Review: "He gives a swell performance." Not exactly Pauline Kael...

 A look at the October, 1936 issue of Movie Mirror ... Let's see, a one-page feature on Piccadilly Jim (1935) and a friendly review.  Nice photo of Bette Davis on the cover.  

The print on the article is much too small to read, so:  "Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans are so happy to be together again in "Piccadilly Jim."  It's a real mutual admiration society, for Bob is Madge's leading man and Madge is Bob's choice among leading ladies.  Right now, Bob's all excited about his big chance in his next picture, "Night Must Fall," which will be entirely different from anything he's done before---and, if it can be arranged, Madge will be in that film with him, too.!"

Actually, Bob's next movie will be The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) and, no, Madge would not have worked out in Roz Russell's role as Olivia in Night Must Fall.  The casting is perfect as is.  

As for non-Bob coverage in the magazine, I rather like this photo of Joan Blondell and Dick Powell.  A cute couple.  

And the back cover ... Cigarette companies certainly advertised a lot in the 1930s.  This is a good example of their expertise at selling products.    

Merry Christmas, from Leon, Bob, June, Dick and Audrey!

Left to Right:  Leon Ames, Robert Montgomery, June Allyson, Dick Powell and Audrey Totter
 

P.S.  Lady in the Lake (1947) is being shown twice this Christmas season, Dec. 19th at 11:00 p.m. PST and Dec. 22nd at 11:00 a.m. PST.   

P.P.S. We'll be on vacation next week.  Meanwhile, have a great holiday. 

Audrey Gets Her Message Across

 These photos are from an article in the March 4, 1947 french magazine Cinevogue.  Love the series of Audrey Totter flirting with the camera, or should I say with Bob as Philip Marlowe in Lady in the Lake (1946).  Audrey did such a really good job in the movie, considering the trying circumstances.  Film actors were taught to never, ever look directly into the camera lens.  Overcoming that was difficult for an old pro like Lloyd Nolan. 

 

Future director Dick Powell stops by to say hi to new director Bob.  It's also one Philip Marlowe handing over the reigns to a new one.  Dick played the character in 1944's Murder My Sweet.  Nifty.

 

Bob directs Lloyd Nolan as Lt. DeGarmot. 

 

Bob wears his favorite hat from the post-WWII period ... perhaps not PC these days, but definitely snazzy in 1946. 

 

You've Got to be Kidding Me ...

Sorry, I just do not see Walter Pidgeon as Austrian officer (and baritone) Franz von Remner in a 1930 Oscar Hammerstein musical titled Viennese Nights.  I know he was a singer before the movies, but ...

                       Walter Pidgeon in Viennese Nights (1930)

Dick Powell is a gentleman I first knew as a successful TV/movie producer, but he was extremely likeable as the young singer in 1930s Warner Bros. musicals.  And he had a delightful tenor voice!  It's knowing of his struggle to advance his career from juveniles to dramatic leads, that makes this photo seem uncomfortable for Mr. Powell.  For me, it's the leaves on the helmet that takes it over the top.  (Olivia is still with us, a young 103!  Strong women rule!)

    Dick & Olivia de Havilland in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

Charles Boyer, the ultimate French lover of the 1930s, is cast as a conniving Japanese diplomat in Hara Kiri.  What more needs to be said ...

                  Listed as Thunder in the East (1935) on IMDB.

Dick Powell: Pretty Boy to Tough Guy

Dick Powell was born on November 14, 1904, in Mountain View, Arkansas.  From musicals to tough-guy roles to director and producer, Mr. Powell had one very successful show business career.

He had such a pleasant tenor voice in his musical days in the 1930s.  And was so very, very cute.  Look at the photo below with Dick sandwiched between Alice Faye and Madeleine Carroll.  The ladies just highlight how cute young Mr. Powell was. 

                  Faye, Powell & Carroll in On the Avenue (1937)

Ten years later, Powell has aged sufficiently to play the big time gambler Johnny O'Clock.  Besides being a good career move, I'm sure the experience of playing tough guys helped him in his transition to producer! 

             Lee J. Cobb and Dick Powell in Johnny O'Clock (1947)

There are a number of similarities between Powell and our Mr. Montgomery.  Both were typecast by their studios and fought for serious roles.  Both played detective Philip Marlowe on the screen, Powell in Murder, My Sweet (1944) and Bob in Lady in the Lake (1947).  Both transitioned into directing and production, and were staunch Republicans.  They were born in 1904, each had two marriages to short, cute wives and, unfortunately, both died of cancer.  Powell was only 58, young enough that you always wonder what more he could have accomplished in his career.  

Fun Photos (No, Not THAT Harrison Ford!)

                                     Boyer Wins By a Nose!

             Charles Boyer & Margaret Sullivan in Back Street (1941)

                  Dick and His Earring ... How Cute Can You Get!

                        Dick Powell in Broadway Gondolier (1935)

                                        Down, Mabel, Down!

         Harrison Ford and Marie Prevost in Up in Mabel's Room (1926)

It Takes All Kinds

                             Cute Couple

          Robert Montgomery & Dorothy Jordan in Shipmates (1931)

                           Striking Couple

                         Doug Fairbanks, Jr. & Rita Hayworth
                            in Angels Over Broadway (1940)

                              Odd Couple

          Jack Oakie & Dick Powell in It Happened Tomorrow (1944)

In Appreciation, Mr. Powell

I have been a Dick Powell fan for more years than I would like to admit.  He was the No. 1 Star of Four Star Productions, a very successful TV company that produced a multitude of hit shows in the 50s and on into the 60s.  Charles Boyer and David Niven were two of the other stars, but it was workaholic Powell who was the driving force behind the company's success.  I grew up watching many of his shows including "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" with David Janssen;  "The Rifleman" with Chuck Connors; "The Detectives" starring Robert Taylor; and, "Wanted:  Dead or Alive" which propelled Steve McQueen into stardom. 

Late at night, I would watch the young Powell as the lead juvenile in a whole series of Warner Bros. musicals.  The cute baby-faced singer with a delightfully strong tenor voice was featured in such hits as "The Gold Diggers of 1933" and "42nd Street."  

                      Dick Powell, Nov. 14, 1904 - Jan. 2, 1963

An older Powell excelled as a tough guy in film-noir classics such as "Murder, My Sweet" and "Johnny O'Clock," co-starring Evelyn Keyes.

There are similarities in Dick's and Bob's careers.  From early on, both were typecast by their studios and not allowed to expand into other types of roles.  Bob tried to escape the typecasting, but "Night Must Fall" did not change the way the studio handled him.  Dick had to quit Warner Bros. in order to get a role against type in "Murder, My Sweet."   Bob and Dick both turned to producing movies in the mid to late 1940s, and then went into TV production, Bob in 1950 and Dick in 1952.  Also, they were born in the same year (1904), married very petite ladies and, sadly, they both die of cancer.  Dick was only 58.  It would have been interesting to see what affect Powell would have had on television given a few more years. 

Thank you, Mr. Powell, for many, many hours of enjoyment. 

Dick Powell and Friends

Suggested title for the photo:  "Nine Girls Wishing They Were as Pretty as the Guy."