Was there anything he couldn't do?

I had not heard of "Nifty", a humor magazine loaded with cartoons of the time, when I ran across this issue from the early 1940's.  It was the unusual cartoon on the cover that caught my eye.  Eye-catching, isn't it.  But what got me to buy the magazine was the drawings on the back.

There are several drawings, one of special interest to you and me.

Not bad, for an actor.  But, of course, our Bob was a multi-talented man.  Very much so.  And Edward Everett Horton proves he had a good sense of humor!  (Hope Clark did, too...) 

 

MGM's Bob Returns to Films

"After four years of combat duty in South Pacific and European war zones, Lieutenant Commander Robert Montgomery has been placed on the Navy's inactive service list and is resuming his screen career."

Not exactly a "Wow, glad to have you back, Bob" kind of welcome.  Nor does Bob look joyous to be back.  Sad, yes.  Tired, yes.  Scared, probably.  He has gone through four tough years.  He has changed, his work environment has changed.  Having to figure out a new career at 41 can be scary.  Hang in there, Bob.  You'll have a few tough years, but you'll do just fine.  

Thank You, Mr. Montgomery

 Robert Montgomery, b. May 21, 1904, d. Sept. 27, 1981

View of the estate from the terrace of Bob's final home,            Hollow Brook in the Canaan Valley, CT

 

"He had played many roles in his lifetime, off-camera and on-; the slender playboy of Our Blushing Brides had become a no-longer-slender country squire, but the grace of the performer remained what it had always been:  a prompting to merriment, an occasion for applause."  **

You are missed, Mr. Montgomery.  The smile.  Ah, yes, the smile.  Thanks for sharing. 

 ** From an article by Brendan Gill appearing in the April, 1982 issue of  "Architectural Digest". 

Be Still My Foolish Heart

 Petticoat Fever (1936) starring Bob, Myrna Loy and Reginald Owen, is definitely one of my favs - makes me feel like a teenage girl when I sigh at the sight of Bob in full dress attire standing on the stairs.

Anyway, the trio is in Dascom's bedroom, Sir James (Owen) showing his disapproval of the whole situation.  Dascom (Bob) is staring at Sir James, wondering how he can get him out of the way and then win over Irene (Myrna).  Irene is simply bemused by it all.  

There is something else interesting about the photo.  Even in its 8 x 10 format, it's not immediately noted.  So I've enlarged a portion of the photo.

 Do you see it?

Kinda spooky catching Dascom in the mirror!

But, Gee, Hon ... Everyone Else Is Getting One!

 $1.00 was a lot of money in 1935.  I can just see the young ladies of Beloit, Wisconsin, lined up in the lobby of the Majestic Theatre while their now even poorer dates wait outside wondering how they got talked into another, to them, foolish purchase.  But all those photos of movie stars for only $1.00!  And recipes, too!

 I hope they weren't too disappointed.  It's not like the recipes were chosen by the stars.  You've just got photos, somewhat small and poorly printed, along with random recipes.  Although Braised Lamb does sound like a food New Englander Montgomery would have eaten.  "Neck of shoulder chops of Lamb" ... is that a common item these days?

P.S.  TCM is showing Private Lives today at 1:30 p.m. EDT.  Now that sounds like a fun mid-day break.