Battle of the Reginald's

 Everybody Sing (1938) starred Alan Jones and Judy Garland.  It may not have been a highly rated movie, but it did have some excellent supporting actors to attempt to save it from being too much of a bomb.  Reginald Owen, Reginald Gardiner and Billie Burke, each in their own unique way, were great actors.  Mr. Owen, whose birthday is August 5th, could seemingly play any type of role to perfection.   Mr. Gardiner was really good at playing the "upper-crust English twit."  And Ms. Burke was a master at portraying "Billie Burke", one of a kind for sure.  

Thumbs up to Mr. Gardiner for going face-to-face with Mr. Owen.  I'd say the eyes have it!  (Sorry, I'm working on this much too late in the day.)

A slightly late update of Bob on TCM ... June Bride (1948) is available until August 11th and The Big House (1930) ends a brief run on August 7th.  

TCM! - I've got this film you need to show.

 When I first ran across this photograph, it caught my eye because two of my favorite people, Reginald Owen and Frank Morgan, were in it.  And there is Virginia Bruce, as well, all decked out in a gorgeous gown and fancy hairdo.  I thought it was a publicity shot for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), since Owens, Morgan and Bruce were all in it, but it is named on the back as being Escapade (1935).  Then, looking up the movie, I found that William Powell and Luise Rainer star in both movies as well!  What?  

It did take a long time to film Ziegfeld, from April 8th to December 1935.  Escapade filming began at the same time, April 3rd, but was wrapped up in May.  Did the studio make Escapade to build up fan interest in Ziegfeld, a much larger production?  Use the core cast for both movies while having to wait out the year to film all the other performers?  Sounds 'bout right.  It is interesting that Escapade has a 7.3 rating on IMDB, while Ziegfeld has the lower score of 6.6. 

I would love to see the movie but, of course, it is not available anywhere.  Shuckie-darns!  

Okay, enlarging the good folks so you can see them ... Reginald Owen.

Mady Christians ... wonder how early she had to be at the studio for that hairdo!

Frank Morgan ... with a full beard and dark hair for a change.

Virginia Bruce ... knitting away.  The lady has been on a sound stage many a time.

I do not know who this gent is.  Evidently a fan of Ms. Bruce.  Herringbone jacket, striped shirt and checkered tie - my.  Would love to see the outfit in color.  Anyone know who he is?  

So Many Birthdays ....

Yes, so many ... decided to combine a few Bob co-stars, six from this week alone.  So, Happy Birthday to ...

Anita Page, Aug. 4th, co-starred with Bob in Free and Easy (1930)

Reginald Owen, Aug. 5th, co-starred with Bob in several movies, decided to use this photo of Mr. Owen in Sherlock Holmes (1932).  He is Dr. Watson to Clive Brook's Sherlock.  Love the bowtie.  

Irene Purcell, Aug. 7th, appeared with Bob in Man in Possession (1931).  She and Bob worked so well together, wish they had done more.

Ann Harding, Aug. 7th, shown here with Bob in Biography of a Bachelor Girl (1935). 

Nat Pendleton, Aug. 9th, was a very busy supporting actor in the 1930s and 1940s.  He did a great job with the role of Madge Evans' unwanted suitor in Fugitive Lovers (1934)

and, finally, Dorothy Jordan, Aug. 9th, portrayed a rather demure young lady when co-starring with Bob in Love in the Rough (1930) and Shipmates (1931).  I like this sexy version of Dorothy.  

It's August and all those Bob Birthday Ladies

 Let's see, I did manage to do a birthday post for Myrna.  Since then I have missed Anita Page, Aug. 4th, and Ann Harding and Irene Purcell, both born on Aug. 7th.  And I remembered Reginald Owen and his Aug. 5th birthday.  Yes, not a leading lady, but being in seven Bob movies puts him in a special class.  

