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!!!!

Bravo, Ms. Crawford!!

It has been forever since I last did a blog entry on Joan Crawford.  Used to think she got enough coverage from other sites so that it would be best to spend my time on Bob, who so seldom gets mentioned these days.  However, it does seem the remembrances of her are from those trashy horror films she made late in her career, and, more positively, the tough broad films of the 1940s.  

Joan Crawford, to me, is the young star of the 1930s.  She reaches the very top of her profession in her mid-20's, and she definitely came up all the way from the very bottom with a determination unmatched by few souls.  I mean, having teeth pulled to sharpen your facial image was a mild step for her to take in that uphill climb.  

Doug and Joan ... the best-looking couple ever?  Darn close, if not.  

I'm guessing most Crawford fans would have to agree that the blonde look did not work for Joan.  

The caption for this magazine clipping discusses Joan's well-maintained body.  That her face may not be beautiful, but the rest of her makes up for it.  And I'm sure she worked hard at it, as she apparently did for everything she wanted.  (The magazine gave Hurrell credit for the photograph.  Not his usual style.)

Gooooo, Joanie!  

Who Was That Handsome Man With The Whip?

I came across this photo a while ago.  It is a re-issue print from the original negative made in 2003 for Public TV.  The line on the bottom of the image tells you about the negative, this one originally made in June of 1929.  A lovely photo with a great subject.  Let's see ... there's Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. on the far left.  Just 19 and already an established star in silents.  Next to him is Jack Conway, a prolific director at MGM, who directed four of Montgomery's pictures (Untamed, 1929; The Easiest Way, 1931; But the Flesh is Weak, 1932; and Hell Below, 1933). 

Next is Joan Crawford, of course.  She looks rather natural with a whip in hand.  Then comes the young man I could not identify for sure.  He looks like William Haines, and he and Joan were good buds, but why would he be showing them whips he just happened to be carrying around.  I could not identify a movie the four were all in.  Anyway, time passed, I'd forgotten the photo, until I ran across another photo showing the familiar set and whips, as well as the distinctive collar of Joan's blouse. Voila!  The movie is Our Modern Maidens (1929), directed by Jack Conway and starring Joan, Doug and Rod La Rocque (not Haines).

Movies, photography and social history of the first half of the 20th century....all my favs combined in one photo.  Just makes my day.  And I have a new movie line to add to my favorites.  The movie is a silent so this is a card that reads, "There is something in my pocket.  Dig in for it."  Definitely a pre-code, pre-MeTooMovement line for young Mr. Fairbanks.  

I Wonder Who Picked Up the Tab

 Love this photo.  It appears some small photo concern took the photo and decided to try for a few extra dollars selling it as a souvenir of Hollywood.  It is 10x13 inches and the parties are identified in the photo's background.  I somehow wonder if they made any money off it since such items would seem to be rather pricey for the average movie fan in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression and all. 

It is a unique photo of Hollywood royalty.  Douglas Fairbanks was at the top for a very long time, and his son Jr. is well on his way to a successful career of his own.  And Mrs. Fairbanks Jr. (Joan, of course) is rather successful on her own.  Bob Montgomery is doing okay for himself and there's that new super hot property, the young Mr. Gable.  

For a closer look at the couples, first we have Bob and Betty.  Betty is seldom smiling in such photos.  Was she uncomfortable in the group, or in front of a camera? 

Bob and Betty were rather formal in public.  The main physical contact is Betty holding onto Bob's arm.  That's why it is a bit strange seeing Bob's hand on Jr.'s shoulder.  They were best buds at this time, a little "bromance" going on!

Joan and Doug Sr. were definitely not a couple. 

This is the couple that had much of the country wondering.  As in, "Are you kidding me?"  Ria was 17 years older than Clark and not the hot blonde you would expect to be at his side.  (Excuse my cattiness ... just a tad envious!)

I Have Asked This Before: Where's Betty??

It is May, 1932.  Bob and his friends are leaving the Cocoanut Grove in L.A.  Yes, that is Ms. Crawford holding onto Bob with one arm, and her husband Doug Fairbanks, Jr., the other.  On the far right is Heather Thatcher, Bob's co-star in But the Flesh is Weak, which was filmed in February of that year. 

And for a better look at our handsome man-on-the-town ...

Wonder if it was really that cold in L.A. in May or if Bob and Doug are having a fashion competition?  Note, they are both wearing berets ... too much!

Fairbanks, Jr., One Dapper Gentleman

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was born December 9, 1909.  By 1925 (and only 15) he is playing young beau roles in the silents and supporting his mother and an assortment of her friends and family.  At the age of 19 he marries 23-year-old (at least) Joan Crawford.  A rather precocious young man was he. 

                               Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. at 15 ...

Doug and Bob were good friends, meeting while Joan and Bob were making Untamed in 1929.  They spent a lot of late nights and weekends hitting the Los Angeles speakeasies.  In his first autobiography, The Salad Days, Fairbanks describes an interesting vacation with Bob and Lawrence Olivier.  The three rented Cecil B. DeMille's huge yacht, crew and all, for a cruise along the coast of Mexico.  One can only imagine ... 

                                          ... and at 39

Doug and Bob joined the navy together, Doug would become a highly decorated naval officer.  After the war he and Bob would grow apart, in part because of different political views.  What a silly reason to lose a friend.

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)