Ever Since Eve (1937).

Ever Since Eve (1937). Romantic comedy. Cast Marion Davies (in her final film) and Robert Montgomery.

Marge Winton, finds herself quiting yet another job to avoid the advances of her boss. She decides to give herself a unmake over, by wearing a dark wig, glasses, and a unflattering dress. Book publisher Abigail Belldon, thinks she is perfect and hires her as a secretary for writer, Freddy Matthews. Freddy, would rather go out and party with his girlfriend Camille, than work on his novel. Abigail, has already sold the film rights, and the deadline for the film studio is fast approaching.

Marge, begins to fall in love with Freddy and when she thinks about sabotaging his relationship with Camille, she thinks it is better to leave.

Freddy shows up at her apartment unexpectedly and sees her without her disguise, so she pretends to be her roommate Sadie. They spend the evening and part of the morning falling in love.

Marge pretends to be leaving town for a few weeks, but, her plan backfires, when Freddie chases after her. Camille finds out and is not far behind. At the hotel, Marge registers first as the secretary, then as Sadie, to keep Freddie from finding out and finishes the novel on her own. Will Freddie ever realizes that they are one and the same?

Marion, really looks like she's having fun in this movie.

Frank McHugh (May 23, 1898 – September 11, 1981). Warner Bros. hired him as a contract player in 1930. McHugh played everything from lead actor to sidekick. He performed in over 150 films and TV shows. He was a close friend of James Cagney and performed in more Cagney movies than any other actor. He performed with him in eleven movies between 1932 and 1953. Their friendship lasted until McHugh's death.

Forsaking All Others (1934).

Forsaking All Others (1934). Director: W.S. Van Dyke. Cast: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery. Screenplay was written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, which was based upon a 1933 play by Edward Barry Roberts and Frank Morgan Cavett. Forsaking All Others is the sixth of eight movies between Crawford and Gable.


Mary Clay, is about to marry Dillon Todd, who she has known since childhood. That same day, Jeff Williams, another childhood friend, returns from Spain and is also looking forward to proposing to Mary. When Jeff learns that Mary and Dill, are about to marry he decides it is best to keep his feelings to himself and agrees to give the bride away. He orders cornflowers for Mary, knowing that they are her favorite flowers. The night before the wedding, Dill runs off and marries Connie Barnes, a woman he met in Europe a couple of months before. Mary with her aunt Paula decide to spend some time in the country and when Jeff and their friend Shep visit, she says she is completely cured. Soon Dill, realizes his mistake, begs to see Mary again. Jeff warns Mary not to get involved with a married man, but she agrees to see Dill. While riding in the country, their car breaks down, a rainstorm starts, and they find shelter in Paula's country home. What will Mary Clay decide to do?

Another wonderful film pairing of Crawford and Gable, in a romantic triangle which seems to become the norm for most of Crawford's films from the 1930s. I also thought it was a very believable story and maybe even a little predictable. It was also fun to see an early performance by Rosalind Russell.


Frances Drake, was performing as a nightclub dancer in London when she made her first film performance under her birth name of Frances Dean, including Meet My Sister (1933) and The Jewel (1933). Returning to America in 1934, she began coaching with opera singer and actress Marguerite Namara.

Robert Montgomery and Norma Shear.

Robert Montgomery, was most often paired with glamorous Norma Shearer. They co-starred in five films between 1929 and 1934; their best teaming were "The Divorcee" (1930) and "Private Lives" (1931).

Robert Montgomery and Norma Shear list of films:



1.Their Own Desire(1929).
A young woman is heartbroken that her father is divorcing her mother in to marry another woman. Her own feelings change, however, when she falls in love with a young man who turns out to be the son of her father's other woman.





2.The Divorcee (1930).
Chester Morris plays a roving husband who has a affair with another woman—and tells his wife it does not mean "a thing". When his wife, Norma Shearer, sets out to having her own affair with his best friend, the husband suddenly discovers that it might actually mean something after all.





