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)

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.  

... and Bob does an Excellent Turn as a Heel

"WEDDED BLISS . . . Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery are the fight-and-make up newlyweds in "Another Language" in which they are starred by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer under direction of  E.H. Griffith."  

        Bob and Helen Hayes in Another Language (1933)

The studio certainly did not waste production money on using publicity stills to advertise Another Language.  I have run across all of two publicity stills for the movie, this and another photo of Bob and Helen.  There are a few on set candid's and that's it.  IMDB notes the movie was originally intended to star Norma Shearer who backed out shortly before the movie was underway to take care of her ailing husband, Mr. Thalberg.  That might explain the lack of planned publicity for the movie.  I have never been a big Hayes fan, but I'm sure her performance was better than anything a miscast Shearer would have given.  

Pre-Code Bob Times 8 ...Just Great!

 Ah, gee, aren't they cute.  Dorothy Jordan was such a petite lady.  Check out her right hand resting on top of Bob's rather large hand.  Almost doesn't look real.  

               Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Love in the Rough (1930)

Hope you got a chance to watch some of Bob's movies from Monday's mini marathon.  So far, four of them will be available to stream on TCM until mid-August:  Love in the Rough, Strangers May Kiss (1931), Untamed (1929), and Lovers Courageous (1932).  The Divorcee (1930) is available only to July 21st.  For some reason, Another Language (1933) and Private Lives (1931) are shown as available to be streamed, but the ending dates are not included in the write-up.  And When Ladies Meet (1934) is not listed at all.  Not that I'm complaining.  Overall, this summer is proving to be just great for Bob movies.  Thanks again to the programmer at TCM!  

Thanks to TCM for a Very Pleasant Surprise!

Ta- Da!!  Coming this Monday, July 14th on TCM:  Daytime Theme - Robert Montgomery Pre-Codes!  Eight, yes EIGHT!! Bob films.  From Untamed (1929) to When Ladies Meet (1934), watch a young and eager youth develop into an excellent actor and handsome leading man.  

                Bob and Myrna Loy in When Ladies Meet (1934)

Now, I probably won't make it up for Lovers Courageous (1932) which begins the celebration at 6:45 a.m. PDT ... but the second half looks doable.  Hopefully the streaming schedule is good for all eight movies.  The movies in order shown, all times PDT.  

         6:45 a.m.     Lovers Courageous (1932)

         8:15 a.m.     Private Lives (1931)

         9:45 a.m.     Untamed (1929)

        11:15 a.m.    Love in the Rough (1930)

        12:45 p.m.   The Divorcee (1930)

         2:15 p.m.    When Ladies Meet (1934)

         4:00 p.m.     Another Language (1933)

         5:30 p.m.     Strangers May Kiss (1931)

Hope everyone has the chance to see a favorite once more or discover a new one. 

Wonder Who Cleared the Chips off the Table

 "Fan Tan....Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery indulge in a game of cards on the set at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Miss Hayes and Robert Montgomery were co-starred in Another Language (1933)."

I had to look up Fan Tan, had not heard of it before.  Basically, the goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards.  It is also known as Parliament, Sevens, Card Dominoes, and Stops.  Haven't heard of those names either!  Anyway, card playing was a great time-killer on the set.  

      Helen Hayes, Bob and John Beal on the set of Another Language

Just look at Helen's and Bob's faces ... people who want to WIN!

   

Only Eleven Days To Go ... Eek!

 Rather hectic time of year isn't it!  We all need to take a break, sit down and watch a Montgomery movie.  Yeah, that sounds good.  TCM is offering three Bobs to watch:  Another Language (1933) with Helen Hayes beginning December 15th; Lady in the Lake (1946) on the 20th; and Night Must Fall (1937) the 28th.  Lady in the Lake for Christmas and Night Must Fall for New Years ... sounds great.  Which reminds me, need to add eggnog to the shopping list.  

Wanted: Missing Bust. Belongs on my Mantle

 Let's see.  There's the Rosebud sled in Citizen Kane (1941).  The ruby red slippers in The Wizard of Oz (1939).  And ... the bust of Bob made by his wife Stella (Helen Hayes) in Another Language (1933).  Wouldn't you just love to have this trio of movie souvenirs?  Hey, I'd settle for just Bob's bust.  Display it in the living room, the first thing you'd see on entering our home.  Well, it would make My day!  Wonder what happened to it.     

                 Helen Hayes and Bob's head in Another Language

Why is Bob Smiling?

 Ah, the things actors do for publicity...  I'm guessing Bob wanted bragging rights amongst his drinking buddies.  It's not that often one gets to spar with the World Heavyweight Champion.  The rather large gent is Primero Carnera, who had just won the championship in June.  The photo was taken July 19, 1933 in NYC.  Bob was in town for the release of Another Language (1933) on July 28th.  Starting August 4th, Bob did the opening stage act for the movie along with Irene Purcell.  They performed a scene from Private Lives (1931).  That had to be fun for them, definitely fun to watch.

