He Is Only 26, After All. He Gets Better!

So, just why is Babs (June Walker) trying to fend off the advances of Wally (Robert Montgomery)?  Well, perhaps he could work on his approach to the ladies, but, hey, it is WWI, and the young pilot could very well be heading off on his last flight.  Is that still a "NO", Babs?  Sorry, Wally.  I tried.  

   June Walker and Robert Montgomery in War Nurse (1930)

Wish the lobby card was in better shape, but ... this one I could afford.  Posters/lobby cards from Bob's early movies are for the most part way out of my league pricewise.  At least Bob is in good shape.  

War Nurse is available to stream on TCM until June 26th.  And They Were Expendable (1945) until June 24th.  

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.  

War, Desire and Hell - Sounds Like a Good Movie to Watch!

 There are three Bob films available for streaming on TCM right now.  Hell Below (1933) can be seen until July 7th and both War Nurse (1930) and Their Own Desire (1929) until July 20th.  Watching them in chronological order would be a good way of watching young Mr. Montgomery master his craft.  He continues to improve his acting skills after Hell Below, but he is obviously better than in his early movies.  

I rather like this Hell Below herald.  It is not the original, but don't know when or by whom it was produced.  It looks like a German herald, but it is in English.  The captions even provide a good outline of the story.  And, of course, there are numerous pictures of a very handsome Robert Montgomery.  

Picking Up Parental Skills Over the Years

 Bob looks a tad awkward holding a baby in this scene from War Nurse with co-star June Walker.  Of course, Betty was just pregnant with their first child during the filming, so Bob would be rather unexperienced dealing with babies.  The baby looks so large compared to the very diminutive Ms. Walker.  

                       Bob and  June Walker in War Nurse (1930)

Three decades later Bob looks and is an old hand at being around babies.  Here he is holding the real Robert Montgomery III, who is helping his grandfather celebrate his 55th birthday on the set of The Gallant Hours along with cast members Dennis Weaver and Mr. James Cagney.  One can only imagine the pieces of studio cake Bob and Jim had at on-the-set parties over the years.  

         Bob III, Bob, Dennis Weaver & James Cagney on the set of                                     The Gallant Hours (1960)

Wonder Who Drove Whom Home

 Edward J. (Eddie) Nugent was tall, dark and handsome; born in 1904 in New York.  Wow, I could be describing Mr. Montgomery!  He was in four movies with Bob playing small and sometimes uncredited roles.  The movies are in a three-year span, 1929 to 1931, a period of partying and high times for Bob.  I can imagine Bob saying a good word for Eddie to get those parts, always nice to have a good pal on the set and available at night to join in the partying. 

Eddie was one of those actors who almost made it big in Hollywood.  Almost.  Had lead roles in a few low budget movies, worked often between 1929 and 1936, but never got the big contract or role.  Did some stage work in the 1940s and had a contract with ABC to direct TV in the early 1950s.  Eddie lived to be 90, certainly beating out Bob (77) on that one!  And died in New York City, same as Bob.   

I have photos of Bob and Eddie together in three of the movies they made together.  Don't have any for Strangers May Kiss (1931), don't have many photos from that movie at all, darn it. 

 

   Bob, Joan Crawford, Director Jack Conway, Gwen Lee and Eddie Nugent in Untamed (1929)
 

  Bob, June Walker, Eddie Nugent and unknown in War Nurse (1930)                                                        

           Hedda Hopper, Bob and Eddie Nugent in Shipmates (1931)
                                                            
 Can you just imagine the attention those two handsome gents got when they entered a nightclub in full tuxedo regalia.  Rrrff!

P.S. Edward J. Nugent was not related to Elliott Nugent.  Elliott co-starred with Bob in So This is College (1929) and remained a life-long friend and often business associate. 

Beautiful, Blue-Eyed and Tanned Bob

Before the prevalence of air-conditioning, filming at the studios came essentially to a halt in August.  That gave the actors, particularly the young and much overworked Mr. Montgomery, a much needed break and chance to pursue preferred summer activities.  Bob was rather a competitive zealot in a number of sports (polo, tennis, golf, boating) which meant spending many hours outdoors.

War Nurse (1930) was the first film made after his summer break in 1930.  This publicity shot, with June Walker, must have been the very first activity on the production schedule.  Just check out that gorgeous tan, the way it sets off his blue eyes.  Unfortunately, it fades away quickly once he returns to his usual long days shut up on indoor stages.

And not one color photo of of the young man ... 'tis a shame.

                      Bob and June Walker in War Nurse (1930)

Back in Bob's Very, Very Slender Days

June Walker, whose birthday is Wednesday, June 14th, originated the character of Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on Broadway.  You know, the Marilyn Monroe role.  Hmmm ... I never quite saw that.

                      Bob and June Walker in War Nurse (1930)

Anyway, in the midst of doing a little surfing on the net, I ran across this photo of June.  Okay, the blonde hair, different hairstyle and makeup, a few years younger ... okay, I can see it. 

How Could Any Woman Possibly Say No

                      Bob and June Walker in War Nurse (1930)

Romeo Bob, Cause of Acute Fan Heart Trouble

                                       War Nurse (1930)

 Oh, be still my heart!!

