When you can't afford the originals ...

Think Small, Think Trade cards

   Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, Alice Brady and Bob in When Ladies Meet 

               Bob and Rosalind Russell in Night Must Fall (1937)

            Bob, Roz and Alan Dinehart in Fast and Loose (1939)

And, when you definitely do not have the extra money for an original Hurrell, try this trade card.

       Bob, Joan Crawford and Franchot Tone in No More Ladies (1935)

Pre-Code Bob Times 8 ...Just Great!

 Ah, gee, aren't they cute.  Dorothy Jordan was such a petite lady.  Check out her right hand resting on top of Bob's rather large hand.  Almost doesn't look real.  

               Bob and Dorothy Jordan in Love in the Rough (1930)

Hope you got a chance to watch some of Bob's movies from Monday's mini marathon.  So far, four of them will be available to stream on TCM until mid-August:  Love in the Rough, Strangers May Kiss (1931), Untamed (1929), and Lovers Courageous (1932).  The Divorcee (1930) is available only to July 21st.  For some reason, Another Language (1933) and Private Lives (1931) are shown as available to be streamed, but the ending dates are not included in the write-up.  And When Ladies Meet (1934) is not listed at all.  Not that I'm complaining.  Overall, this summer is proving to be just great for Bob movies.  Thanks again to the programmer at TCM!  

Thanks to TCM for a Very Pleasant Surprise!

Ta- Da!!  Coming this Monday, July 14th on TCM:  Daytime Theme - Robert Montgomery Pre-Codes!  Eight, yes EIGHT!! Bob films.  From Untamed (1929) to When Ladies Meet (1934), watch a young and eager youth develop into an excellent actor and handsome leading man.  

                Bob and Myrna Loy in When Ladies Meet (1934)

Now, I probably won't make it up for Lovers Courageous (1932) which begins the celebration at 6:45 a.m. PDT ... but the second half looks doable.  Hopefully the streaming schedule is good for all eight movies.  The movies in order shown, all times PDT.  

         6:45 a.m.     Lovers Courageous (1932)

         8:15 a.m.     Private Lives (1931)

         9:45 a.m.     Untamed (1929)

        11:15 a.m.    Love in the Rough (1930)

        12:45 p.m.   The Divorcee (1930)

         2:15 p.m.    When Ladies Meet (1934)

         4:00 p.m.     Another Language (1933)

         5:30 p.m.     Strangers May Kiss (1931)

Hope everyone has the chance to see a favorite once more or discover a new one. 

So Clear Your Busy Schedules on May 21 and Watch Some Bob!

 Gorgeous photo.  As is the subject!  

                      By Hurrell for Blondie of the Follies (1932)

TCM has come through with a seven-movie Montgomery marathon for his birthday!  Mr. Montgomery would have appreciated that.   

 The list of movies with show times in PDT:

                 6:00 a.m. Piccadilly Jim (1936)

                 8:00 a.m. The Last of Mrs. Cheney (1937)

                10:00 a.m. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

                12:00 p.m. They Were Expendable (1945)

                2:30 p.m. Night Must Fall (1937)***

                4:30 p.m. When Ladies Meet (1933)

                6:00 p.m. The Lady in the Lake (1946)

*** The TCM schedule lists the 1964 version of Night Must Fall.  I do hope someone catches that error!  

When Ladies Meet is the only pre-code movie.  This is a collection of Bob movies wherein he has developed into an excellent actor.  From a dramatic thriller (Night Must Fall), to a screwball comedy (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), to a dramatic war movie (They Were Expendable), Mr. Montgomery simply excelled.

And, yes, the photograph does not match up with the rest of the post. But ain't it sweet!

Lucky Bob, Supported by Beautiful Ladies

 In When Ladies Meet (1933) Alice Brady portrays the friend who owns a beautiful summer "cottage" in New Jersey, large enough for the entire group.  She is 42 years old in this rather nice photograph taken in 1935.   

Maureen O'Sullivan is 21 years old in this gorgeous photo taken by Ted Allan.  She co-starred with Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932), proving her body was as beautiful as her face.  Maureen teamed with Bob in Hide-Out (1934), my personal choice of Bob's most beautiful leading lady.  Such a great pairing.  There really should have been a Hide-Out, Part 2 made.  

