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.  

Looks Like Rita Has a Good Hold on Bob

Rita Johnson, Robert Montgomery, and Evelyn Keyes in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

As of today, there will be four Bob movies streaming on TCM:  

                Biography of a Bachelor Girl (1935), until Feb. 28th;

                 Live, Love and Learn (1937), until Feb. 28th;

                 Our Blushing Brides (1930), until March 7th; and

                 Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) first shows today at                          3:15 p.m. PT and then onto streaming.

Oh, and The Secret Land (1948) sneaks in at 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 21.  It's doubtful I will catch that!

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 

Blondie, Don't Fight Him, Grab Him!

 There are FOUR Bob movies available to stream on TCM:  

      Blondie of the Follies (1932), through February 16th;

      Ever Since Eve (1937), through February 23rd;

      Live, Love and Learn (1937), through February 25th; and

      Private Lives (1931) through February 26th.

Not bad!

             Bob and Marion Davies in Blondie of the Follies (1932) 

She Could Hold Her Own, For Sure

 Great photo of Bob and Roz.  Their facial expressions are superb.  There are a goodly number of these publicity shots taken by Clarence S. Bull.  My favorite always seems to be the one I most recently  purchased.  It may well be the last one I find.  Just can't imagine there being a better one.  Great job, guys!

                    Bob and Roz in Live, Love and Learn (1937)

And Why Should We Care If It Has Meaning?

A great trio of performers, a joy to behold each one of them.  In other words, I like the people in the photo ... but, what exactly is going on here?  It looks like Montgomery is pulling Benchley down.  Does he want him to join he and Roz on the chaise?  Rather doubt that.  At least they are trying for something different.  And Roz gets to enjoy it.  Good shot of Bob (Montgomery). 

 

Bob, Robert Benchley and Roz Russell in Live, Love and Learn (1937)

 

Old Bob's Signature More Legible than Mine!!

As it has been noted a time or two in the past, I rather enjoy collecting Bob autographed photos.  Tis a great combination of a good photo of Mr. Montgomery and knowledge that we both handled it that makes it extra special for me. 

           Bob and Rosalind Russell in Live, Love and Learn (1937)
 

This autographed photo is from the private collection of a Mr. Harry Wilkinson of Marblehead, MA.  Please look at the bottom stamp: "AFTER AUTOGRAPHING Kindly Return TO:" with the date 6-81 written by hand.  I'm assuming that is the date the photo was returned to Harry.  And the significance of that date ... Bob died in 9-81.  So he signed this only three months before his death.   Nifty.  Now, if I could only find something of his from his youth!

Another Thrilling Day at the Studio

Ran across this wardrobe test photo of Bob a while back.  Ah, the perfectly dressed and handsome lad was he.  You can tell he'd rather be most anywhere else but the studio playing dress up. 

Below is a still from Live, Love and Learn (1937) with Bob wearing the same outfit.  Note the hankie in his suit pocket is in exactly the same position.  Now that's planning out a movie to the smallest detail.  Love the hat. 

         Helen Vinson (Lily), Bob (Bob) and Barnett Parker (Alfredo)

Robert Benchley Plays a Drunk - I bet he had to do extensive research for the role!

Live, Love and Learn (1937) will be shown on TCM tomorrow (the 12th) at 7:45 a.m. EST/4:45 PST.  If you haven't seen it, recording it for viewing at a more sensible time would be a worthwhile effort.  After all it has Bob (the struggling artist), Rosalind Russell (the rich society girl), Robert Benchley (Bob's drunken buddy), Helen Vinson (the other woman) and Monty Woolley (rich guy into horses).  If only the script was as good as the actors!

The March 26, 1938, issue of the British magazine "Picture Show", features the movie. 

I like their one-page photo and story re-caps.  That's a lot of info on one page!

An enlargement of the best photo:  Bob and Bob (Benchley) have carried in one very large painting of a horse, to be admired by Woolley (in a gown of some sort with matching furry slippers) while Roz simply stands modeling her mink coat (while wondering if she'll ever get a decent role). 

Live, Love and Learn A Little

There are a goodly number of delightful photos featuring Bob, Roz Russell and Robert Benchley that were taken to promo Live, Love and Learn (1937).  The stars appear to be enjoying themselves, a rather rare occurrence for performers doing publicity for their movies, I'd imagine. 

One of my many regrets re Mr. Montgomery is that he never appeared in a color movie, would love to see those blue eyes work their magic in a love scene!  The closest one can get to a Bob movie in color are colorized photos.  They can be interesting, but almost never show Bob with blue eyes, darn it.  Anyway, check out the two photos below.  I am not sure the color is an improvement.  The color of Roz's dress works, sort of, but that pink chair ... yeesch!

