So Many Birthdays ....

Yes, so many ... decided to combine a few Bob co-stars, six from this week alone.  So, Happy Birthday to ...

Anita Page, Aug. 4th, co-starred with Bob in Free and Easy (1930)

Reginald Owen, Aug. 5th, co-starred with Bob in several movies, decided to use this photo of Mr. Owen in Sherlock Holmes (1932).  He is Dr. Watson to Clive Brook's Sherlock.  Love the bowtie.  

Irene Purcell, Aug. 7th, appeared with Bob in Man in Possession (1931).  She and Bob worked so well together, wish they had done more.

Ann Harding, Aug. 7th, shown here with Bob in Biography of a Bachelor Girl (1935). 

Nat Pendleton, Aug. 9th, was a very busy supporting actor in the 1930s and 1940s.  He did a great job with the role of Madge Evans' unwanted suitor in Fugitive Lovers (1934)

and, finally, Dorothy Jordan, Aug. 9th, portrayed a rather demure young lady when co-starring with Bob in Love in the Rough (1930) and Shipmates (1931).  I like this sexy version of Dorothy.  

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!  

And a Star is Born!

 The following review of Shipmates (1931) is found in the June, 1931, issue of Movie Romances.  

          Cliff Edwards and MGM's newest star, Robert Montgomery

                                     Bob and Dorothy Jordan

Now I'm not saying the review was influenced by MGM.  It is just a coincidence, I'm sure, that this full-page color advertisement for Shipmates also appeared in the magazine.  

It's August and all those Bob Birthday Ladies

 Let's see, I did manage to do a birthday post for Myrna.  Since then I have missed Anita Page, Aug. 4th, and Ann Harding and Irene Purcell, both born on Aug. 7th.  And I remembered Reginald Owen and his Aug. 5th birthday.  Yes, not a leading lady, but being in seven Bob movies puts him in a special class.  

Dorothy Jordan, born Aug. 9th, and Bob were a precious pair in both Love in the Rough (1930) and Shipmates (1931).  There was a big MGM publicity push for Bob becoming a Star!, including starring him in Shipmates.  Wish they had given him a better movie.  They did take a fair number of publicity shots of Bob and Dorothy.  Now they are just great.  

                    Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Shipmates (1931)

Like Bob and Dorothy Needed Any Help From a Mistletoe Bough

Bob had to deal with a lot of Leo's - Seven Leading Ladies

Yes, another publicity shot of Bob and Dorothy Jordan for Love in the Rough (1930).  The PR department certainly used up its budget for the movie.  Glad they did.  The photos are more worth seeing than the movie.  Well, except for the opportunity to hear Bob croon and also see him without his pants.  Meanwhile......Dorothy was born August 9, 1906, in Clarksville, Tennessee.  She auditioned for Melanie in Gone With the Wind.  Yes, I can see that.   

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

And Norma Shearer was born August 10, 1902.  Selznick considered Norma for the role of Scarlett in GWTW.  Sorry, Norma, that was Vivien Leigh's role, totally.  But, you got to make 5 movies with Robert Montgomery.  Tough, wasn't it.  

                    Bob and Norma Shearer in Riptide (1934) 

Ahhh, Shucks ... Such a Cute Couple

                     Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Shipmates (1931)

Strangers May Kiss (but they don't have to)

I enjoy photoplay editions of books upon which movies are based.  The They Were Expendable edition is just great, eight photos and six have Bob in them!  On the other end of the pole, the photoplay edition of Lady in the Lake does not have any photos at all inside, just those on the dust jacket.  Strangers May Kiss is kinda in between those two books ... four photos and none of them feature Bob!  But, they are decent photos, particularly the photo of Ms. Shearer at the front of the book.  I'd say it gives one a pretty good idea of the flavor of the book. 

The captions are worth showing in a legible print size...

                      Elizabeth aches for the kiss of this stranger - 
                             yielding to a passionate embrace.

                     Alan tires of their unconventional interlude.

               In one mad night after another, Elizabeth sought
                        escape from the spectre of her folly.

By the way, Happy Birthday thoughts for Norma Shearer whose birthday is August 10.  And the same for Dorothy Jordan whose birthday is August 9.  And belated Birthday thoughts for Ann Harding and Irene Purcell who share August 7 as their birthday.  My, but Bob had to work with a lot of Leos!!

Bob Plays an Interesting Round of Golf

What are all those people watching?

Oh, why it's Bob and Dorothy Jordan.  Yeah, I'd stop and watch them too. 

Aren't they the cutest couple.  Isn't she just so petite.  And young Bob, of the beautiful head of hair.  I was never that petite.  Nor did I have such a thick shock of wavy hair.  One of the many reasons why I would much rather look at movie photos than my mirror ...

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

5'2", And Oh What Those 5 Feet Could Do

Dorothy Jordan was born August 9, 1906, in Clarksville, Tennessee.  A cute southern belle to be teamed with cute northerner Bob in two movies (Love in the Rough and Shipmates).

In 1933 after four years in the movies, Dorothy decided she'd change her career to marriage and raising three children.  She did make a test for the role of Melanie in Gone With The Wind.  I think she would have been a good choice. 

It's always fun to think of "What ifs" when it comes to classic roles.  My favorite is Bob as the lead in the original stage production of "My Fair Lady".  He was asked to consider the role, not sure how wholeheartedly.  I think the then 50-year-old Bob would have made the role of Professor Henry Higgins His!!!  Of course, he had his TV show and his work for Ike to use as an excuse to avoid trying it.  But, still, wouldn't it be great to have a recording of Bob singing, "I'm just an ordinary Man!"

Birthday Greetings to Mr. McCrea!