Madge Evans starred with Bob in four movies between 1932 and 1936.  They were a handsome couple who simply jelled on screen.  I particularly enjoyed her performance as the ex-wife in Made on Broadway (1933).  

Frank Morgan Over Robert Montgomery ... Really?!

 Birthday salutations to a favorite Bob co-star, Myrna Loy.  She was born August 2nd, 1905 in Helena, Montana, where she would be buried with family in 1993 at the age of 88.  The bright, witty and independent Ms. Loy and Bob were good friends when making When Ladies Meet (1933) and Petticoat Fever (1936).  Unfortunately, politics took its toll and the two parted ways completely in the late 1940s.  Ah, shucks ... but they looked so good together!  

Love the set used in the photograph.  The background matte, the lush flowers, a paved walkway ... just nifty.  

                  Bob and Myrna Loy in When Ladies Meet (1933)

Myrna and Bob and Alice

 Alice Brady, who had appeared extensively in early silents and on Broadway, made her first talkie in 1933, When Ladies Meet.  According to Myrna Loy's autobiography, "Myrna Loy:  Being and Becoming", Myrna, Bob and Alice hung out together during the movie, and a great time was had by all.  Myrna said Bob really liked Alice.  I guess we get to imagine exactly what she meant by that!  

                 Bob and Alice Brady in When Ladies Meet (1933)

Alice was born November 2, 1892 in New York City, which is were she died in 1939 of cancer.  She was only 46.  Much, much too young.  

A Good Summer Day Ends falling asleep during a Bob Movie, followed by Pleasant Dreams

 I was putzing on the computer when I checked out TCM and discovered they are showing two of Bob's films, a pleasant surprise.  The Easiest Way (1931) will be available to stream until Sept. 21st.  And When Ladies Meet (1933) can be seen until Sept. 27th.  

Bought a stack of 20+ stills from The Easiest Way recently.  Amazingly, most are double weight with a matte finish...just beautiful prints.  Will share over time, starting with this very romantic photo of Bob and Connie, taken in Yosemite.  I'm so envious of her.  

      Robert Montgomery and Constance Bennett in The Easiest Way

Happy Birthday, Myrna!

 Myrna Williams was born August 2, 1905 in Helena, Montana.  In 1918 her dad died, Mom moved the family to Los Angeles and Myrna obtained a last name more fitting a young Hollywood vamp ... Loy. By the time Bob and Myrna were co-stars in When Ladies Meet (1933), Myrna had already appeared in 75 movies, compared to Bob's 25, and she was 5 years younger!   I mean, she hadn't even started The Thin Man series as yet and stays busy in films into her 70's.  Quite an impressive career for a totally impressive lady.  

Poor Constance Wanted Bob, Got Franchot

 From the November 18, 1933, issue of Picture Show Magazine, one picture story of When Ladies Meet (1933) and two short articles featuring Mr. Montgomery.  

Wonder what happened to "Two Thieves" with Gable.  Sounds like a much more interesting project for Bob than Moulin Rouge.

To My Darling Wife, Julie

I rather enjoy watching Night Flight (1933).  For me, the few short scenes featuring Montgomery are such a pleasure that I'm still grinning through the rest of the movie.  The script can be a snore, poor Helen Hayes gets to wade through much of the melodramatic morass.  The disappointment of Night Flight (1933) is not having the stars appear together.  Helen and Clark Gable are married, but their screen time together is comprised of Helen looking longingly at an 8x10 of flyer Clark.  Gable's appearance is limited to sitting in his plane's cockpit looking brave.  Myrna Loy has a scene with hubby pilot William Gargan (who?).  Bob's scenes are with Lionel Barrymore.  I mean, it's too evident that this movie was filmed around the filming schedules of the stars.  It was filmed March to July of 1933.  In this five month period, Bob did his scenes for Night Flight, filmed When Ladies Meet and Another Language, and left town for his summer vacation in New York. 

 

But the entrance Auguste Pellerin (Montgomery) makes is choice.   Love it.  TCM is showing Night Flight today at 3:00 p.m. EST.  Or better yet, pickup the DVD on eBay with the super nifty cover. 

Now Frank Looked Good in a Mustache ... But Not Bob

Happy Birthday to a favorite, Frank Morgan.  Great actor, nice guy.