Dorothy Jordan, born Aug. 9th, and Bob were a precious pair in both Love in the Rough (1930) and Shipmates (1931).  There was a big MGM publicity push for Bob becoming a Star!, including starring him in Shipmates.  Wish they had given him a better movie.  They did take a fair number of publicity shots of Bob and Dorothy.  Now they are just great.  

                    Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Shipmates (1931)

It's the Mukluks & Fur Coat that make the Man!

 And a Happy Birthday remembrance of the wonderful character actor Mr. Reginald Owen!  Just love the man.  Totally impressed by his ability to create so many characters with relish, never short-changing the audience with an ill-prepared role.  

Mr. Owen was born August 5th, 1887 in England and died November 5th, 1972 in Boise, Idaho.  85, a good run.  

                      Reginald Owen in Petticoat Fever (1936)

List of Robert Montgomery movies Reginald appeared in:  Man in Possession (1931); Lovers Courageous (1932); Petticoat Fever (1936); Trouble for Two (1936); Three Loves Has Nancy (1938); Fast and Loose (1939) and Earl of Chicago (1940).  Seven Bob movies made better by the efforts of Mr. Owen.  Thank you, kind sir.

Bob in a Tux in Labrador ... Well, Why Not?!

 Poor Reginald Owen, in another movie being annoyed by Bob.  They played well together.  Owen was such a superb actor, he could make any role work.  There is another photo like this, but with only Bob on the steps.  Actually, when I first ran across this one, I saw only Bob.  Bob in a tux on a ladder ... really eye-catching.  

Bob and Reginald Owen in Petticoat Fever (1936)

A Look at the Real Reggie

 It took me the longest time to be able to visualize Reginald Owen when I saw his name in print.  Mr. Owen was just a great character actor.  So many roles, so many characters.  Kind of the opposite of John Wayne playing basically the same role in many movies.  (Hey, whatever works!)  

Owen's birthday is tomorrow, August 5th.  He was in seven of Bob's movies,  need to decide which one to watch as a birthday tribute.  Owen was great fun as Bob's brother in The Man in Possession (1931), and I could use a good laugh.  Yeah, that sounds like a winner.  

Happy Longest Day of the Year!

 And it'll be a hot one for much of the country.  Time to search out movies about blizzards and being stuck in a cabin in the mountains without electricity.  Here in California it is the summer time overwhelmed power grid that causes a lack of electricity.  With temperatures in the 100s today, hubby and I will be spending a good portion of it on our pool rafts under umbrellas ... reading, napping, snacking.  And hoping it's not our turn to lose power overnight!

I'd choose Petticoat Fever (1936) as an attempt to cool me off.  Of course there was the complaint on the set that the stars were attired in too realistic outerwear.  Bob and Myrna were soaked through in their fur coats and mukluks.  But they suffered through it, with not a clue of their discomfort.  

         Reginald Owen, Bob & Myrna Loy in Petticoat Fever (1936)

Well, there is one slight thing the makeup people missed ... note the wet curls of hair sticking out under the top of Bob's furs.  Yeah, a bit on the hot side.  

Reginald Owen, The Fashion Setter

 I miss men's hats.  (Baseball caps are in a category all by themselves, part of a baseball uniform, not hats.)  Everybody wore hats in the 1930s.  Different styles, various colors ... and that's just the men's.  Bob had a number of dark green hats.  I'm sure that would set off his blue eyes and brunette hair.  The hat he wore in Lovers Courageous (1932) is nifty, with the turned down brim.  Like Madge's cloche hats as well.    

Reginald Owen's hat ... well, it is different.  

Lovers Courageous will be shown by TCM May 24th at 9:15 a.m. PT.  Hope it will be available to stream afterwards.  9:15 is just a tad too early for me.  

