SCREEN STAR AND NOTED SPORTSMAN ARRIVE FOR POLO ---- LOS ANGELES, CALIF ...... Robert Montgomery, popular film star, and Snowy Baker, well known Australian whip cracker and all-round sportsman, as they arrived at the Riviera Polo Grounds for the match in which Hollywood notables recently participated.  3-23-1933.  

Mr. Montgomery attired in all white ... the impeccable polo player.  Looking good, young man.  But there is something different here.  

Oh, I finally see it.  Bob is au naturel, in this case meaning he has not slicked (oiled) down his hair.  Rather like it this way.  

Whipcracking was actually a sport in Australia.   Wiki has all the information you could ever want to know about it.  I'll stick with baseball.  

M.G.M.'S ... fastest wisecracker, indeed.

"M.G.M.'s leading light comedian and fastest wisecracker has his serious moments.  He brought one with him for this picture.  Bob has been making big pictures since 1930, when he appeared in "Inspiration" with Garbo.  This year (1934) you saw him with Joan in "Forsaking All Others" and '"No More Ladies."

I collect magazine prints of Mr. Montgomery because they are a lot less expensive than actual photographs.  I could not afford an original of this Hurrell photograph.  In fact, this is the only copy of either version I've seen.  Yeah, an 11x14 photograph of a nonchalant Mr. Montgomery to hang above my desk.  Almost perfect.  

Be Still, My Beating Heart!

  Can you guess what I can't stop thinking about these past few days?  It is a range of emotions from sheer ecstasy (hopefully seeing a clear print of a Beautiful Bob movie for the first time!), to having a nightmare about the Paramount+/Warner Bros. Discovery merger killing any plans to release Letty on DVD!  Aaarrggh!  

Favor to ask, if any of you or anyone you know are fortunate enough to attend the screening, please, please, Please drop us a line or two or as many as you want!  The word for the day, good people, is Share!  

Bob in his prime.  Wearing that gorgeous white suit.  Nirvana.  

                   Bob and Joan Crawford in Letty Lynton (1932)

"... with all legal impediments extinguished ..."

 YAHOO!!!!!!!!!  

Great news shared by Ms. Carrie today ... a 4G restoration of Letty Lynton (1932) is being featured at the TCM Classical Film Festival.  On May 1st Letty will be shown in all its glorious B&W at the Egyptian Theatre in L.A.  Just fantastic.  Unfortunately, there is no mention of the movie being released to DVD, but surely TCM/Warner Archive will do the honors, particularly since Warner Bros. Discovery did the restoration.  

Anyway, it is going to happen, period.  I'm thinking about the scene wherein Mr. Montgomery makes his first appearance on the boat.  Ahhh...  

And in his spare time ...

 "Robert Montgomery is the host-narrator and occasional star of his popular dramatic series, "Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre" and "Robert Montgomery Presents The Johnson's Wax Program," each seen on NBC-TV alternate Monday nights.  Montgomery is also executive producer of the program."  (12/18/53)

In case you are wondering about Bob's odd stance, it's a balancing trick.  The lifted leg with his foot on the bench helps keep him stationary.  If he were to stand straight up with both feet on the floor, he'll easily enough start to sway, a problem since the camera is focused on him probably shoulder high and any small movement would be noticeable.  Hey, it's 1953 live television, you do what you can!

And What was Bob doing in February of 1929?

"In connection with the signing of Robert Montgomery by M-G-M it's appropriate to quote the old one about 'all good things come to he who waits.'  Montgomery, who has bag and baggaged to the Coast, was signed to play opposite Vilma Banky a few months ago but it developed that he wasn't the type and James Hall was commandeered for the part instead.  But M-G-M snatched him up and now he's in possession of a long-term contract."

Speaking of Blondi ...

One handsome couple do Bob and Myrna make.  Here we have a stare down between Jimmie and Mary in When Ladies Meet (1933).  I like the concept of Bob competing with Frank Morgan for Myrna.  Too much.  Still, it is one of Bob's better movies, definitely worth watching.  

               Bob and Myrna Loy in When Ladies Meet (1933)

The movie is available for streaming on TCM through April 22nd.  And Blondie of the Follies (1932) is available through April 27th.  

Bob, Marion & Hearst Made Three

Handsome couple, don't you think.  This publicity shot was taken for Bondie of the Follies (1932). 

The usual pale-skinned Mr. Montgomery is replaced here with a heavily tanned Mr. Montgomery.  Blondie was filmed June through July, and it appears Bob got in a few weekends playing polo.  Yeah, looking good, Mr. Montgomery.

             Bob and Marion Davies in Blondie of the Follies (1932)

Live Long and Prosper!

Happy Birthday (almost late), Captain Kirk!  95 ... Wow!

                            William Shatner, b. March 22, 1931

I know, I can't help it.  A guilty pleasure of mine.