 --- Mr. Morgan was born Francis Wuppermann on June 1, 1890, in New York City.  His best early career move was changing his name.  He was the youngest of 11 children, poor Mrs. Wuppermann wth all those little Wuppermann's running around.  (Yeah, I love that name!)

--- Frank was a member of the "Irish Mafia" in Hollywood.  Evidently he was adopted by Cagney, O'Brien, Tracy, and the other Irishmen, since he was of Spanish, German and English heritage.  However, being an alcoholic who carried his own mini-bar in a briefcase to the studio with him, he fit in quite well with the others.

--- He appeared in four of Bob's films; When Ladies Meet (1933), Trouble for Two (1936), Piccadilly Jim (1936) and The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937).  He competed with Bob for the same lady in Ladies and Cheyney, and was Bob's father in Piccadilly.  Note, the last three movies were in a row for Bob, Frank made others as well.  That's a lot of time spent together, hope they were friends!

Marathon, Part 2 (One Day To Go!)

And now for the other five movies being shown tomorrow ...

Untamed (1929) receives a 4.6 rating on IMDB.  Ouch.  Granted, the movie is one of those rather awkward transition from silent to sound movies.  The use of titles for scene changes at the beginning is right out of the silents.  Hey, we are still learning about sound films, give us a chance!  If you are a Crawford fan, you will enjoy the beginning.  Joan, as "Bingo", gets to both sing and dance.  It is interesting to see musical numbers being used in the early sound pictures, whether it had anything to do with the rest of the movie or not.  Even Bob has to sing a love song to Bingo.  Too much.

I would suggest going 21 minutes into the movie and watch it from Bob's entrance on, the movie improves greatly.  This is Bob's third movie.  His transition is from stage to the talkies and he still has room for improvement.  But it is simply fun to watch him, the young, very exuberant Bob, still working on his basics, the way he walks, what to do with his hands when standing still.  The boxing scene is great fun, with some attempt of disguising just how skinny and small-framed the young Bob is.  But he can throw a lot of punches very fast!

Three years later, Bob has improved significantly.  In But the Flesh is Weak (1932), he has become the Bob we know so well ... so handsome, elegant and smooth.  The rating is only 5.7, probably so low because of the main plot of Bob and his Dad being gigolos with the quest of Bob marrying  a wealthy woman.  Yes, not exactly politically correct these days, but it was all fun in 1932 having men in the usual role held by women, of looking for a sugar daddy.  The beginning has a great scene of Bob preparing for and taking a bath, do watch that if nothing else.  I have always felt the big weakness of the film was Bob's co-star, Nora Gregor.  She was quite popular in Europe, but did not catch on in Hollywood.

                   Bob and Nora Gregor in But the Flesh is Weak

In Made on Broadway (1933), Bob gets to play a different role.  He is a fast-talking, streetwise fixer, not his usual suave, upper crust self.  He meets his match in Sally Eilers, and the two work to make her into a celebrity.  He begins to fall in love with her, while his wife, Madge Evans, waits patiently to see if he returns to her.  Bob is quite good in the role, interesting to watch.  IMDB's rating is 6.5.  That's fair.

In the same year, Bob made When Ladies Meet.  Based on a very sophisticated and successful play, the movie has simply a great cast; Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, Frank Morgan, Alice Brady along with Bob.  It is a witty play about current day morality.  Myrna is in love with Frank who is married to Ann, while Bob is in love with Myrna and will do anything to get Frank out of the picture.  It sounds strange to have Myrna in love with Frank rather than Bob, but Mr. Morgan makes it believable.  The laughs are provided by Alice Brady, and the "country home" set by Cedric Gibbons is amazingly beautiful.  I seriously want that home for myself.  The movie's rating is 6.9.  The main complaint would be that it could be viewed as being too talky. 

Lastly, Trouble for Two (1936) reflects being made after they began enforcing the Hayes Act.  Bob gets to kiss Roz Russell gingerly and that's about it on the sex front.  It is based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Suicide Club", and is primarily a somewhat strange mystery, with Bob and Roz as European royals, and Frank Morgan (again!) as Bob's watch dog.  It is rather an adjustment for me watching Bob with a mustache and a curly wig!  It is also an under use of Ms. Russell, as often happens.

My, but it is getting late (or early, depending on your perspective!)  Hope my rambles make sense.  Remember, Monday is Bob's Day! 