Some Favorite Character Actors

 Born in 1891, Roscoe Karns made his first movie in 1915, and his last in 1964.  Known for his rapid-fire delivery, Roscoe was perfectly cast as a reporter in His Girl Friday (1940).  I first got to know him as Jackie Cooper's Captain in the TV series Hennesey (1959-62).  Saw an episode of the show recently.  It is really dated, but Karns was still funny.  Sorry, no information on the photo, but he's looking rather snazzy.  

Victor Moore had a successful career in vaudeville and Broadway before making movies in the 1930s.  I first remember seeing him in Louisiana Purchase (1941), in the role he also played on Broadway, Senator Oliver P. Loganberry, the simple and honest politician everybody tries to corrupt.  IMDB somehow gives the movie a 6.0 --- no way.  A very funny movie, in my humble opinion.

                   Victor Moore in Gold Diggers of 1937 (1937)

Reginald Owen, I believe, has the record number of appearances in a Montgomery movie:  The Man in Possession, Lovers Courageous, Petticoat Fever, Trouble for Two, Three Loves Has Nancy, Fast and Loose, and The Earl of Chicago.  A superb actor with a great career, Mr. Owen is pictured taking a nap during the filming of Mrs. Miniver (1942).  Most famous, no doubt, for A Christmas Carol (1938).  But great in so many roles.  

Three Excellent Portraits (& None of Them Bob)

 I dare say, morning suits and tuxedos are wonderful articles of apparel for men to wear.  They do wonders for most men.  Our Mr. Montgomery in a tux ... to die for.  Even a fully attired Walter Huston makes for a dashing gent.  I have always been a tad envious, not having a similar item in my wardrobe.

Just as Mr. Huston's portrait illustrates the character he is playing, this portrait of Glenn Strange (yes, of Gunsmoke fame) quite simply states who he is in the movie ... the bad guy!

It took me some time to be able to visualize Reginald Owen outside of one of his many character roles.  The man played such a wide range of roles, from Bob's brother to Ebenezer Scrooge.  Below he is Mr. Foley, "the kindly neighborhood grocer" in The Miniver Story (1950). 

Be Still My Foolish Heart

 Petticoat Fever (1936) starring Bob, Myrna Loy and Reginald Owen, is definitely one of my favs - makes me feel like a teenage girl when I sigh at the sight of Bob in full dress attire standing on the stairs.

Anyway, the trio is in Dascom's bedroom, Sir James (Owen) showing his disapproval of the whole situation.  Dascom (Bob) is staring at Sir James, wondering how he can get him out of the way and then win over Irene (Myrna).  Irene is simply bemused by it all.  

There is something else interesting about the photo.  Even in its 8 x 10 format, it's not immediately noted.  So I've enlarged a portion of the photo.

 Do you see it?

Kinda spooky catching Dascom in the mirror!

Psssst! Thanksgiving is Almost Here!!!

The holidays are such hectic times.  Too much to do and too many things to cause us to worry.  So easy to overlook the to-give-thanks part of Thanksgiving.  Sometimes it is simply easier to list all the negatives.  But, sometimes it can be surprisingly easy to run across what is good in your life.  Ta-da ... like this photo is for me.  It brought a huge smile to my face the first time I saw it.  Ah, yes, Frank Morgan at his befuddled-king-of-some-before-unknown-country best.  And, as a twofer, under all that ceremonial garb and huge mustache, the ever reliable Reginald Owen.  Just love it.  No need to hear the scene, you know those two are taking turns stealing it, while Ray Bolger is thinking, why am I even in this scene. 

       Ray Bolger, Frank Morgan and Reginald Owen in Rosalie (1937)

Watching old movies is like visiting old friends, for which I am ever grateful.  Since my youth I have kept the company of war heroes, tough private eyes, handsome lovers in tuxedos, and adventurers of all kinds.  Just all kinds of wonderful characters who make me smile, or cry, or simply feel good.  I have rarely been lonely.  Thanks, good friends.  

Should I look so good with a fever!

Maybe it was the 108 degrees high today, but I feel just lousy.  Next week will be better.  Enjoy your weekend!

