Los og Ledig (Danish for Fast and Loose)

I believe I have five of these small paperback books based on Mr. Montgomery starred movies.  They were published in Denmark in the late 1930s, this one in 1940.  Since I doubt I have many Danish readers, I'm including only photographs with their captions.  I like the photos, hadn't seen several of them before.   

Bob and Madge made such a great couple

TCM update for June:  Fast and Loose (1939) and Night Must Fall (1937) will begin their June showings on June 4th and Lovers Courageous (1932) on June 13th.  Meanwhile, three movies from May will continue to run until June 14th (The Divorcee and The Easiest Way) and June 15th (They Were Expendable).  That's a lot of Bob available to watch!  

I definitely need to check out Lovers Courageous.  It has been ages.  Bob and Madge made such a great couple.  

                 Bob and Madge Evans, Lovers Courageous (1932)

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)

84-year-old photo and still gorgeous

 Rather nice photo of c. 35-year-old Bob.  I'm guessing 1939 as the year it was taken, based on the rounded-tip collar and solid color tie he wears briefly in Fast and Loose (1939).  Have never liked the style, like I should be deciding what Mr. Montgomery should wear!  It is printed on double-weight stock with a matte finish, which always improves a photograph.  

Joel and Garda Sloane in Twin Beds

 Only in Hollywood....

                   Bob and Roz Russell in Fast and Loose (1939)

Fun Finds From Bulk Buys

Most often when you buy photos in bulk, you might get what you paid for.  Or you just might find that hidden treasure you are seeking.  Sharing three of my "treasures" with you. 

A double-weight photo with a matte finish that is in perfect shape is becoming a rare find, particularly when it is a still with Bob and Roz Russell from Fast and Loose (1939).  I saw it in a bulk lot of movie stills, many damaged and most from little known movies.  It was like finding a cut gem amongst river gravel. 

I enjoy autographed items.  It means that person actually made contact with the item that you are now holding.  And if the item pre-dates Covid19, then it is all good!  Harry Carey, Jr. was one of those likeable guys in mostly Western movies.  Watching him and Ben Johnson ride horses, a sheer pleasure.  A nice find. 

This is an original photo, trimmed, approx. 9x12 inches of Will Rogers.  It came with a large stack of mostly magazine articles, covers and ads from the 1900s through the 1910s.  This was the only photo with two movie ads for 1920 movies of Rogers'.  1920 would be a good guess for the photo, perhaps earlier.  Have not run across the photo anywhere, except as an illustration.  Whatever, it is a nifty photo, a fun find. 

Have You Ever Crawled into a Haystack? --- I Don't Recommend it!

Fast and Loose (1939) was the last picture Bob and Rosalind Russell made together.  Kinda wish they could have continued pairing up as they grew older, watching the relationship change with Roz developing into the more dominant figure.  Anyway, it has been some time since I saw the movie so I am looking forward to seeing it tomorrow, July 12th at 10:30 PST on TCM.  TCM is also showing The Divorcee (1930) on demand until July 18th.  A double feature, maybe!  Let's see, I have popcorn and Pepsi ... yeah, I'm ready! 

                          Bob and Roz in Fast and Loose (1939)

What a Handsome Pair They Made

Bob and Roz had it down pat by their fourth time as co-stars, appearing as Joel and Garda Sloane in Fast and Loose.  In the photo below, they look comfortable with each other, as if they could have been married.  I like the positioning of Roz's hands.  She is the dominant force in the photo for sure. 

                          Bob and Roz in Fast and Loose (1939)

Happy Birthday to the Wonderful Ms. Russell

Catherine Rosalind Russell was born June 4th, 1907.  I am glad Rosalind dropped her first name.  Roz is just perfect for her. 

I should have done this post last weekend, to give you a heads up re TCM's 8-movie salute to Roz on her birthday, which I thought for sure was next month.  Debbie very politely put me straight.  Anyway, her movies will be on demand on TCM until June 11th.  Do check them out.  I'm sure you can't pass up the chance to see Roz and Bob in Fast and Loose (1939)! 

Ms. Russell enjoyed challenges in her career and was highly successful in a variety of roles.  Whether it was as a heroine, portraying Amelia Earhart in Flight for Freedom (1943) ...

or romantic comedienne, with some of the tallest leading men in Hollywood!  Brian Aherne was 6' 3-1/2".  Here in Hired Wife (1940), Roz, who was at least 5'8", gets to look up adoringly into his eyes without having to stand in a ditch!  She made four movies with Brian, and five with 6' 1-ish" Bob.

Roz's comedic skills were so good she could stand on her own in a roomful of scene-stealers like Frank Jenks, Roscoe Karns, Gene Lockhart and Cliff Edwards in His Girl Friday (1940).  

And Roz would go all out, no matter the role, as in this musical number in The Girl Rush (1955).  (Dancers dressed as bottles of booze ... really?) 

Whatever, Ms. Russell, you were one of the greats.  Glad we at least still have you on film, still providing many hours of enjoyment.  Thank you, Roz. 

Fast and Loose and Handsome

This photo of Bob was taken in 1939 by Laszlo Willinger for the movie Fast and Loose.  I like the clarity of the photo, the perfectly combed hair, the deep furrows on his forehead, his long "pianist" hands ... the high very starched white collar works for Bob because of his long neck, but it is a style of shirt that fortunately was short-lived.  Whatever, the 35-year-old Bob was a handsome dude for sure. 

The Question For The Day

How does one come up with this pose??