The Countdown Begins ... 3 Days To Go!

This coming Monday, May 21st, is Mr. Montgomery's birthday.  I'm glad I'm retired and don't have to worry about using up a vacation day (or more likely, sick day), because TCM will be having a Montgomery marathon ... 9 Bob movies!!  Fantastic.  The only drawback is that it's a day marathon, as in no movies shown in the evening except the 6:00 EST showing of Night Must Fall (1939).  But am I complaining?  No.  I am just thrilled that TCM remembered Mr. Montgomery at all.  My hugs and kisses go out to the beautiful soul in programming who remembers our beautiful man.

So, get those DVRs warmed up and ready to go!  Here's the schedule ... all times are CST (for a change..)

                 5:00 a.m. - Untamed (1929) 
                 6:30 a.m. - Private Lives (1931)
                 8:00 a.m. - But the Flesh is Weak (1932)
                 9:30 a.m. - Made on Broadway (1933)
               10:45 a.m. - When Ladies Meet (1933)
               12:15 p.m. - Hide-Out (1934) 
                 1:45 p.m. - Trouble for Two (1936)
                 3:15 p.m. - Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)
                 5:00 p.m. - Night Must Fall (1937) 

Overall, a good selection of Bob's movies.  What a way to spend his day!

I am thinking about doing a couple posts this weekend to discuss briefly the pros/cons of the movies being shown.  I generally do not "review" Bob's movies, since I am so completely biased.  But, perhaps I can provide input to help you decide which ones to be sure to catch.  Of course, I'm addressing those of you who have not seen all of Bob's movies.  The old pros out there can just ignore my ramblings, as usual. 

Not Bob Taylor, Nor Ben Hogan

Few things give me more pleasure than discovering a new and nifty Montgomery photo ... particularly one that was identified incorrectly as "Bob Taylor" and cost me all of $2.  Yes, that just made my day.  The correct Bob is wearing the outfit he wore for the golfing scene with Ann Harding in When Ladies Meet (1933).  I'm assuming no golf ball was used in the making of this photo, or the photographer was a lot braver than me! 

Four Days To Go For Bob's Day on TMC

Don't Forget!!  Bob's Day on TMC is this coming Monday, August 22nd.  14 of his movies, just great.  And they have done a very good job in their selections.  I would wish they had included Petticoat Fever (1936), Bob at his prime in a delightful romp with Myrna Loy, and Once More, My Darling (1949), older Bob poking fun at his movie career and reputation as a ladies man on the screen.  But, hey, there are only 24 hours in a day.  Next time, right TMC?!  When you also bring Letty Lynton back to the screen where it belongs!! 

The first seven movies shown are in chronological order, starting with The Divorcee (1929), one of the five movies he made with Norma Shearer that gave him such a boost to his career.  It is certainly understandable why Norma would chose the 25-year-old Bob for a fling, to get back at Chester Morris.  
 

                        The Divorcee (1929) with Norma Shearer

The Man in Possession is just a delightful pre-code romp, straight to the bedroom and torn undergarments.  A definite must see if you haven't already. 

                  The Man in Possession (1931) with Irene Purcell

In a more serious vein, Bob is injured in an auto accident and spends much of his screen time in bed in Faithless.  It is very much Tallulah Bankhead's movie, with Bob looking ever so handsome as her near death husband. 

                       Faithless (1932) with Tallulah Bankhead

When Ladies Meet is an ensemble movie, with Ann Harding and Myrna Loy in the primary roles, given great support by Alice Brady, Frank Morgan and, of course, our Bob.  It is a tad chatty, but quite interesting, especially for the time. 

  When Ladies Meet (1933) with Myrna Loy, Alice Brady, Ann Harding       and Frank Morgan

The Mystery of Mr. X is a refreshing change for Bob.  He portrays a jewel thief who tracks down a mysterious murderer, even disguising himself as a Bobbie while chasing Mr. X in an exchange of gunfire.  The movie is not shown very often, so have your DVR ready. 

                                The Mystery of Mr. X (1934)

One of my all time favorite movies is Hide-Out.  Bob and Maureen make an incredibly cute couple.  Such a delightful movie.  This movie calls out for a sequel.  We need to find out just what happens to Lucky and Pauline!