3.Strangers May Kiss (1930).
Lisbeth, thinks that marriage is old fashioned. She has two men in her life; Steve, who wants to marry her and Alan, who wants her to travel with him. Even though her friends and family do not think it is a good idea. Lisbeth travels to Mexico with Alan where she is happy until she learns that he has a wife in Paris and that he is leaving for his next job without her. Heartbroken, she spends a few years in Europe being the life of the party. While her reputation is well known, her lifestyle has not made her happy.


4.Private Lives (1931).
Elyot Chase and Amanda Prynne, divorced and are not happy to learn they are both honeymooning with their new spouses at the same hotel on the French Riviera.








5.Rip Tide (1932).
Is about the life in high society. Mary who accidentally meets Lord Phillip Rexford at a party Mary marries him and settles into a comfortable life, only to find herself torn between her martial obligations as Lady of the manor and the more exciting life with playboy, Tommie Trent. What results is scandal.

Private Lives (1931)

Private Lives (1931). Comedy. Director: Sidney Franklin. The screenplay by Hanns Kraly and Richard Schayer is based on the 1930 play of the same title by Noel Coward. Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, Reginald Denny and Una Merkel.


Elyot Chase and Amanda Prynne, divorced are upset to learn they both are on a honeymoon with their new spouses at the same hotel on the French Riviera.Elyot becomes annoyed with Sybil's questions about Amanda, while Amanda wishes her new husband Victor would stop talking about Elyot. When Elyot run into Amanda on the terrace, he insists he and Sybil immediately depart for Paris, the same plan Amanda proposes to Victor.

Elyot and Amanda rekindle their relationship with a kiss and make a promise to each other to put an end to any future arguments. The two flee to St. Moritz, but before long they begin a argument that turns into a major fight about a record, which Amanda breaks over Elyot's head. Rushing out, Amanda meets Victor and Sybil, who have tracked them down. The two couples meet for breakfast the next day, but when Victor and Sybil begin to fight, What do Elyot and Amanda do?


I thought the performance that really made this film work was Norma Shearer. One of the few silent stars to make a full transition to sound. PRIVATE LIVES, maybe my favorite, Norma Shearer film.

A Trio of Birthdays...

Happy Birthday to three wonderful actors today:
Robert Montgomery (1904-1991):

As a child, Robert Montgomery enjoyed a privileged life, as his father was the president of the New York Rubber Co. When he died, the fortune was gone and Robert worked at a number of jobs. He later went to New York to be a writer, and on the advice of a friend tried acting. He worked with George Cukor on the stage and his first film, at MGM, was So This Is College (1929). When Norma Shearer picked him to be her leading man in Private Lives (1931), he was set. He played many likable characters over the years, covering the gamut from very poor to very rich. In 1935, he became President of the Screen Actors Guild. His stay with MGM lasted 16 years, and was only interrupted by WWII when he joined the navy. He saw action in both Europe and the Pacific. He returned to MGM in 1945 and co-starred with John Wayne in the John Ford-directed They Were Expendable (1945) and then made his directorial debut with Lady in the Lake (1947) (although he had directed a few scenes, uncredited, in They Were Expendable (1945) when John Ford took ill). He then left MGM to become an independent director, preferring work behind the camera instead of in front. He was a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities in 1947 during the McCarthy era and then spent most of his time on television and stage. His popular show, "Robert Montgomery Presents" (1950), was where daughter Elizabeth Montgomery (who later gained fame as beautiful witch Samantha on TV's popular "Bewitched" (1964)) got her first acting job.


Robert Montgomery Photos

Raymond Burr ( 1917-1993):

Born Raymond William Stacy Burr on 21 May 1917 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Burr spent most of his early life traveling. As a youngster, his father moved his family to China, where the elder Burr worked as a trade agent. When the family returned to Canada, Raymond's parents separated. He and his mother moved to Vallejo, California, where she raised him with the aid of her parents. As he got older, Burr began to take jobs to support his mother, younger sister and younger brother. He took jobs as a ranch hand in Roswell, New Mexico; as a deputy sheriff; a photo salesman; and even as a singer in night clubs.

In World War II, Burr served in the navy. In Okinawa, he was shot in the stomach and sent home. In 1946, Burr made his film debut in San Quentin (1946). From there, he appeared in more than 90 films before landing the role of defense attorney "Perry Mason" (1957) . In 1993, after a battle with cancer Burr died on 12 September 1993 at his ranch home.


