What a Way to Treat an Original Hurrell!

Every once in a while, I get very lucky and pick up an original Hurrell.  Even a Montgomery collector (hoarder) like me has spending limits, so obtaining one at a good price is always a thrill for me.  I ran across this photograph taken for No More Ladies (1935) about a year ago.  No thrills since ... 

Just love the clarity of an original print.  One can enlarge a part of it and the clarity is retained.

And if you have a really good print ... yeah, this is a good one.

And if you need further validation, there's always that Hurrell M.G.M stamp on the back.  The ink has faded; it is barely readable.  The green stamp on the lower left corner is by the council set up to make sure everything produced by the studios passed code.  Which explains the holes punched at the top of the photograph.  Many of those photographs were kept in two-hole binders.  What a way to treat an original Hurrell!

Yes, Such a Handsome Lad (version no. 764)

 Would much rather have the original photograph by Hurrell than a magazine clipping, but ...

Smoke Lowered the Temperature from 108 to 102. Traded a Headache for Coughing!

 MGM photographer Hurrell is best known for his studio work, but he did leave the studio occasionally.  In this case he did a two-part shoot with Bob.  The first was Bob with his polo ponies.  It is befitting that he would have an all-white pony to match his all-white sports attire!    A really nice photograph.

The second part was for pictures of the new baby in the household, Martha Bryan, a private request by Bob, according to an article I read about Hurrell.  I remember seeing a photo of the baby displayed on the Montgomery's piano.  I'm assuming the photos were never publicly released.  How sad to lose a 13-month-old child.  

I like to Wonder Who it was that Caught his Attention ... Lucky Lady

 

                          Robert Montgomery by Hurrell (1932)

Have to Have Me Some Hurrell Once in a While

                    Robert Montgomery by George Hurrell (1932)

Yum.

Smart and Sassy, Yes. Too Good for Just "Oomph".

 Ann Sheridan was born February 21, 1915, in Denton, TX (just north of Dallas).  At 18 she won a beauty contest which got her a screen test at Paramount.  Warner Bros. picked up her contract shortly after and developed her into a leading lady who could handle a wide range of roles.  I preferred her in comedies, especially The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941), George Washington Slept Here (1942), and I Was a Male War Bride (1949).  

George Hurrell worked at Warner Bros. for a short time in the early 1940s, which happened to be Ann's peak years.  I don't know for sure that the portrait above is one of his, but it does look like it.  Now I know for sure the one below is a Hurrell.  I wonder if it was Ann or Hurrell who came up with the idea of the puddy cat ... 

Whatever, great photographs.  I like the way the color photograph below reminds us that Ms. Sheridan was a redhead.  

Ann died January 21, 1967, of cancer.  She was only 51.  Bummer.  

Okay, Guys ... Just One More

 I have a whole series of Bob and Roz photographs taken for Live, Love and Learn (1937), every last one as good as the next.  They were taken by Clarence S. Bull, the head of MGM's photo unit after George Hurrell departed.  He was quite good as well.  Boy, talk about a specialized trade, only a few photographers per studio, and not that many studios in the entire country with just a few more in Europe.  Very lucky people in the midst of a worldwide depression for sure.  

I wonder what Bob and Roz were thinking.   Perhaps something mundane, like doing some grocery shopping on the way home from the studio.  Well, maybe Roz.  Bob I can't imagine in a grocery store in L.A.  

    Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell, Live, Love and Learn 

Only 2-1/2" Tall ... and Yet So Handsome!

 Still amazed at how great many of the trade cards of the mid-30s were produced, particularly the "Ross" cards.  Ross was a German company with a branch in Los Angeles.  

If you take a subject like Bob, a photographer like Hurrell, and a photo company like Ross ... well, that's a description of Perfection!  

A Beautiful Photo of a Beautiful Young Man ... Life Just Can't Get Any Better!