                       Hide-Out (1934) with Maureen O'Sullivan

Piccadilly Jim is the fifth and last of the movies Bob makes with Madge Evans, a great co-star for Bob.  I have always thought it would be great to see them together in a movie made near the end of Bob's career.  It is difficult for me to imagine older Bob with Norma Shearer or Joan Crawford.  Anyway, any movie with Eric Blore is worth watching. 

                           Piccadilly Jim (1936) with Eric Blore

 I'm running out of gas here ...  hopefully, I'll continue with the remaining seven movies tomorrow. 

A Green Dressing Gown and Yellow Scarf .... It Takes a Montgomery to Carry That Off!

Frank Morgan was a superb actor.  He co-starred with Bob in four movies starting with When Ladies Meet (1933), in which he portrays the married man with whom Myrna Loy wants to have an affair while putting aside the advances of her avid suitor Bob.  In Piccadilly Jim (1935) Morgan takes on the role of Bob's father and in Trouble for Two (1936) becomes a subordinate and fellow adventurer as the Colonel to Bob's Prince.  Lastly, he appears once again as Bob's competitor in The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937), both men pursuing Joan Crawford.  And he is totally believable in all four roles. 

It is understandable that Morgan's main claim to fame is his excellent performance in The Wizard of Oz, perhaps an Oscar nominee in any other year but the golden year of 1939.  The regret is that the one role overwhelms in popularity an entire career of excellent performances.   Frank Morgan died in 1949, only 59 years old.  There's another regret. 

Bob Competes With Frank Morgan for the Girl? Only in the Movies.

When Ladies Meet (1931) is included in the newly released Forbidden Hollywood, Vol. 9.  Bob co-stars with Myrna Loy, but it is definitely a Myrna Loy movie with able support from Ann Harding, Frank Morgan, Alice Brady and our Bob.  The 'forbidden' description applies because of Myrna's designs on married Frank Morgan.  Bob, her ardent suitor, seeks to break up the Loy/Morgan affair by setting up a meeting of Frank's wife Ann Harding with Loy.  Great scene, great performance by Harding.  The movie has a really excellent script adapted from a Rachel Crothers play with superb art direction by Cedric Gibbons ... most of the scenes are in a Connecticut country cottage, a home about which to dream.  

Myrna discusses discusses filming Ladies in her autobiography, Being and Becoming: 

Bob Montgomery adored Alice Brady, and, both being great wits, they made very entertaining companions.  We became a little coterie of three, occasionally going to Alice's house or having something to eat after work.  That kind of easy camaraderie is rare in pictures, everything goes so fast you very often don't get to know people.

 Now that had to be a fun trio. 

Bob's August Birthday Ladies, No. 1 Myrna Loy

Cuddling up on a cold winter's night quite often has its consequences.  My brother and I are consequences of this particular activity, August being my birth month and September my brother's.
This time-honored tradition was around well before our time.  For example, eight of Bob's ladies were born in August.  Thought a month long salute would be appropriate. 

Myrna Loy was born on August 2nd in Radersburg, Montana.  Lot of cold nights in Montana.  She and Bob made two movies together, When Ladies Meet (1933) and Petticoat Fever (1936).  (They were both in Night Flight (1933), but not together!)  They were a great couple on screen and close friends off screen ... until politics got in the way in the late 1940s.  (Is there really anything good about politics?!)  I need to watch Petticoat again to find out just what Bob and the Eskimo girl are up to in the still below. 

                                     Petticoat Fever (1936)

                                   Loy portrait made in 1935. 

                                     Broadway Bill (1934)

Broadway Bill was released as Strictly Confidential in England.  I don't see Myrna and Warner Baxter as a couple, just no way.  Would like to see the movie some day, just a great supporting cast.  Check out the movie on IMDB, in particular the list of uncredited performers.  I mean, Bess Flowers AND Ward Bond ... too much!

A Couples of Two

Some picspam to break up your week. And here's something to think about. Bob always on the left-hand side of photos? Smith is the only one below that seems to break the pattern. Ok, enough useless observation.

Biography of a Bachelor Girl - Ann Harding

Blondie of the Follies - Marion Davies

Fast and Loose - Rosalind Russell

Inspiration - Greta Garbo

Letty Lynton - Joan Crawford (and her dress)

Mr. and Mrs. Smith - Carole Lombard

When Ladies Meet - Myrna Loy