Are we up to a little game? Hey, Bob's in it.

 I absolutely love photos like this, a shot of the cast and crew.  Unfortunately, they don't exactly work on the blog.  On the small side.  Can you tell it was taken on the set of Forsaking All Others (1934)?  Let me enlarge the major cast members. 

Guess who!  In all his splendor ...

And while we're checking out the rest of the cast, can you guess what they have in common in these photos that is different from Mr. Montgomery?  First, we have good friend Roz Russell.  Poor Roz was given a truly ugly dress to wear in the movie.  

Then, there is Billie Burke and Charles Butterworth, two excellent scene stealers.  

And, lastly, there's Mr. Gable with a big smile.  Ms. Crawford is not included in our little game, too interested in being snuggled up close to Mr. Gable.  

So, what do Roz, Billie, Charles and Clark all have in common that Bob doesn't?  They are all looking and listening to the director on their left.  Whereas Mr. Montgomery is looking directly at the camera, always appreciative of what made his success in the movies.  

Joan Firmly Holds on to the Boys

Nifty photo.  It is the first (and last) time Bob, Joan and Clark are in a film together.  Of course, Joan and Clark are lovers at this time.  Bob had to feel like the odd man out.   

And a good close-up of Bob's long lean hands.  Compare them to Joan's and Clark's.  Yes, he should've been a concert pianist.  

I wonder if Bob even realized he had a cigarette in hand.  As a former heavy smoker, they do become a part of you.

Happy 120th Birthday, Mr. Montgomery!

 "BIRTHDAY SMILES ... Robert Montgomery celebrates his birthday on the set of a new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film.  Helping him cut the cake which members of the company presented him is Audrey Totter, who plays opposite him in the film."

         Bob and Audrey Totter on the set of Lady in the Lake (1946)

Just love the smile.  So rare to see Bob actually laughing.  

Good month for catching some Montgomery movies on TCM.  Right now there are four movies available for streaming:  Forsaking All Others (1934) until June 8th; Night Flight (1933) until June 11th; Night Must Fall (1937) until May 30th; and Live, Love and Learn (1937) ends tomorrow, May 22th.  Then two Bob war movies will premiere during the Memorial Day weekend, They Were Expendable (1945) --- of course! --- on May 25th and War Nurse (1930) on May 27th.  

Any Bob Movie Has its Moments

 A 10x13 version of this photo would look just great, framed and hanging on a wall of my home.  Yes, indeed.  Anyway, this is a really nice postcard by Ross Verlag from their collection of cream-colored photocards of MGM stars.  So luscious looking.  (Particularly the men!)  

If you're interested in watching Bob, Joan and Clark "live", Forsaking All Others (1934) is available for streaming on TCM until March 9th, as is The Divorcee (1930).  Forsaking suffers from being one of the first post-code productions.  Being hurriedly transformed from a quite racy Broadway play starring Tallulah Bankhead to a 'wholesome' movie to make the censors happy, well ... they did their best.  

Happy Birthday, Joan!

Bob and Joan Crawford ... a pairing on the screen that progressed from young and adorable in Untamed (1929) to ever so handsome in The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937).  The camera loved both stars and captured a connection between the two that flattered them both.  For the lack of a better description, they simply had "IT" when sharing the screen.   
 

                                        Untamed (1929)

I have not always been a big fan of Ms. Crawford, but always, always had a great admiration and respect for her.  To come from such a tough environment and, yet, somehow manage to become one of the most famous and highest-paid women in the entire world ... whoa, impressive.  So much determination, drive, hard work, talent and whatever else it took for Lucille LeSeuer of San Antonio, Texas, to become Joan Crawford ... if I had only had 1/10th of that mix!

                              The Last of Mrs. Cheney (1937)

Bob and Joan also co-starred in Our Blushing Brides (1930), Letty Lynton (1932), Forsaking All Others (1934), and No More Ladies (1935).  Hey, Joan's birthday today sounds like a great excuse to watch one of their movies.  Let's see, I could once again strain my eyes watching my blurry copy of Letty Lynton (but oh so worth it!) or, maybe, enjoy the youthful exuberance of Untamed.  Decisions, decisions ... 

Egads! Could It Be So?!