Did you notice that the two photos are not the same, besides the color?  I thought they were until I pulled the scans up for this post.  Bob's laughing in the second photo.  Roz has placed her hand on Robert's head, which has lulled slightly towards the camera.  Kinda nifty. 

It Might Just Be An Actual Candid

Most "candids" of stars taken by the studios were staged more than a still taken on the set.  In the photo below, it appears Bob is standing outside of a studio building, perhaps on a break, reading a script or newspaper or racing sheet.  With the trash can as part of the background and the look on Bob's face, I would guess it is an actual candid.  Unless...perhaps Bob, the avid photographer, has set it up, having someone take the photo for him, wanting to show his work environment behind all the glamour.  It is difficult to distinguish what is reality from the image Hollywood portrayed of itself. 

I am guessing, primarily because of the hat, that Bob is filming Live, Love and Learn (1937).  Yes, a lot of guesswork is involved in trying to identify just what is happening in photos taken 80 years ago. 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Benchley!

I just have to smile every time I think of Robert Benchley.  A funny, funny man.  He graced two of Bob's movies:  Live, Love and Learn (1937) and Piccadilly Jim (1936).  This photo was taken in 1944, a year before his death at the young age of 56.  One too many martinis. 

              Robert Benchley b. Sept. 15, 1899; d. Nov. 21, 1945.

Robert shows his acting chops in this scene from Live, Love and Learn. 

A Happy Birthday goes out to my big brother who share's Mr. Benchley's birthday, and is almost as funny.  Well, in his own way ....

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 Movies in Living Color

Colorizing lobby cards is an interesting concept.  Like, maybe the movie goer wouldn't later notice that the film they're watching is actually in black & white?  Whatever, the colorization was sometimes successful, and sometimes not.  In the scene below, at least the background has color.

                                  Live, Love and Learn (1937)

Now, why do I think David and Lynn Conway did not decorate their home in beige and brown?  Dig the floral armless couch and matching curtains ... 

                                The First 100 Years (1938)

In no way does color improve this scene with Tommy Duncan and his manservant Elmer.  (Elmer??)  Well, the image of Bob under a purple comforter has its pluses.  (Down, woman!)  Do note how the coffee table is decorated:  a cigarette lighter, a cigarette box and not one, but TWO ashtrays.  Ah, times do change.  

                                Unfinished Business (1941)

Bob's entire career was in B&W, even on TV.  I certainly don't mind B&W movies, but it would have been interesting for him to have made at least one color movie so we could check out his blue eyes.  Hideout in color, maybe?  Or Piccadilly Jim?  Never Night Must Fall!

Another abrupt change of thought:  a slightly belated Happy Birthday to humorist Robert Benchley!  Below, he appears to be having a liquid breakfast.  This probably did not require much acting.  But a very funny man, none the less.

                        Robert Benchley (b. September 15, 1889)

It's the Argyle Socks!

                     On the set of  Live, Love and Learn (1937)

Happy Monday!

               Douglas Fairbanks visits the set of Private Lives (1931)

You tell me, are Bob and Norma playing footsies?  And Bob's shoes/slippers....did he borrow a pair from Norma?  I mean, they have at least one-inch heals and look two sizes too small for him. 

                                Live, Love and Learn (1937)

And, keeping the above photo in mind, check out deviantart.com and do a search for Robert.  There are a number of computer drawings of him and one artist's version of the above with a different lady.
Enjoy.

Happy Birthday, Robert (Benchley)!

Robert Benchley was one funny man ... a humorist, prolific essayist and, for all too few times, a delightful scene-stealing movie co-star.

With Bob in the drinking scene in Piccadilly Jim, an easy chore for Robert, who knocked down a few in his life.


Being adorable with Rosalind Russell and Helen Vinson in Live, love and learn.   

And on a totally personal note, a big Happy Birthday to my Big Bro, David ... Love ya' ... your always Baby Sis. 

   

Live, Love and Learn (Backstage)

Backstage on Live, Love and Learn.

Oohh, Studio Picnic is coming up.

Two Words - DVD Set!

I never thought I'd ever write the phrase "Robert Montgomery DVD Set" here and not be joking.  Well, today is the day.

The Warner Archive collection is taking pre-orders on The Robert Montgomery Collection. That's right folks, $44.95 for this December 6 release will get you the following new-to-DVD titles:

• Shipmates (1931)
• The Man in Possession (1931)
• Faithless (1932)
• Lovers Courageous (1932)
• But the Flesh Is Weak (1932)
• Made on Broadway (1933)
• Live, Love and Learn (1937)
• The Earl of Chicago (1940)

Eight movies on four disks.

Can I put in a vote for Letty Lynton?

Photo Friday: Live, Love and Learn

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