It's Bob's Birthday Week - 7 Great Smiles!

May 21st is Bob's birthday.  For this year's week-long celebration, I thought I would zero in on my favorite Montgomery attribute - one great smile!  Seldom have I enjoyed doing the blog more than this evening, going through Bob photos to use for the week's entries.  Narrowing them down to 7, now that was a bit of a challenge.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

This is Bob taking in a polo match at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on December 21, 1931.  The young Mr. Montgomery is, as always, superbly dressed for the occasion.  To think men used to wear a suit and tie to a sporting event ... how 20th Century.

              

One Could Only Guess Whose Head Bob Wished Were in the Box

Night Must Fall was released April 30, 1937.  A mere 80 years ago.  And after all those years, it is still so enjoyable to watch.  I do believe that is the definition of a "good" movie.  

Bob put a lot of effort into his role, taking full advantage of one of the few good roles in his career.  I just love watching him in this.  He is totally into the character, a different man even when simply standing.  And the facial expressions ... Danny with his mind running a mile a minute, thinking darker and darker thoughts.  Love it.

     Rosalind Russell, Bob, Matthew Boulton and the infamous hat box
 
It's just so irksome that MGM (and yes, that dastardly Louis B.) just put him right back into roles Bob could do in his sleep.  I mean, Bob is nominated for Best Actor for his first serious role ... to think what more he could have accomplished if only ...

And there are all the great promotional shots of Bob and Roz, in character as Danny and Olivia.  Even the stills are first rate.  The photo below is a favorite of mine.  It's the mirror ... two Bobs to enjoy!

                               Bob, Dame May Whitty and Roz

Just Glad This One is Over

I do believe Bob, here portraying the character Matt Saxon in The Saxon Charm (1948), has captured how I feel at this moment in time.  I woke up with a headache, which I still retain.  A cold/allergy attack is beating me down.  And my internet connection has been going in and out while trying to do this entry.  (Spectrum bought out the local cable company recently ... the rates have gone up and the service is down ... big surprise!) 

Looking for the bright side ... I have had this photo for some time, finally able to use it.  It's the tie.  Love it.   And a matching handkerchief ... so Bob. 

                         

Bob & Three Starlets ... Life Could Be So Tough

Yes ... I am sure Bob spent his time riding a bicycle along with three starlets on the studio grounds.  And, I am sure Bob, along with all the contract players, just loved the publicity part of their jobs.  Big stars had to do it, as well as the lowly starlets and young Bobs-to-be.

This photo was taken in 1933, used as a publicity shot for Night Flight.  The three young ladies are Jean Parker, Irene Hervey and Jean Howard.  I found it rather surprising that all three had successful lives, an unusual happenstance for young contract players. 

Jean Parker was very busy as a supporting player in movies in the 30s and 40s, switching over to TV and Broadway in the 50s.  Irene Hervey was also a successful actress, keeping busy into the 1970s.  She married Alan Jones, and was the mother of singer Jack Jones.  Jean Howard basically quit the movies in the 30s, and found her success as the socialite spouse of super agent turned powerful producer, Charles K. Feldman.  She later published a book, Jean Howard's Hollywood, a photographic memoir of her life in the 40s and 50s, featuring stars and other famous people of the era.  And all three ladies lived very long lives, Jean lived to 90 and both Irene and Jean to 89.  Yes, three fortunate starlets, all starting their careers riding with Bob.  Not bad. 

Bob, Joan, Bill, George and a Camera

George Hurrell produced a large number of promotional stills for The Last of Mrs. Cheney (1937), featuring the stars; Joan Crawford, William Powell and Bob.  There is always the challenge for the photographer to come up with new poses, and Hurrell came up with some, for the most part, interesting ones.  I personally like the first photo below.  The three stars enjoyed working together on the movie, and the good feelings appear to have carried over to the photo session.
 

And I like the Bob and Joan interaction in this one.  Not sure exactly what Bill's role is.  I'm guessing he's thinking something along the lines of, "It's almost over, I've done stranger things in my career."

Now this one....what exactly is Bob doing watching Joan and Bill embrace?  I mean, he has his hands on her, encouraging her.  The photo itself I like, just try not to study it too much!

Whatever, they are all great photos.  The combination of a great photographer and three photogenic stars just can't be beaten.  All that talent in one room.  How nifty.