                    Bob and Roz Russell in Fast and Loose (1939)

Roz and Debbie, Two Classy Dames

This post is dedicated to Debbie, our "staff", for helping to keep the blog going in my absence.  Debbie is a big Bob fan, of course, as well as Rosalind Russell.  Roz made five movies with Bob:  Forsaking All Others (1934), Trouble for Two (1936), Night Must Fall (1937), Live, Learn and Love (1937) and Fast and Loose (1939).  It was a great pairing, they were so comfortable together.  Fast and Loose is a great example of this, their effortless performances as a married couple is the best part of the movie by far. 

                 Bob and Rosalind Russell in Fast and Loose (1939)

I have always admired Roz for her long and successful career, as well as the very decent person she was.  A devout Catholic, Roz practiced and lived by her beliefs in Hollywood, the last place you would expect a woman could succeed without lapses in morality.  Roz was indeed unique.
 

Roz starred in some of my all-time favorite movies, including The Women (1939), His Girl Friday (1940), Picnic (1955), Auntie Mame (1958) and Gypsy (1962).  Great performances all, but I am particularly partial to her performance in Auntie Mame.  A great role and a great actress at her zenith rolled into one.  I cannot see it without feeling better about life, and for that I am most grateful.  Thanks, Roz.  You were one classy dame. 

Fast and Loose 1939

From guest blogger Debbie:

Fast and Loose is the second in a three film series from MGM that was patterned after the successful Thin Man series.   It concerns another married couple, Joel and Garda Sloan.  This time the couple are rare book dealers.  Joel Sloan sometimes does detective work for insurance companies when rare books are stolen.  Thus is the premise for their adventures.

This film was preceded by “Fast Company”1938 and was followed in 1939 by the third in the series “Fast and Furious”.  “Fast Company” starred Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice.  “Fast and Furious” starred Franchot Tone and Ann Southern.  Why MGM kept changing the primary cast is anyone’s guess.   Of the three, “Fast and Loose” has always been my favorite.  Most of the reason for my preference is its stars, Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell.  Russell has always been my favorite leading lady for Montgomery and this is their second time playing a married couple.  They play so well off each other.  They aren’t Powell and Loy, but a good second choice.

The three film set is available from Warner Archives.  The plots of all three are entertaining and the humor is engaging.   A must see for any Robert Montgomery fan and the other two films are well worth the time.

Stars and Starlets, Both Had Their Roles to Play

Just love the promotional stills when the studio was doing Bob's he's-now-a-star campaign.  It was in full force with the making of Shipmates (1931) and still going during the making of The Man in Possession (1931), as displayed in the photo below.  (This gorgeous double-weight print came from the estate of director Sam Woods, shown on the far right.)  The MGM starlets were kept busy supporting Bob in his campaign, and evidently much appreciated by the newly-minted "Star." 

 Joan Marsh, Lillian Bond, Bob, Dorothy Lee, Unknown, Karen Morley   and Sam Woods on the set of  The Man in Possession.

Most of the female contract players' careers did not last any longer than their short term contracts.  Having a successful career in the movies was indeed the exception for these young girls.  Joan Marsh had a chance at grabbing the gold ring.  In 1931 she signed a contract at MGM when she was 18, or 17, depending on the source.  She is placed on the cover of Movie Classic Magazine, and compared to Garbo. 

The studio tries out various "looks" ... Jean Harlow, anyone?!

Of course, there's the swimsuit shot, displaying the starlet's better attributes ...

And the I'll-do-anything-you-tell-me-to-do stills...

Joan had bit parts in a half-dozen films at MGM.  Her first movie was Inspiration (1930), and will also appear with Bob in Shipmates.  Below she is shown dancing with Bob accompanying her on the piano during a break in the filming. 

When her contract ends at MGM, Joan continues to work at various studios, never past the bit part at the major studios, the leading lady in a few Poverty Row films.  She does show up in a Bob movie one more time.  In Fast and Loose (1939) she has a good-sized supporting role as the bad girl who gets our hero Joel Sloane in trouble with all-knowing spouse Garda - Roz Russell, of course.  I wonder if Bob had anything to do with her getting the part. 

        Sidney Blackmer, Bob and Joan Marsh in Fast and Loose.

Joan makes her last movie in 1944, retiring at the advanced age of 31.  She married her second husband in 1943, a marriage that produces two children and lasts until his death in 1994.  Joan lives on until 2000, age 86.  I'd say she was one of the lucky starlets. 

Happy Birthday (A Day Early), Roz!

                          Roz and Bob in Fast and Loose (1939)

TCM may have overlooked Bob on his birthday, but at least Roz rates a seven-movie marathon on hers.  I'm listing the movies being shown tomorrow (Wednesday, June 4th), in case you don't already have them marked in your copy of NOW PLAYING.  All times listed are PDT.

             6:15 a.m. - They Met in Bombay (1941)

             8:00 a.m. - Fast and Loose (1939) *

             9:30 a.m. - A Majority of One (1961)

             12 noon   - Auntie Mame (1958) **

             2:30 p.m. - The Trouble with Angels (1966)

             4:30 p.m.  - No Time for Comedy (1940)

             6:15 p.m. - The Feminine Touch (1941)

*  TCM is showing two more of Bob's movies on Thursday, June 6th:

             8:30 a.m. - Forsaking All Others (1934), another Roz film!

             4:15 p.m. - June Bride (1948)

** Auntie Mame is one of those movies that when you run across it flipping channels, you end up watching the rest of the movie.  Just a fantastic performance by Roz.   

More Fan Favs

Thanks to Desiree for providing a few of her favorite photos. Desiree also runs the Rosalind Russell blog - go check it out!

Fast and Loose: One of my fav's too

Behind the scenes on Night Must Fall

Three Live Ghosts: The one Bob flick we may never get to see