What a Way to Treat an Original Hurrell!

Every once in a while, I get very lucky and pick up an original Hurrell.  Even a Montgomery collector (hoarder) like me has spending limits, so obtaining one at a good price is always a thrill for me.  I ran across this photograph taken for No More Ladies (1935) about a year ago.  No thrills since ... 

Just love the clarity of an original print.  One can enlarge a part of it and the clarity is retained.

And if you have a really good print ... yeah, this is a good one.

And if you need further validation, there's always that Hurrell M.G.M stamp on the back.  The ink has faded; it is barely readable.  The green stamp on the lower left corner is by the council set up to make sure everything produced by the studios passed code.  Which explains the holes punched at the top of the photograph.  Many of those photographs were kept in two-hole binders.  What a way to treat an original Hurrell!

The Man with the Interesting Face

Two excellent postcards of Bob Montgomery.  In both photographs he is wearing the exact same outfit: the same suit coat, same tie and clasp, same shirt, and same handkerchief.  The hairline is the same ... it is the same photo session.  

So, why does his face look so different?  

Mr. Montgomery had an interesting face, indeed.  

My signature isn't legible either!

I appreciate the autograph collector who ID's the person whose autograph he collects.  We might not think it necessary for Bob's name to be printed out, but when you stop to study the sample below it can be difficult to translate some of his efforts.  I certainly would not if I had not seen it so many times before.   

And he/she also gives the date of the signing!  Nifty.  Let's see, July 1st, 1939.   Bob was in England with the family at the time.  Then WWII heated up and they had to hightail it back to the States.  Just a small bit of Montgomery history!

A Bunch of Old Pros - On TCM thru March 17th

I have always enjoyed watching well-seasoned professionals doing their thing.  Watching The Last Hurrah (1958) one gets to enjoy a rather large gathering of them, five of them are pictured below.  Clockwise from upper left, we have James Gleason, most famous for the role of Max Corkle in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), and as Sylvester the cab driver in The Bishop's Wife (1947).  On his left is Ricardo Cortez born Jacob Krantz, son of Jewish Austrian immigrants, who was anointed by Hollywood as one of the second comings of Valentino.  Well, he wasn't but he did a good job as Sam Spade in the original The Maltese Falcon (1931) and would keep his acting career alive through the 1940s.  

Next, seated, is Pat O'Brien.  I did not know before this that O'Brien was a classmate of Tracy, and both were born in Milwaukee!  The other three gents were all born in New York City, a much more commonplace hometown for performers.  Anyway, the two friends even joined the Navy together to fight in WWI, but the war was over before they completed training.  They probably had a beer or two to celebrate that blessing.  

                                       The Last Hurrah (1958)

I'll skip Spencer Tracy.  Nothing to add to the above trivia.  The last person is Edward Brophy, who portrays "Ditto" in the film.  The small chubby faced gent played a number of similar characters throughout his career.  As an MGM contract player, he appeared in three of Mr. Montgomery's movies:  Free and Easy (1930) (an uncredited role as Benny the Stage Manager - look fast!); Our Blushing Brides (1930); and Hide-Out (1934) (as Detective Britt who arrests "Lucky").  

The rest of the cast isn't shabby.  Pros to include Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisp, John Carradine, Frank McHugh, and Wallace Ford.  It would take John Ford as director to keep this crowd under control!   

TCM! - I've got this film you need to show.

 When I first ran across this photograph, it caught my eye because two of my favorite people, Reginald Owen and Frank Morgan, were in it.  And there is Virginia Bruce, as well, all decked out in a gorgeous gown and fancy hairdo.  I thought it was a publicity shot for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), since Owens, Morgan and Bruce were all in it, but it is named on the back as being Escapade (1935).  Then, looking up the movie, I found that William Powell and Luise Rainer star in both movies as well!  What?  

It did take a long time to film Ziegfeld, from April 8th to December 1935.  Escapade filming began at the same time, April 3rd, but was wrapped up in May.  Did the studio make Escapade to build up fan interest in Ziegfeld, a much larger production?  Use the core cast for both movies while having to wait out the year to film all the other performers?  Sounds 'bout right.  It is interesting that Escapade has a 7.3 rating on IMDB, while Ziegfeld has the lower score of 6.6. 

I would love to see the movie but, of course, it is not available anywhere.  Shuckie-darns!  

Okay, enlarging the good folks so you can see them ... Reginald Owen.

Mady Christians ... wonder how early she had to be at the studio for that hairdo!

Frank Morgan ... with a full beard and dark hair for a change.

Virginia Bruce ... knitting away.  The lady has been on a sound stage many a time.

I do not know who this gent is.  Evidently a fan of Ms. Bruce.  Herringbone jacket, striped shirt and checkered tie - my.  Would love to see the outfit in color.  Anyone know who he is?