Dry Wit and a Very Dry Martini

 Robert Benchley was born September 15, 1889 in Worcester, MA.  A truly funny man.  A favorite quote with a Royal theme:  "It is one of the most discouraging experiences I have ever had, not forgetting the time when I winked at the Queen Mother in London once."  

Happy Birthday, Mr. Benchley.  

And this year's Oscar for Best Drinking Buddy goes to ...

Robert Benchley!!!  And Happy Birthday, Robert!  I know, it's actually Sept. 15th, but if I change days for the blog, I get all confused.  You know how that is, don't you Mr. Benchley.  Cheers to you, my friend. 

                  Bob & Robert Benchley in Piccadilly Jim (1936)
 

For those of you reading this early enough, please be advised Three Loves Has Nancy (1938) is showing on TCM at 3:00 p.m. ET.  

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)

 

Robert Benchley & Our Robert at Home in NYC

Robert Benchley and Bob obviously having a good laugh together while enjoying a night at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC.  The Waldorf is the kind of place both gentlemen could feel at ease while amongst the social elite.  Oh, that's right, they both are social elites.  The lady whose hand Bob is holding is Evelyn Wadsworth Symington, a member of both the social and political elites.  The Wadsworth men were New York businessmen and politicians, in the U.S. Senate, etc.  Stuart Symington was the son of wealth, becomes a very successful businessman and, at the urging of his father-in-law, runs for the U.S. Senate representing Missouri, serving from 1953 to 1976.  It's nice to be rich, so I've heard. 

Robert Benchley, humorist, (left) Robert Montgomery, film actor (right, standing) and Mrs. Stuart Symington (right, seated) as they attended the recent singing debut of Alice Marble at the Waldorf-Astoria.  12-3-1938, New York City

Bob, as you well know, was interested in politics and no doubt had hoped to become more than Eisenhower's media consultant.  But he was unable to cross that hurdle of being a movie star, politicians thinking themselves to be above such a lowly profession.  Ha.

I do have to say the photo shows Bob could make it as a politician ... shaking hands with his right and holding a beautiful rich lady's hand with his left.

And for you fellow trivia fans ... Alice Marble was a top tennis player, the kind that could attract elites to hear her sing at a supper club in the Waldorf.  I had not heard of her before, discovered she was quite the interesting person.  Look her up on Wikipedia for an entertaining read. 

He Was, Simply Put, A Very Funny Man

Robert Benchley was an actor, author, playwright, drama critic and master humorist, who blessed two of Bob Montgomery's movies, Piccadilly Jim (1936) and Live, Love and Learn (1937).  
 

      Robert Benchley, b. Sept. 15, 1889 and d. Nov. 21, 1945, age 56

Happy Birthday, Mr. Benchley (and my brother, as well)!!

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). 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Benchley!

Robert Benchley was born September 15, 1989 and died a mere 56 years later.  He was a very, very funny man who appeared in two movies with our Bob, Piccadilly Jim (1936) and Live, Love and Learn (1937).  My brother, David, was born on September 15 in a later year, is still alive (although living in Florida he recently gave his sister a bit of a scare), and has never appeared in any movie at all.  Yet, he makes his sister laugh.  My love goes out to them both.

This is a photo of Mr. Benchley.  The following quotes are his, not my brother's.  Don't want to confuse anybody! 

Sand is also a good place on which to write, "I love you," as it would be difficult to get into court after several years have passed.

 Anything can happen, but it usually doesn’t.

 When I was a child I was of an affectionate disposition, but not enough to get arrested.

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. 

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 ....

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)

Surviving A Night of Deprivation

Our local cable system was down last night....aarrghhh!!  No computer and, therefore, no access to the blog.  No television, therefore no St. Louis Cardinals baseball.  (Yes, you can take the girl out of Missouri, but...)  It was all very frustrating.

Fortunately, there were a couple good things about being disconnected from the outside world.  Not being able to watch the Cardinals play, I didn't have to watch them lose their 4th game in a row.  They lost two more today, unfortunately the cable was back up. 

We resorted to watching two DVDs, picked at random. My husband and I are both old movie fans and can find something of interest in most movies.  The first movie was Joan of Paris (1942) starring Michele Morgan and Paul Henreid.  Maltin gives it a ***1/2 rating, we gave it a **1/2.  Tad bit too melodramatic for us, but enjoyed the supporting actors.  The excellent, short-lived actor Laird Cregor plays the evil German "Herr Funk" with relish.  May Robson effortlessly steals her scenes as the heroic teacher/underground leader.  Hans Conried appears briefly as a gestapo agent, he had such a great snarl.  And Alan Ladd, in his last role before hitting it big in This Gun for Hire (1942), plays a wounded pilot named "Baby."  It's always fun to watch future stars as they develop their persona.

The second movie was  Hired Wife (1940) starring Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne, Virginia Bruce, Robert Benchley and John Carroll who play in order: the sassy secretary; the handsome, clueless boss;  the gold digger; the best friend and inebriated lawyer; and the gigolo.  The cast is much better than the script, makes the movie watchable.

If you made it this far through my ramblings, thanks for the effort.  And since I feel I need to work in at least one photo, this is Aherne, an avid flyer, with his plane in 1934.  He's obviously where he's happy - and without the constraint of his hairpiece.  Besides, it's always the smile that makes the man.

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.