Check out the photo.  Bob claimed to be 6' 1", some sources have him at 6' 0.5".  George Sanders is listed at 6' 3".  Hmm. 

What d'ya think?  Is Bob as advertised, or could the studios have possibly exaggerated his height just a tad?  Egads, tell me it isn't so! 

In the movie The Big House (1930), the scene wherein Bob is checking into prison and his vital statistics are being gathered, his height is read off as being 5' 11".  Could it be so?  Hmm.

                 Bob and George Sanders in Rage in Heaven (1941)

The studios tended to add an inch or two to all their male stars, particularly if it got their height over 6'.  That was a very tall man in the 1930s.  Gable's height was listed the same as Bob's.  They are very close to the same height, depending upon the angle, in Forsaking All Others (1934).  And since I've thought for ages that Gable was more like 5' 10" to 5' 11",  I guess I'll have to go with Bob's height as being under 6' as well.  I think Bob may have been a tad taller than Gable, winning by a neck!!  (Sorry, I just couldn't resist it.)

It's really not that all this matters a whole heck of a lot.  It doesn't lessen Bob's stature a bit, and that's what really counts. 

Faithless Trumps Forsaking All Others

I always thought this was a publicity photo for Forsaking All Others (1934), with Bob and Joan in a beautiful car looking bored out of their minds.  I have a 10 x 13 print, just gorgeous.  Recently, I happened to notice the MGM photo ID number in the lower right corner.  638 is the number given the movie Faithless (1932).  So that's Tallulah Bankhead in the car being bored along with Bob. 

I watched both movies to make sure I had the right movie (what I force myself to do for the sake of research!)  Besides thoroughly enjoying watching them once more, I discovered that neither movie has the above scene in them, not even that fantastic car.  Joan does wear a white outfit in Forsaking All Others, but the car she and Bob use is a two door model.**  Faithless doesn't even have a scene with Bob and Tallulah in a car, much less Tallulah in a white outfit. 

So, another scene that didn't make it into a movie.  What a waste.  They should have kept it in, so we could enjoy that car, if nothing else. 

**For some unknown reason, the car used in Forsaking All Others has the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle.  Really looks odd to see Bob and Joan in a process shot with Bob behind the wheel on the left side of the screen.

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. 

Bob Looking Precious (As Always!)

I happened across this photo on eBay under the heading "Clark Gable and Wallace Beery in China Seas."  Something didn't look quite right.  Oh, hey, it's Bob in women's clothing!  Anyway, I purchased it and fervently hoped the vendor wouldn't send me a photo of Clark and Beery.  I'm trying to imagine the roles being reversed ... nah.  Bob, secure in his masculinity, handled the role with ease.  Clark ... I think he'd be quite uncomfortable in a dress. 

                                Forsaking All Others (1934)

November 20th was Evelyn Keyes' birthday.  Although they were not the most compatible duo off stage while filming Here Comes Mr. Jordan,  it doesn't show through in their performances.  I have always liked the scene at the end when the auditorium lights go dark and Joe says to Betty, "Don't be scared."  Did you know that Bob asked to have the female lead's name changed to Betty as a tribute to his wife?  (Or so they say!) 

                               Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

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.   

What's Better Than One Montgomery? SEVEN!!

                                          Untamed (1929)

Well, are we all thoroughly satiated and exhausted ... ready to face more goodies and celebration on New Years Eve?  Hope Santa was good to you, no coal in the stocking at least!  Santa's gift to me came in the form of the TCM Now Playing Guide.  Joan Crawford is the featured star for January and they are showing all five of the movies she made with Bob!!  And if that prospect was not good enough, they have included two more Bob movies, Lady in the Lake and Private Lives.  It is just a great way to start off the year, 2014 is already better than 2013 has been, for me anyway.  Thought I would list them for you, as an aid to remembering to spend several delightful hours with Bob and Joan, Bob and Audrey and Bob and Norma.   All times given are PST. 

         Jan. 2  - 9:00 p.m., Our Blushing Brides (1930)

         Jan. 3  - 8:00 a.m., Untamed (1929)

         Jan. 6  - 3:00 p.m., Lady in the Lake (1947)

         Jan. 9  - 10:30 p.m., Forsaking All Others ( 1934)

         Jan. 10- 8:30 a.m., No More Ladies (1935)

         Jan. 10- 3:15 p.m., The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)

         Jan. 23- 7:45 a.m., Private Lives (1931)

Enjoy! 

