Helen Admires Her Young Co-Star

Yep, I agree, Ms. Hayes.  Mr. Montgomery is to die for.  Sigh.  You can let him go now, Helen.  Helen!

   Robert Montgomery and Helen Hayes in Another Language (1933)

... and Bob does an Excellent Turn as a Heel

"WEDDED BLISS . . . Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery are the fight-and-make up newlyweds in "Another Language" in which they are starred by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer under direction of  E.H. Griffith."  

        Bob and Helen Hayes in Another Language (1933)

The studio certainly did not waste production money on using publicity stills to advertise Another Language.  I have run across all of two publicity stills for the movie, this and another photo of Bob and Helen.  There are a few on set candid's and that's it.  IMDB notes the movie was originally intended to star Norma Shearer who backed out shortly before the movie was underway to take care of her ailing husband, Mr. Thalberg.  That might explain the lack of planned publicity for the movie.  I have never been a big Hayes fan, but I'm sure her performance was better than anything a miscast Shearer would have given.  

Three October Birthday Ladies

 ... and three very different actress types.  But they all loved our Mr. Montgomery.  Let's see, Janet Gaynor, born on October 6th and a very tiny person, 4'11-1/2", was in Three Loves Has Nancy (1938).  

                        Janet Gaynor in One More Spring (1935)

Carole Lombard was also born on October 6th.  A great match for Bob in Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941). 

        Fred MacMurray & Carole Lombard in True Confession (1937)

And Helen Hayes, born October 10th, made two films with Bob, Another Language (1933) and Vanessa, Her Love Story (1935).  Happy Birthday, Ladies!

   Helen Hayes & Bob Montgomery in Vanessa, Her Love Story (1935)

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

   Two people fully clothed and wearing their outside attire, standing in front of probably the only source of heat in the house, and not looking at all hot ... ah, life pre-central heating.  I realize this is supposed to be a romantic scene, but I'm shaking a bit looking at the two lovers.  Yeah, I know, their love will keep them warm.  Still, brrrr.

          Bob and Helen Hayes in Vanessa:  Her Love Story (1935)

Wonder Who Cleared the Chips off the Table

 "Fan Tan....Helen Hayes and Robert Montgomery indulge in a game of cards on the set at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Miss Hayes and Robert Montgomery were co-starred in Another Language (1933)."

I had to look up Fan Tan, had not heard of it before.  Basically, the goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards.  It is also known as Parliament, Sevens, Card Dominoes, and Stops.  Haven't heard of those names either!  Anyway, card playing was a great time-killer on the set.  

      Helen Hayes, Bob and John Beal on the set of Another Language

Just look at Helen's and Bob's faces ... people who want to WIN!

   

Only Eleven Days To Go ... Eek!

 Rather hectic time of year isn't it!  We all need to take a break, sit down and watch a Montgomery movie.  Yeah, that sounds good.  TCM is offering three Bobs to watch:  Another Language (1933) with Helen Hayes beginning December 15th; Lady in the Lake (1946) on the 20th; and Night Must Fall (1937) the 28th.  Lady in the Lake for Christmas and Night Must Fall for New Years ... sounds great.  Which reminds me, need to add eggnog to the shopping list.  

Not Even a Bit of Gossip!

 Nice photo of Bob and Helen Hayes from Another Language (1933) on the cover of the January, 1934 issue of Film Pictorial.  You'd think there would be something inside about Bob, and/or the movie, but there isn't a darn thing!  (I was a tad disappointed when I received it...)  

Anyway, it does have this nifty photo of Mr. Cagney ... a real dude.  

Bob's October Birthday Ladies

 Errrr .... a little late for all three ladies.  I think Gaynor, Lombard and Hayes were classy enough to forgive me for my tardiness.  Anyway, Happy Birthday ladies!  You are still remembered.  

Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor were a highly successful pair, teaming up for a dozen movies from the late 1920s and on into the 1930s.  They were a handsome couple for sure.  