To My Darling Wife, Julie

I rather enjoy watching Night Flight (1933).  For me, the few short scenes featuring Montgomery are such a pleasure that I'm still grinning through the rest of the movie.  The script can be a snore, poor Helen Hayes gets to wade through much of the melodramatic morass.  The disappointment of Night Flight (1933) is not having the stars appear together.  Helen and Clark Gable are married, but their screen time together is comprised of Helen looking longingly at an 8x10 of flyer Clark.  Gable's appearance is limited to sitting in his plane's cockpit looking brave.  Myrna Loy has a scene with hubby pilot William Gargan (who?).  Bob's scenes are with Lionel Barrymore.  I mean, it's too evident that this movie was filmed around the filming schedules of the stars.  It was filmed March to July of 1933.  In this five month period, Bob did his scenes for Night Flight, filmed When Ladies Meet and Another Language, and left town for his summer vacation in New York. 

 

But the entrance Auguste Pellerin (Montgomery) makes is choice.   Love it.  TCM is showing Night Flight today at 3:00 p.m. EST.  Or better yet, pickup the DVD on eBay with the super nifty cover. 

The Man Dressed Just So Nicely

Is that a scowl on Bob's face?  His hands are clenched ... in anger?  Drats.  I don't remember the scene with Helen Hayes in Another Language.  Now I will have to check out the movie for it.   Such a penance ... having to watch a Bob movie. 

                Bob and Helen Hayes in Another Language (1933)

One Handsome Gent (Well-Dressed too!)

This photo was used on the cover of Cine Monde, a french magazine, in 1933. ( I was relieved to discover that there was no inside article on him that I would have to translate, my interest was purely the photo anyway.  Do note the spelling of Bob's name in the blurb!)

28-year-old Bob was just so very handsome, and this is a nifty photo of him.  He appears to be modeling the perfect ensemble for recreational horseback riding, for the country club set.

I later realized I had a sister photo ... two excellent environmental portraits. 

Almost as good as this one, taken a few years later on his new yacht.  Still handsome and wearing the perfect yachtsman attire, I'm sure.  The man had class.  

                                              Bob at 57.

And two alerts for Bob movies on TCM:  Another Language (1933) will be shown tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. PST, and The Divorcee (1930)'s showtime is Thursday at 7:30 a.m. EST/4:30 a.m.

Two More Bob Movies to be Released on DVD

I need to check WBshop more often.  There are two Bob movies being released on DVD on October 6th!  Both are co-starring Helen Hayes, Vanessa:  Her Love Story (1935) and Another Language (1933).  

Vanessa is both dated and severely cut from it's original length, only the early TV edited version exists.  (At least that's my assumption, will delve into that in a later post.)  But it's worth a viewing, if only to see Bob in a period piece and some nifty outfits.  Yes, he was a well-dressed man in almost all circumstances.  

Another Language is the better movie.  It is also very much a Helen Hayes movie with a supporting cast including our Bob as her husband who is still under the domination of his mother.

(On a personal note, I finally figure out how to place the text of the blog alongside a photo and darn if I can get it to work with a second photo.  Maybe in another four years...)

Bob's Favorite Lady (less the Elizabeths)

Whenever asked who was his favorite leading lady, Bob always named Helen Hayes.  I'd imagine his respect for her stage success, held the young Mr. Montgomery in awe.  

                                Another Language (1933)

Helen first appeared on a stage at the age of five, and a mere 80 years later retired from acting.  During that brief career, she won two Oscars, three Tony Awards, an Emmy and the love of playwright and screen writer Charles MacArthur.  When she met Charles at a party, it was love at first sight.  Later in the evening, he poured some salted peanuts into her hand and said, "I wish these were emeralds."  Married in 1928, they were together until his death in 1956.  It would be her only marriage. 

Another Language

I just want to welcome back Anna to blogging! Do check out her Crowd Roars blog - she's talking about Another Language (1933), which I hope the Warner Archives releases to DVD soon.

 

Odd as it may seem, I love the drapes in their apartment. The perfect Art Deco style.

Another Language (1933)

If you were to pin me into a corner and ask for my favorite Bob Montgomery films, I'd have to admit a fondness for Another Language. Released in 1933, this MGM gem offers a cast that fits together perfectly to tell the story of the Hallam family - right after the honeymoon.



I recommend checking out the New York Times review of the film's showing at the Capitol Theater in NYC. According to the newspaper, the film was quite true to the play by Rose Franken.

And from the NY Times review, one of those "wish I was there" moments, a live presentation at the Capitol:

Robert Montgomery and Irene Purcell performing in a short scene from the second act of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" is the feature of the stage show at the Capitol Theatre this week and, by the way Mr. Montgomery and Miss Purcell have at each other, one would assume that they mean to emulate Mr. Coward and Miss Gertrude Lawrence in physical violence if not in histrionic accomplishment.

Just an aside, Irene Purcell starred in The Man In Possession with Bob in 1931.

More Movie Posters

Here I go, spending your hard earned cash again.

Another source for repro movie posters - RainFall.com. Have never purchased anything from them, but the items are unique enough to look into:

• Another Language (1933)
  
• Fugitive Lovers (1934)
  

The artwork on these look pretty decent. Some move posters from the 30's you go "huh - that's who?" I will admit though, the look on Helen Hayes' face below looks a bit odd.