 Joel McCrea was born on November 5th, 1905.  That makes him only one year younger than Mr. Montgomery.  For some reason, I have always thought of him as coming from a younger generation of actors, perhaps because Bob's last movie performance was in 1950 while Joel kept busy in the 1950s and took the occasional role into the 1970s.  I'm glad he kept working.  Ride the High Country (1962) was just a superb movie.

My, but wasn't he a handsome lad ...

         Joel McCrea & Dorothy Jordan in The Lost Squadron (1932)

This does not have much to do with Joel, but I love the cast of The Lost Squadron.  It is a perfect example of actors being typecast in their roles.  The principle actors in alphabetical order are Robert Armstrong, Richard Dix, Hugh Herbert, Joel McCrea and Erich von Stroheim.  The roles portrayed consist of three stunt pilots, a dictatorial director and a comic relief named Fritz.  Almost needless to say, casting directors were not a big deal back then.  

Jonesey & Kit Spend a Day at the Beach

Ah ... it's such a romantic scene from Shipmates (1931).  Seaman John Paul Jones alias Jonesey alias Bob Montgomery gazes lovingly at Kit, the Admiral's daughter, played by Dorothy Jordan.  Such a handsome couple, everything is just perfect.

Then there is another take.  Jonesey and Kit are still on the beach.  In real time, this is February and most likely a tad chilly on the beach.  Can't really see the two, you say ... lets enlarge them a bit.

Voila!  One cold, wind-blown duo, not in a very romantic mood.  A bit more realism than the director had hoped for, or at least more than Bob and Dorothy could overcome.  Yeah, lets go with the first shot.  Now, the two just need to figure out how to get off the ledge with only their hairdos as the casualties for the day.

And What Do Ann, Irene, Dorothy and Norma All Have in Common, Besides Bob?

Okay ... four of Bob's ladies have birthdays this week.  Ann Harding and Irene Purcell share the 7th.  Dorothy Jordan's is the 9th and Norma Shearer's day is the 10th.  Well, one big Happy Birthday wish goes out to all four of you delightful ladies.  Just noticed Bob starred with Dorothy, Irene and Norma in 1931.  Wonder whose birthday invitation Bob would have accepted if he could attend only one party.  Ha.  Like he could have said no to a summons by Ms. Shearer.  Then too, in 1931 he would have found a way to attend all three parties!! 

                   Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Shipmates (1931)

I hate to pass up on a chance to use one of my Bob/Dorothy photos, there are so many great ones.  Such a good-looking couple.  The word beautiful does not come to mind first when I think of Ms. Jordan.  Cute does, she was so amazingly cute.  Beautiful comes to mind more often when I think of young Mr. Montgomery.  So, who do you think had more natural curls?  

Dorothy and Norma ....... Well, They Did Have Bob in Common

Two of Bob's ladies with August birthdays ... Dorothy Jordan, August 9th, and Norma Shearer, August 10th.  Cute and demure Dorothy and strong-willed Ms. Shearer, quite a contrast.  Goes along with the contrasting roles Bob played in their movies together.  Bob, youthful and earnest in Love in the Rough and Shipmates, a great match for co-star Jordan.  

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

In his movies with Norma (Their Own Desire, The Divorcee, Strangers May Kiss, Private Lives and Riptide), Bob perfects the role of the tuxedoed playboy with martini in hand, readily able to entertain his lady of the evening. 

        Norma Shearer, Skeets Gallagher and Bob in Riptide (1934)

Whatever the persona, Dorothy and Norma were most fortunate to have had Bob as their co-star.  I am so, so envious.    

Robert Taylor and 8 Beautiful Ladies

The result of snuggling couples on a cold December night --- a lot of August birthdays!  John Huston was born on August 5th, as was Robert Taylor. (Two more different people I can hardly imagine!)  Bob is 35 at the time of the photo below.  He has passed from his incredibly beautiful stage to merely extremely handsome. 

                                     Undercurrent (1946)   

And eight of Robert Montgomery's leading ladys were born in August:

                               August 2nd   - Myrna Loy
                               August 4th    - Anita Page
                               August 7th    - Ann Harding
                               August 7th    - Irene Purcell
                               August 9th    - Dorothy Jordan***
                               August 10th  - Norma Shearer
                               August 16th  - Ann Blyth
                               August 29th  - Ingrid Bergman

***Which also happens to be my birthday ... Me and Dorothy ... another argument against astronomy!  She was just so darn cute.

               Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Shipmates (1931)
 

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)

Perfect Trio: Bob, Dorothy & Those Rad Shoes

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

A Touch of Bob? And I Don't Mean Dorothy.

             Dorothy Jordan and Don Dillaway in Min and Bill (1930)

And just a touch, the young Mr. Boyer, perhaps?

Hurrell Was Just Darn Good ...

                        Shipmates (1931) with Dorothy Jordan

... of course, having attractive people as your subject matter didn't hurt. 

P.S. My apologies, had meant to put in a little more effort for this entry, but am distracted by a sick cat.  Hoping both the blog and Ditto (the cat) are both better Thursday.   

5' 2", But Were Her Eyes Blue?

Bob's August Birthday Ladies, No. 5: 

                        Dorothy Jordan born August 9th, 1906

                  Dorothy and Don Dillaway in Min and Bill (1930)

Dorothy and Bob co-starred in two films, Love in the Rough (1930) and Shipmates (1931).  The two were a good pairing, so young and adorable.  So, why am I using a picture of Dorothy in Min and Bill?  Does anyone else see Dillaway's likeness to our Bob?  Just sayin'.

And don't forget, it is 24 hours of William Powell on TCM today.  Sounds like a great way to spend the day.