                          Janet Gaynor, b.  October 6, 1906

You have to wonder how Carole Lombard's career would have progressed if she had not made that fatal flight in January, 1942.  She was only 34, but that's getting on the old side for a female star in her era.  Of course, she was still a knockout and at the top of her form.  I do know she needed to have made at least one more rom-con with Mr. Montgomery, they were really quite good together in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941).  Below, Carole is with Fredric March in Nothing Sacred (1937).  

                          Carole Lombard, b. October 6, 1908

Bob always said his favorite leading lady was Helen Hayes.  Bob seemed in awe of theater performers.  She did have the large face for a stage actor.  Much like Ethel Merman's voice could be heard clearly throughout the theater, Helen's face could be seen.  (and as Clark Gable's large head was magnetic on the big screen!)     

                          Helen Hayes, b. October 10, 1900

Not Even 5 Foot Two!

 Helen Hayes was 5 feet even.  A small lady, even for her time.  In this publicity shot for Vanessa, Bob must be sitting on a stool, at least I doubt someone would ask 'The First Lady of Stage' to stand on a box next to Bob.  But how could such a diminutive person have such a demanding presence on the stage?  Compare Bob and Helen's heads, and then their faces.  I'm guessing their heads are close to equal in width, but Helen's face is significantly larger.  Notice how far apart her eyes are.  Yes, a big face for a small lady.  It catches your attention.  

            Bob and Helen Hayes in Vanessa, Her Love Story (1935)

So does Bob's....It's those blue eyes.  

Wanted: Missing Bust. Belongs on my Mantle

 Let's see.  There's the Rosebud sled in Citizen Kane (1941).  The ruby red slippers in The Wizard of Oz (1939).  And ... the bust of Bob made by his wife Stella (Helen Hayes) in Another Language (1933).  Wouldn't you just love to have this trio of movie souvenirs?  Hey, I'd settle for just Bob's bust.  Display it in the living room, the first thing you'd see on entering our home.  Well, it would make My day!  Wonder what happened to it.     

                 Helen Hayes and Bob's head in Another Language

To My Darling Wife, Julie

I rather enjoy watching Night Flight (1933).  For me, the few short scenes featuring Montgomery are such a pleasure that I'm still grinning through the rest of the movie.  The script can be a snore, poor Helen Hayes gets to wade through much of the melodramatic morass.  The disappointment of Night Flight (1933) is not having the stars appear together.  Helen and Clark Gable are married, but their screen time together is comprised of Helen looking longingly at an 8x10 of flyer Clark.  Gable's appearance is limited to sitting in his plane's cockpit looking brave.  Myrna Loy has a scene with hubby pilot William Gargan (who?).  Bob's scenes are with Lionel Barrymore.  I mean, it's too evident that this movie was filmed around the filming schedules of the stars.  It was filmed March to July of 1933.  In this five month period, Bob did his scenes for Night Flight, filmed When Ladies Meet and Another Language, and left town for his summer vacation in New York. 

 

But the entrance Auguste Pellerin (Montgomery) makes is choice.   Love it.  TCM is showing Night Flight today at 3:00 p.m. EST.  Or better yet, pickup the DVD on eBay with the super nifty cover. 

The Man Dressed Just So Nicely

Is that a scowl on Bob's face?  His hands are clenched ... in anger?  Drats.  I don't remember the scene with Helen Hayes in Another Language.  Now I will have to check out the movie for it.   Such a penance ... having to watch a Bob movie. 

                Bob and Helen Hayes in Another Language (1933)

Bob Always Looked Great in a Uniform

TCM will be showing Night Flight (1933) Friday, December 9th at 8:00 p.m. PST.  Bob's part in the movie isn't nearly as large as one would wish, but..."what there is is choice!"  It is basically a John and Lionel Barrymore movie with guest stars Helen Hayes, Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Bob. 

                 Bob and Lionel Barrymore in Night Flight (1933)

Bob portrays a pilot, one of his few action roles.  Of course he is still our lovable playboy, making a great entrance at 8 minutes into the movie.  The two-minute scene with its pre-code banter between Bob and his "girl" makes the movie worth watching!  He has a couple more scenes later in the movie, so don't give up on the movie.  It is too bad Clark, Helen, Myrna and Bob do not have any scenes together.  That would have helped a somewhat weak movie.  And it definitely needs more Bob!!