Raymond Burr Photos

and finally Kay Kendall (1926-1959) leukemia:

Kay is the sister of actor Cavan Kendall.
Kay met and fell in love with Rex Harrison, who was married at the time, after they appeared together in The Constant Husband (1955). Rex learned of Kay's leukemia from her doctor a couple of years later. He divorced actress Lilli Palmer and quickly married Kay in 1957, agreeing with the doctor never to tell her the reason for her failing health. They lived the good life up until the end.
Cousin of Jack Cardiff
Sister of Kim Campbell
Actress Jill St. John has said that Kendall was her idol.
 My Favorite of her films include Les Girls with Gene Kelly and The Reluctant Debutante with Sandra Dee.

Kay Kendall Photos

THE DIVORCEE (1930)- Pre-Code.

The Divorcee (1930) Drama. Based on the novel Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott. Director: Robert Z. Leonard. Cast: Chester Morris, Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, Conrad Nagel, and Florence Eldridge. Other movies with the same title were released in 1917, 1919 and 1969.

Shearer was not first choice for the lead role in The Divorcee, because it was believed that she didn't have enough sex appeal. It was only after Shearer arranged a photo session with George Hurrell and her husband saw the result, that he gave her the role. The original choice was Joan Crawford, who never forgave Shearer for winning the role.

Norma Shearer's character is very strong willed and is the one to propose marriage to her boyfriend at the beginning of the film. On their third wedding anniversary, Jerry learns that Ted has been having an affair with another woman. Brokenhearted, she turns to Don, her husband's best friend, for comfort. Ted refuses to accept her affairs with other men, so they divorce. After several affairs, Jerry meets Paul and goes on vacation with him on his yacht. When she realizes she does not love him, she returns to Paris, on New Year's Eve. Will she find Ted?

I really enjoyed watching The Divorcee which takes a look at the double standard. So far This is one of my personal favorite films of the Pre-Code Era because it's exactly the kind of film that the Code was against.

A little CHRISTMAS NOIR: LADY IN THE LAKE (1947)

Lady in the Lake (1947), a film that was the first directorial film of actor Robert Montgomery who also starred in the film. Based on the 1944 Raymond Chandler novel The Lady in the Lake. Cast: Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon and Jayne Meadows.

The storyline was a murder mystery similar to many others of the time. Except the entire film was seen from the viewpoint of the main character, detective Philip Marlowe, who was played by Montgomery. The movie also, did not have a musical sound track, which very unusual for that time.

The story begins on Christmas Eve, when Publications editor Adrienne meets with Marlowe, who offers him a job as a detective instead of a writer. She wants him to find the missing wife of her boss, Mr. Adrienne and wants them to hurry on with their divorce so she can get married. Marlowe, accepts the job and goes looking for clues at the home of the wife's lover, Chris. When Marlowe, gets knocked out and picked up for drunk driving, he decides to drop the case when he is threatened by the police.. He returns when he learns that his wife maybe to blame for the murder of the mysterious lady in the lake.



MONTGOMERY FUN FACTS:

During World War II, he joined the Navy, becoming lieutenant commander.

Montgomery has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Montgomery had two children, daughter actress Elizabeth Montgomery(Bewitched), and son, Robert Montgomery, Jr.

Jayne Meadows (born September 27, 1920), most famous movies include: Song of the Thin Man (with William Powell and Myrna Loy), David and Bathsheba (with Gregory Peck, Susan Hayward and Raymond Massey), Lady in the Lake (with Robert Montgomery and Audrey Totter), Enchantment (with David Niven and Teresa Wright), and City Slickers (as the voice of Billy Crystal's mother).

Meadows was a regular panelist on the original version of I've Got a Secret and an occasional panelist on What's My Line?, the latter alongside husband Steve Allen. She also appeared on the NBC interview program Here's Hollywood. During the early days of the live entertainment scene in Las Vegas, the Allens occasionally worked together as an act.

She was married to Steve Allen from 1954 until his death in 2000.