               Bob and Reginald Owen in Petticoat Fever (1936)

"I want you to stop meddling with my fiancee!"

... exclaims Sir James Felton (Reginald Owen) to Dascom Dinsmore (Bob) as Irene (Myrna Loy) watches in surprise in Petticoat Fever (1936).  A fun movie.  I bet it was a roaring success at the "Tavern Casino" on Friday! 

TCM will be showing Petticoat this Wednesday at 5:00 a.m. EST.  I don't know that I'd be able to make that show time, so I am hoping they show it on demand later.  You can see Night Flight (1933) on demand today, and Rage in Heaven (1941) through Friday.  And three move Bob movies will be shown this Month:  Lady in the Lake (1947) on the 14th; Hide-out (1934) on the 17th; and Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) on the 18th.  That's a lot of Montgomery all in one month!  And so many are my favorites, and I would imagine yours as well.

None of Bob's movies are scheduled on TCM for his birthday on the 21st.  That's kind of a let down after showing nine movies last year.  Six of his better movies in the weeks before will just have to do.

How To Keep The Boss Happy ...

Of course we have all seen The Man in Possession (1931) ... right??!  I mean, it is one of Bob's best movies and a classic pre-code comedy.  Raymond (Bob) and Crystal (Irene Purcell) make a delightful couple, knowing right away what they want from each other!  Claude (Reginald Owen) just did not have a chance with Crystal once Raymond arrived on the scene. 

      Bob, Reginald Owen and Irene in The Man in Possession (1931)

Irene Purcell was primarily a stage actress, making only seven feature films in 1931-32.  She was already 35 when Man was made, a credit to her youthful looks and acting ability that she was hired to make any movies at all.  At the time, turning 30 was a death knell for actresses, so entering movies at 35, well, lets hear it for Irene!  She was the oldest of Bob's ladies, born in 1896, eight years his senior.

In 1941, Irene married Herbert F. Johnson, Jr., as in the Johnson Wax Company.  Herbert whisked her away to his 14,000 sq. ft. home in Racine, WI, where they remained married until her death in 1972.  During this time, Johnson Wax would sponsor Robert Montgomery Presents, making Irene the wife of Bob's boss, of sorts.  Which brings us to the photo below.

It is Herbert and Irene on November 8, 1956.  They are at the Bresler Art Gallery in Milwaukee, it is opening night and all 17 of Irene's paintings being shown have been sold to raise money for the Actor's Fund of America.  The painting on the wall behind the couple, titled "Marguerites", was purchased by ... ta-da ... Robert Montgomery! 

Took a while to get there ...

Yes, Reggie ... It's Petticoat Fever!

I believe Audrey Totter deserved a special award for all the looks she gave Bob in Lady in the Lake (1947), and many of them were of the sneer variety as pictured below.  (I would have found it very difficult to sneer at Mr. Montgomery!)  You can check out all those great looks of hers when the movie is shown on TCM tomorrow (March 10th) at 1:30 p.m. PST.  She really did have a difficult role to play with all the "odd" cinematography. 

                 Bob and Audrey Totter in Lady in the Lake (1946)

Speaking of difficult roles, playing the straight man between Bob and Myrna Loy must have been a challenge for Reginald Owen.  Of course, he did have the experience for the role, having previously lost the girl to Bob in The Man in Possession (1931).  You can catch Petticoat Fever (1936) on TCM this coming Tuesday (March 14) at 9:00 a.m. PDT (It will be daylight time then, right?  Please don't rely fully on my airing times!) 

                Bob and Reginald Owen in Petticoat Fever (1936)

These are two of the four Bob movies shown by TCM this month, two to three times more than the usual number of showings!  My position is that more is always better, particularly favorites such as Petticoat.  Four cheers for TCM!  (If only they would pull Letty Lynton (1932) out of its legal morass and give that beautiful movie back to Bob's and Joan's fans, while we're still around to appreciate it!)