Nice Things (Can) Come in Small Packages

 As I've said a few times before, it is just great fun for me to run across a trade card or postcard with a photo of Bob that costs a small percentage of the 8x10 version, if you can find the larger version at all.  

The real photo trade cards can be stunning, such clarity in a small photo.  Maureen O'Sullivan and Bob in a still from Hide-Out (1934) make for a handsome couple, from Maureen's smile to the piece of hay in Bob's mouth.  (Well, you may have to concentrate to see that one!) 

 Two-color trade cards are fairly common.  Some work out better than others.  I would place this photo of Bob in the "slightly-over-the-top" category.  Love the purple match flame.

 There are a number of trading cards with sailor Bob from Shipmates (1931).  This one is a little out of the ordinary.  Of course, the Shipmates publicity shots were all taken by Hurrell.  I have seen the original Hurrell.  Quite nice.  But, until I win the Powerball ...

 

No More Ladies ... But Why?

Well, yes, I do have to admit it is just great to have an original Hurrell or two in my Bob collection.  That stamp on the back is nice, and the photos themselves are ever so nice. 

      Robert Montgomery & Joan Crawford in No More Ladies (1935)

But, sometimes that stamp and/or the embossed name on front gets in the way of my obtaining a Bob photo that I would ever so much love to have.  And that is indeed frustrating.  This week a photo of a very young Mr. Montgomery was auctioned for $180!!  Lordy, but I so could not afford that.  Now if it hadn't had that darn stamp, I might have been able to stay in the bidding.  Sigh.  It was a gorgeous portrait.  I do hope the winner is a Bob fan, not just a Hurrell buyer, so it can be truly appreciated for a long time. 

Gems Found in a Good Fan Magazine

I would have subscribed to "The New Movie" magazine in 1931, if I had the 10 cents a month purchase price that is.  Newsy, good reviews, great full-page photos ... an entertaining read.  The April, 1931 issue was worth every bit of 10 Cents!

Bob has a full-page portrait, two of his movies are reviewed and there is a mention and small photo.  His career really does pickup in 1931. 

He may have gotten co-star billing in The Easiest Way and Inspiration, but they are both starring vehicles for the ladies, Ms. Bennett and Ms. Garbo.  Bob is barely mentioned in the reviews. 

Two of the full-page portraits really stand out.  Anita Page gets the full Hurrell treatment.

And Otto Dyar does a superb job of capturing Ms. Lombard's sexual allure. 

Lastly, William Powell is featured in an article on stars and their fathers.  Appears Bill moved his parents from the cold winters in Kansas City, MO to be nearby in warmer Los Angeles.  Now that's being a good son. 

What a Difference a Stamp Makes

You could look at this purchase one of two ways:  (1)  A once over-sized photo has been trimmed to approximately 8x10 inches.  How sad to vandalize such a wonderful photo.  Or,

(2)  On the back of the photo is a Hurrell stamp.  I was actually able to buy a Montgomery by Hurrell without that bank loan!  Wonderful.  Whatever, the essence of the photo is there.  Love that smile.

Bob, Joan, Franchot, George & Adrian

September is a big month for Bob movies on TCM, five movies in total.  That's a lot these days.  Two of his movies with Joan Crawford will be shown in the wee early hours of Friday, Our Blushing Brides (1930) and No More Ladies (1935).  Ladies produced some great publicity stills, with the always wonderful photography of George Hurrell, and aided by Ms. Crawford's gown by Adrian.

            Bob, Joan and Franchot Tone in No More Ladies (1935)

The photo below was not taken by Hurrell ... but, it is, well, interesting.

One Can Only Imagine His Dry Cleaning Bill

Four photos from the same session by Hurrell, taken in 1932 (best guess).  At least I have them grouped together, there isn't any kind of official listing of Mr. Montgomery's photos, even those taken by Hurrell.  Bob is wearing the same suit, tie and kerchief and his hair is the same, my primary way of identifying his photos.  There are a goodly number of white suit Bobs out there, can be a tad confusing.  It took me a while to separate these from the Letty Lynton photos.  All I was seeing was Bob in a white suit, a rather pleasant distraction. 