Bob and Constance in Moulin Rouge

                                    Moulin Rouge (1934)

Well, according to a November, 1933 issue of Picture Show Magazine, Bob was scheduled for a loan-out to 20th Century to co-star with Constance Bennett in the musical Moulin Rouge.  A few days before filming was scheduled to begin, Bob was called back to MGM to co-star with Clark Gable in a project titled Two Thieves.  Wonder what happened to that one ... I can see Bob and Clark as a couple of thieves.  They do get together a year later in Forsaking All Others.  Meanwhile, Bob ends up filming Fugitive Lovers and Clark goes on to It Happened One Night.  I'd have to say Clark ended up with the best deal that time.

Name that Roz

Quiz time: Name the film and/or the character Rosalind Russell is playing in the below Clarence S. Bull photo below. Bob movie? Could be . . . or not.

More Bob on DVD

I'm sure this news is making it's way along the blogosphere pretty quick: Warner Bros. is now offering made-to-order DVDs and digital downloads of a number of classic films. Downloads are $14.95 and mailed DVDs are $19.95. While the films are bare-bones, no extras, they're still a welcome sight. For you Robert Montgomery fans:

• Forsaking All Others
• Private Lives
• The Big House
  

h/t: Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

It Never Happened One Night

If you've ever done any digging into Robert Montgomery, you've probably run into information on him missing out on Clark Gable's Oscar winning part in It Happened One Night. Some sources say he turned it down while others day MGM didn't want to loan him out.

Fast forward to an interview recently posted on Alternative Film Guide with Allan Ellenberger on Miriam Hopkins. Mr. Ellenberger is working on a book about Miriam, which should be a fascinating read once released.

Mr. Ellenberger offered up a fact I never knew: Miriam Hopkins refused Claudette Colbert's Oscar winning role in It Happened One Night.

1934 was already a busy year for Bob with films such as Forsaking All Others, Hide-Out, Riptide, The Mystery of Mr. X, Fugitive Lovers released.

Now there's a fascinating Hollywood "what if."

Miriam & Bob had at least one thing in common: not getting along with Bette Davis - and the feelings were all mutual. The interview offers up more on the Hopkins/Davis rivalry.

I don't care to pull info from Wikipedia, but this is cited and I've read this before: Davis clashed with her co-star Robert Montgomery while making June Bride (1948), later describing him as "a male Miriam Hopkins... an excellent actor, but addicted to scene-stealing".

Bob & Miriam also had some connections back to Summer Stock as well, but that's another post and some needed research.

DVD Update

Looking to make your Robert Montgomery DVD collection a bit more complete? A few more titles are now available on the "secondary market" (not from the studios):

Eye Witness (1950)
Movies Unlimited

Forsaking All Others (1934)
Free Movies on DVD

If you own any of the above from those sources, drop me a note - I'd be interested in the quality.

Like Peanut Butter & Jelly

Just great together - Bob Montgomery & Joan Crawford:

Our Blushing Brides


The Last of Mrs. Cheyney


Forsaking All Others


Letty Lynton


No More Ladies


Untamed

For The Library

Added to the Amazon Wishlist:

In the Picture: Production Stills from the TCM Archives

In the Picture: Production Stills from the TCM Archives offers a rare collection of B&W photographs taken on movie sets from the silent era to the 1960's, giving readers a glimpse of Hollywood at work in the Golden Era. Highlighting the energy, glamour and challenge of filmmaking, these production stills capture beloved movie moments both in front of and behind the camera. In the Picture offers a unique perspective on Hollywood history from the great studio productions of MGM, Warner Bros. and RKO.

Format: Hardcover 10 3/4 x 9 1/2, 160 pp and 143 tritone images
Publisher: Chronicle Books

Includes pics from TCM favs such as:

• Bringing Up Baby
• Dancing Lady
• Faithless
• Forsaking All Others
• Hide-Out
• Inspiration
• Lady in the Lake
• Night Must Fall
• North By Northwest
• They Were Expendable
• The Thinn Man
• Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
  

It's a bargain book over at Amazon - cheaper than TCM.