Practice Makes Perfect

In 1930, Bob's awkward approach to love making is not appreciated at all by June Walker. 

                                        War Nurse (1930)
 
By 1936, Bob had mastered his moves after extensive research and practice.  He knows how to get Myrna into his arms without a moment's protest.  Lucky, lucky lady ...

                                   Petticoat Fever (1936)

Looking Forward to April 16th (And Not Just Because it is the Day After Taxes!)

War Nurse (1930) is certainly not one of Bob's better movies.  However, it is a great movie for Bob watching, just enjoying the ever so young, slender and handsome Mr. Montgomery.  The main drawback is that Bob isn't on the screen enough.  I know, the movie is titled War Nurse, so why would one expect him to be in every scene, but...  At least the movie did produce some of the best stills.

That's June Walker as "Babs" sitting next to Lt. Wally O'Brien.  Wally??  Does Bob look like a Wally to you?  Dill, Sheridan or even Dascom, yes, but Wally?? 

Anyway, I am excited about finally being able to replace my VHS recording of the movie.  Looking forward to watching a clear print, so I can enjoy young Mr. Montgomery to the fullest.  

TCM is showing five Montgomery movies this month (times given are PDT):

              April 10 - 9:45 a.m., Hide-Out (1934)

              April 16 - 7:00 a.m.,  War Nurse (1930)

              April 23 - 5:00 p.m., They Were Expendable (1945)

              April 28 - 6:30 a.m., Free and Easy (1930)

              April 28 - 12:30 p.m. Night Flight (1933)

All Those Sports Cars Were Expensive

This ad has the director and cast of War Nurse on the set with everyone enjoying a Coca Cola.  It is an interesting ad, but it is difficult to imagine a 1930 studio movie crew relaxing on the set taking a  break.  Hey, it is difficult imagining the 26-year-old Robert Montgomery actually drinking a Coke ... well, maybe as a mixer.

 

 Now, Bob smoking a Lucky Strike, that's a given.  Unfortunately.  Death from cancer, not a pleasant way to go.  In a movie he would have died in his sleep at his estate of extreme old age, but reality won out. 

From War Nurse to South Pacific

June Walker, Bob's co-star in War Nurse, was primarily a stage actress in the 1920s and 1930s.  Glad she made her one movie of the 1930s with Bob, they made a cute couple.

                                       War Nurse (1930)

June's son was John Kerr who played Lt. Cable in South Pacific.  He was a handsome young man ...  obviously good genes.  John died this February 2nd, a day before the anniversay of his Mom's death. 

                                  South Pacific (1958)

Ah, the magic of movies.  They may have passed and left this mortal coil, but on film and in our memories young Mr. Kerr will always be romancing France Nuyen, and June will always be looking up into Bob's smiling face.

One More War Nurse Still

War Nurse (1930) is one of those movies where the still photos are far better than the movie itself.  It's interesting how they have handled the problem of framing a tallish man talking to a seated woman.  That can't be a comfortable position for Bob.  Love the desk.  It is not exactly what you would expect to find in a WWI nursing station, but this is MGM after all.

Bob at his Skinniest

                                          War Nurse (1930)

I put it off as long as I could ... had to step on the scale.  Oh, Lordy ... or should I say Lardy.  Now begins the difficult time of the holiday season, putting the brakes on the overeating so I still have some room left in my clothes to handle all those Christmas goodies.  At least that is my goal every year, and one of these years ...

In 1930 Bob did not have to worry about too many cookies.  Without the coat in the above picture, he would look almost as skinny as the tree.  As the years passed, he would have to battle extra poundage like most people.  But at this time ... Lordy. 

War Nurse (1930)

June Walker always make me think of Mrs. Montgomery

War Nurse (1939)

I was pleasantly surprised to find this clip. War Nurse isn't exactly a film you see played on TV everyday:

Photo Friday - War Nurse

In the middle of the war, the aviators & nurses find time for a night on the town somewhere in France.

Larger photo

I love the character names in this film: Babs, Wally, Kansas, Joy, Cushie...

Anita Page's Thoughts On Bob

Anita Page starred in 4 Robert Montgomery films over her short career: Free and Easy, Our Blushing Brides, War Nurse, and The Easiest Way. Alternative Film Blog has posted an interview (in 2 parts) with author Allan Ellenberger, who interviewed Anita for his Ramon Novarro book.


One of the questions posted to Allan was what were Anita's thoughts on her on-screen romantic partners. On Robert Montgomery:

"I thought Robert had a marvelous manner of acting and a great line delivery. I once asked him how he achieved this style and he said 'stage work.' He told me that learning basic acting is essential, but real technique must come from working before a live audience. You learn how to time comic line-delivery, as well as develop your acting skills.

"When I asked if he played people like himself, he said 'no, no. You get costumes that are entirely different.' He also said that was one way to get rid of stage fright. It helps keep you anonymous with [the] audience — so if you forgot your lines, they wouldn't recognize you when you became another character. You were less nervous. I never forgot Bob's tip that day on the set, so when the door was open for me to do a live performance, I jumped on it!"