This first photo is by far the most famous.  The boxing photos used as a background, Bob's arms resting on the statues...very nice indeed.  Have you noticed how dark Bob's right hand is?  Hurrell playing around with shadows.  There is also a mid-chest high photo of Bob with the boxers behind him, a very nice portrait of a smiling Bob.  Sadly I do not have a copy I can use, darn it. 

I'm always amazed how different Bob can look from one photo to the next.  Four photos taken on the same day, but Bob is not the same. A lot of that is due to the photographer, of course.  But Bob had an interesting relationship with the camera, both in front and behind it.  

The photo below is similar to the photo used in Tuesday's post.  More shadows.  Another great photo. 

This last photo is a magazine clipping.  The quality of the print is lacking, but it is still a nifty photo of the young Mr. Montgomery.  It is apparent that once a book is in his hands, he is lost to his own inner world.  I'm guessing this is the closest image of the real Bob that particular day.  Handsome dude, wasn't he.

 

Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

George Hurrell as photographer with Bob as the subject ... can't miss, another great photo.  This is one of several fine portraits taken to promote Riptide (1934).  Bob is maturing, all of 30 at the time.  The face is slightly fuller, having actually added a few pounds to his previously very slender frame.  The slight smile, a sparkle in his eyes ... Bob appears to be actually enjoying himself.  Maybe it's the thought of his upcoming four-month vacation before the filming of Hideout (1934). 

All of Bob's movies were made in glorious black and white.  Accordingly, all of his promotional photos were in black and white.  It would have been great if a few of his movies and/or a few photos had been shot in color.  For the most part, we have had to resort to the colorized print to see Bob in color.  Some, like the one below, work out okay.  He's pictured as a brunette, which is correct.  The suit is brown, a color right for the times and one of Bob's preferred suit colors.  There's just the one glaring problem, as it is for most of the colorized photos I have seen ... brown eyes, really???  Yikes, people.  It might as well be in black and white if you miss Mr. Montgomery's beautiful blue eyes!! 

Bob, Joan, Bill, George and a Camera

George Hurrell produced a large number of promotional stills for The Last of Mrs. Cheney (1937), featuring the stars; Joan Crawford, William Powell and Bob.  There is always the challenge for the photographer to come up with new poses, and Hurrell came up with some, for the most part, interesting ones.  I personally like the first photo below.  The three stars enjoyed working together on the movie, and the good feelings appear to have carried over to the photo session.
 

And I like the Bob and Joan interaction in this one.  Not sure exactly what Bill's role is.  I'm guessing he's thinking something along the lines of, "It's almost over, I've done stranger things in my career."

Now this one....what exactly is Bob doing watching Joan and Bill embrace?  I mean, he has his hands on her, encouraging her.  The photo itself I like, just try not to study it too much!

Whatever, they are all great photos.  The combination of a great photographer and three photogenic stars just can't be beaten.  All that talent in one room.  How nifty. 

Bob's Deteriorating, BUT It Is a Hurrell!!

It's showing its age and has been trimmed from 10x13 to 9x12, but it has been signed by Bob and has Hurrell's stamp on the verso.  And it is simply a great portrait of Bob, the smile is halfway to being a smirk.  Lucky Mrs. Schibley.

It appears from the note that it was obtained for Mrs. Schibley by her son.  Lets hear it for one very thoughtful son!

Don't worry, Mrs. Schibley.  Bob's back in good hands.

A Photo That Deserves a Better Format

                            Rosalind Russell by George Hurrell

This is a trimmed 9" x 12" original photo of Roz taken in 1942.  Not bad for a then 35-year-old broad in an era when most actresses' careers were over by the time they hit 30.  Hurrell made everyone appear more glamorous, but he needed a good framework from which to build.  It is frustrating that the blog's format limits horizontal pictures to such a small display.  My apologies to Roz and George!

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.