"Hello, Dahlings!"

                      Tallulah Bankhead, b. January 31, 1902

Bob aged a bit in 16 years (Haven't we all!)

 Faithless (1932) co-starring Bob and Tallulah Bankhead will be shown on TCM beginning June 23rd.  It's a decent enough movie, far better than the reaction it got when first released.  There is one jarring element (for me, anyway): Hugh Herbert is playing a bad guy!

            Bob, Tallulah Bankhead and Hugh Herbert in Faithless

Also showing this month is June Bride (1948).  TCM's monthly listing shows two start dates, June 16 and June 28.  I'm guessing the streaming will begin on the 28th.  Anyway, it's always a fun movie to watch.  Let's hear it for Bob and Bette for being professionals and not clawing up each other's faces.  (Meow...)  

                   Bob and Bette Davis in June Bride (1948)

Meanwhile, there are also four movies carried over from May still able to stream:  Piccadilly Jim (1936) until the 19th; Lady in the Lake (1946) the 20th; as well as They Were Expendable (1945) and When Ladies Meet (1933). 

"Hello, Dahling"

 Tallulah Bankhead was born January 31, 1902, in Huntsville, Alabama.  A very, very interesting lady.  IMDB has a long list of her quotes, a number of great one-liners.  One of my favorites: "My father warned me about men and booze, but he never mentioned a word about women and cocaine."  

      Tallulah Bankhead, Jan. 31, 1902, to Dec. 12, 1968

Tallulah & Bob, a Nice-Looking Duo

Interesting Dutch magazine I hadn't run across before.  The issue is dated February 4, 1933, large size, as indicated by the fold wear mark, titled "The Weekly Magazine of Cinema and Theater".  Really nice colorization for a newspaper printing.  

And, inside, a large print of a studio photograph featuring Bob and Tallulah Bankhead in Faithless (1932).  Great print, in such excellent condition for a 91-year-old publication using inexpensive paper.  I also like the pose, with Tallulah's hands on the back of Bob's head but not a hair out of place on his head.  

'Bout Time to Release Letty Lynton!

 One handsome, sexy couple.  

          Robert Montgomery & Tallulah Bankhead in Faithless (1932)

In case you hadn't heard already --- I'm usually the last to find out --- Warner Archive is releasing Faithless on Blu-ray on January 30th.  Faithless is already available on DVD, part of the Robert Montgomery Collection.  But...if you prefer Blu-ray, the going pre-order price is $25.  Ouch.

Tallulah has a Bad Day

                       Tallulah Bankhead in The Cheat (1931)

Bob is Down for the Count

 Tallulah takes down Bob to where she wants him ... on the bed.  She's got a good hold on him, and he doesn't seem to be trying to escape.  Good catch, woman!  Love the full-faced smile of Bob's.  

                   Bob and Tallulah Bankhead in Faithless (1932)

"The-Man-They-Fall-In-Love-With"

Just a couple Bob mentions from the December, 1932 issue of "Modern Screen".  I like the reviewer's wrap up of most of Bob's roles up to this time. 

And an interesting presentation of one of the magazine's monthly portraits of the stars.  The line at the bottom reads:  We honor Robert Montgomery for his excellent work, despite an appendix operation, in "Faithless".  It would be remiss of one not to mention that most of the scenes he completed after his operation, involved being sick and in bed.  There probably wasn't much acting going on.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter...

A group scene from Faithless (1932) ... so what is interesting about this picture?

Lets zero in on what everyone is looking at.  Why, it's Bob and Tallulah.

But lets get in even closer.

Yes ... much, much more interesting.  And once more ...

Ahhh....t'ain't he cute.  Definitely the heart of the matter.

Happy Birthday, Dahling!

Tallulah Bankhead was born on this day in 1902 in Huntsville, Alabama.  Whereas she maintained her southern accent throughout her life, any trappings of the southern belle were left behind when, at the age of 16, she moved to New York City to begin her life in the theater.   The hard-drinking, chain-smoking and drug-using bisexual with a wonderful raspy voice found great success on the stage, less so on film.  I just read a review of her performance in Faithless (1932) wherein the author points to a lack of subtle expression in her face as a reason she was not successful in movies.  A good point.  Of course, there was nothing really subtle about Ms. Bankhead. 

                    Tallulah Bankhead and Bob in Faithless (1932)

Tallulah --- great name, isn't it! --- was the star of Faithless, Bob's role was almost a supporting performance.  He was in the hospital for three weeks during the scheduled filming of the move with a severe attack of appendicitis (keep in mind that penicillin was not widely available until the 1940s), so his part may have been cut back.  Whatever, he is in it enough to make you understand why Tallulah would "turn to the streets" to get medicine for her deathly ill husband.  And Bob certainly had the experience to portray a man confined to a bed.  All in all, a decent enough movie, worth watching if you don't expect a masterpiece.  Hey, it's pre-code and Bob is in it.  What more could one ask ...

Faithless Trumps Forsaking All Others

I always thought this was a publicity photo for Forsaking All Others (1934), with Bob and Joan in a beautiful car looking bored out of their minds.  I have a 10 x 13 print, just gorgeous.  Recently, I happened to notice the MGM photo ID number in the lower right corner.  638 is the number given the movie Faithless (1932).  So that's Tallulah Bankhead in the car being bored along with Bob. 

I watched both movies to make sure I had the right movie (what I force myself to do for the sake of research!)  Besides thoroughly enjoying watching them once more, I discovered that neither movie has the above scene in them, not even that fantastic car.  Joan does wear a white outfit in Forsaking All Others, but the car she and Bob use is a two door model.**  Faithless doesn't even have a scene with Bob and Tallulah in a car, much less Tallulah in a white outfit. 

So, another scene that didn't make it into a movie.  What a waste.  They should have kept it in, so we could enjoy that car, if nothing else. 

**For some unknown reason, the car used in Forsaking All Others has the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle.  Really looks odd to see Bob and Joan in a process shot with Bob behind the wheel on the left side of the screen.

Bob in PJs ... A Good Starting Point

 Bob on a four Poster with Madge Evans in Lovers Courageous (1932)


            Bob (Is that a gorgeous head of hair, or what?) with
                       Tallulah Bankhead in Faithless (1932)

  Carole Lombard being mean to poor Bob in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

Happy Birthday, Dahling!

                                      Faithless (1932)

Tallulah Bankhead  was born on this day in 1902.  A very interesting lady, not your typical Southern belle, I'll just let her speak for herself.

      "I'm as pure as the driven slush."

     "My father warned me about men and booze, but he never mentioned women and cocaine."

     "If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling.  Be an audience."

And, purportedly, her last words were:  "Codeine ... bourbon."