Am showing the above blow-up of Bob's face, well, just because he looks so great in the uniform. 

Who Killed Vanessa?

I am not sure if Vanessa:  Her Love Story (1935) was ever one of Bob's better movies.  What I can be sure of is that the 74-minute version available today is a butchered version of its original self.  Costumers of the day ran closer to 100 minutes, which means about 25 minutes were at one time cut from the movie.  Whether the blame can be placed on early TV programming which edited movies to fit in a 90 minute or two hour slot along with commercials, or if it was the studio's decision to trim down the movie for use on a double bill.

Fortunately, there are existing stills that gives one an idea of what is missing from the movie.  Unfortunately, they show that most of the cut scenes are of Bob.  It does explain why Helen Hayes seems to have such a larger role than Bob, even though he has top billing. 

From what I can piece together, the movie originally began with an aged Benji (Bob) telling the story of Vanessa at a campsite. 
 

His story begins with the telling of "Rogue" Herries transitioning from a scoundrel and vagabond to an established gentleman of Cumberland.  The vagabond theme runs throughout the story, starting with "Rogue".  (Bob must have enjoyed playing multiple roles, as young and old Benji and a pigtailed gent!)

It continues with this scene of Benji and Vanessa.  Perhaps he is introducing her to the vagabonds as an explanation of his desire not to be tied down, whether by marriage or a staid place in society. 

And then back to Benji at the campsite, showing he never really changed.  It was only his love for Vanessa that could make him give up his vagabond/roguish life.  It is all one big guess, of course.  It does make you wonder what the original movie was like. 

Two More Bob Movies to be Released on DVD

I need to check WBshop more often.  There are two Bob movies being released on DVD on October 6th!  Both are co-starring Helen Hayes, Vanessa:  Her Love Story (1935) and Another Language (1933).  

Vanessa is both dated and severely cut from it's original length, only the early TV edited version exists.  (At least that's my assumption, will delve into that in a later post.)  But it's worth a viewing, if only to see Bob in a period piece and some nifty outfits.  Yes, he was a well-dressed man in almost all circumstances.  

Another Language is the better movie.  It is also very much a Helen Hayes movie with a supporting cast including our Bob as her husband who is still under the domination of his mother.

(On a personal note, I finally figure out how to place the text of the blog alongside a photo and darn if I can get it to work with a second photo.  Maybe in another four years...)

Robert Montgomery Birthday Week - Co-Stars

Besides being favorite photos, I chose five ladies who were good matches for Bob.  The ever so cute Dorothy Jordan paired well with the youthful Beautiful Bob.  One of my favorite pairings was Bob and Maureen O'Sullivan, a truly beautiful couple.  Darn, but I wish they had made more movies together.  Helen Hayes was Bob's personal favorite leading actress and you can see his respect and adoration for her come through onto the screen.  After five movies together, Bob's and Rosalind Russell's performances were seamless, and a laugh shared at work was real, not just for the camera.  Lastly, only because of my timeline, 30-year-old Audrey Totter's "bad girl" was a great match for older Bob's tough guys.  And what did they all have in common?  The good fortune of sharing the screen with Bob.  Lucky ladies.

                    Love in the Rough (1930) with Dorothy Jordan

                       Hide-Out (1934) with Maureen O'Sullivan

                 Vanessa:  Her Love Story (1935) with Helen Hayes

                   Trouble for Two (1936) with Rosalind Russell

                         Saxon Charm (1948) with Audrey Totter

Bob's Favorite Lady (less the Elizabeths)

Whenever asked who was his favorite leading lady, Bob always named Helen Hayes.  I'd imagine his respect for her stage success, held the young Mr. Montgomery in awe.  

                                Another Language (1933)

Helen first appeared on a stage at the age of five, and a mere 80 years later retired from acting.  During that brief career, she won two Oscars, three Tony Awards, an Emmy and the love of playwright and screen writer Charles MacArthur.  When she met Charles at a party, it was love at first sight.  Later in the evening, he poured some salted peanuts into her hand and said, "I wish these were emeralds."  Married in 1928, they were together until his death in 1956.  It would be her only marriage.