Robert Montgomery (actor)

Robert Montgomery
Montgomery in April 1939
Born Henry Montgomery Jr.
(1904-05-21)May 21, 1904
Fishkill Landing, New York (now Beacon, New York), U.S.
Died September 27, 1981(1981-09-27) (aged 77)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation Actor, director
Years active 1924–1960
Spouse(s)
Elizabeth Bryan Allen
(m. 1928; div. 1950)

Elizabeth Grant Harkness
(m. 1950)
Children 2, including Elizabeth Montgomery

Robert Montgomery (/mɒntˈɡʌməri/; born Henry Montgomery Jr.; May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer.[1] He was also the father of actress Elizabeth Montgomery.

Early life

Henry Montgomery Jr. was born in Fishkill Landing, New York (now Beacon, New York), to Henry Montgomery Sr. and his wife, Mary Weed Montgomery (née Barney).[2][3] His early childhood was one of privilege, as his father was president of the New York Rubber Company. His father committed suicide in 1922 by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge,[4] and the family's fortune was gone.

Career

Lobby card for Their Own Desire (1929)

Montgomery settled in New York City to try his hand at writing and acting. He established a stage career, and became popular enough to turn down an offer to appear opposite Vilma Bánky in the film This Is Heaven (1929).[5] Sharing a stage with George Cukor gave him an entry to Hollywood and a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he debuted in So This Is College (also 1929). One writer claimed that Montgomery was able to establish himself because he "proceeded with confidence, agreeable with everyone, eager and willing to take suggestions". During the production of So This Is College, Montgomery learned from and questioned crew members from several departments, including sound crew, electricians, set designers, camera crew, and film editors. In a later interview, he confessed, "it showed [him] that making a motion picture is a great co-operative project." So This Is College gained him attention as Hollywood's latest newcomer, and he was put in one production after another, his popularity growing steadily.[5]

Montgomery initially played exclusively in comedy roles, but portrayed a character in his first drama film in The Big House (1930). MGM was initially reluctant to assign him in such a role, until "his earnestness, and his convincing arguments, with demonstrations of how he would play the character" won him the assignment. From The Big House on, he was in constant demand. Appearing as Greta Garbo's romantic interest in Inspiration (1930) started him toward stardom with a rush. Norma Shearer chose him to star opposite her in The Divorcee (1930), Strangers May Kiss (1931), and Private Lives (1931), which led him to stardom.[5] In 1932, Montgomery starred opposite Tallulah Bankhead in Faithless, though the film was not a success. During this time, Montgomery appeared in the original pre-Code film version of When Ladies Meet (1933), which starred Ann Harding and Myrna Loy. In 1935, Montgomery became president of the Screen Actors Guild, and was elected again in 1946.

Montgomery in the trailer for Night Must Fall (1937)

In another challenging role, Montgomery played a psychopath in the chiller Night Must Fall (1937), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination.

After World War II broke out in Europe in September, 1939, and while the United States was still officially neutral, Montgomery enlisted in London for American field service and drove ambulances in France until the Dunkirk evacuation. He then returned to Hollywood and addressed a massive rally on the MGM lot for the American Red Cross in July 1940.[6] Montgomery returned to playing light comedy roles, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) with Carole Lombard. He continued his search for dramatic roles.[5] For his role as Joe Pendleton, a boxer and pilot in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), Montgomery was nominated for an Oscar a second time. After the U.S. entered World War II in December 1941, he joined the United States Navy, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander, and served on the USS Barton (DD-722) which was part of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

In 1945, Montgomery returned to Hollywood, making his uncredited directing debut with They Were Expendable, where he directed some of the PT boat scenes when director John Ford was unable to work for health reasons. Montgomery's first credited film as director and his final film for MGM was the film noir Lady in the Lake (1947), in which he also starred, which received mixed reviews. Adapted from Raymond Chandler's detective novel and sanitized for the censorship of the day, the film is unusual because it was filmed entirely from Marlowe's vantage point. Montgomery only appeared on camera a few times, three times in a mirror reflection.

He also directed and starred in Ride the Pink Horse (1947), also a film noir.[7]

Active in Republican politics and concerned about communist influence in the entertainment industry, Montgomery was a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. The next year, 1948, Montgomery hosted the Academy Awards. He hosted an Emmy Award-winning television series, Robert Montgomery Presents, which ran from 1950 to 1957. The Gallant Hours (1960), a film Montgomery directed and co-produced with its star, his friend James Cagney, was the last film or television production with which he was connected in any capacity, as actor, director, or producer. In 1954, Montgomery took an unpaid position as consultant and coach to President Eisenhower, advising him on how to look his best in his television appearances before the nation.[8] A pioneering media consultant, Montgomery had an office in the White House beginning in 1954.[9]

Montgomery has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for movies at 6440 Hollywood Boulevard, and another for television at 1631 Vine Street.

Marriages

On April 14, 1928,[10] Montgomery married actress Elizabeth Bryan Allen (December 26, 1904 – June 28, 1992), sister of Martha-Bryan Allen.[2][11] The couple had three children: Martha Bryan, who died at 14 months of age in 1931; Elizabeth (April 15, 1933 – May 18, 1995); and Robert Jr. (January 6, 1936 – February 7, 2000). They divorced on December 5, 1950. His second wife was Elizabeth "Buffy" Grant Harkness (1909 – 2003), whom he married on December 9, 1950, four days after his divorce from Allen was finalized.[12]

Death

Montgomery died of cancer on September 27, 1981, at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.[13] His body was cremated and the ashes were given to the family.[2] His two surviving children, Elizabeth and Robert Montgomery Jr., both died of cancer, as well.[14]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1929 The Single Standard Extra Uncredited
1929 Three Live Ghosts William Foster
1929 So This Is College Biff
1929 Untamed Andy McAllister
1929 Their Own Desire John Douglas Cheever
1930 Free and Easy Larry
1930 The Divorcee Don
1930 The Big House Kent Marlowe
1930 The Sins of the Children Nick Higginson
1930 Our Blushing Brides Tony Jardine
1930 Love in the Rough Jack Kelly
1930 War Nurse Lt. Wally O'Brien
1931 Inspiration André Montell
1931 The Easiest Way Jack "Johnny" Madison
1931 Strangers May Kiss Steve
1931 Shipmates John Paul Jones
1931 The Man in Possession Raymond Dabney
1931 Private Lives Elyot Chase
1932 Lovers Courageous Willie Smith
1932 But the Flesh Is Weak Max Clement
1932 Letty Lynton Hale Darrow
1932 Blondie of the Follies Larry Belmont
1932 Faithless William "Bill" Wade
1933 Hell Below Lieut. Thomas Knowlton, USN
1933 Made on Broadway Jeff Bidwell
1933 When Ladies Meet Jimmie Lee
1933 Another Language Victor Hallam
1933 Night Flight Auguste Pellerin
1934 This Side of Heaven Actor on screen in theatre Uncredited cameo: clip from Another Language (1933)
1934 Fugitive Lovers Paul Porter, aka Stephen Blaine
1934 The Mystery of Mr. X Nicholas Revel
1934 Riptide Tommie Trent
1934 Hide-Out Jonathan "Lucky" Wilson
1934 Forsaking All Others Dillon "Dill"/"Dilly" Todd
1935 Biography of a Bachelor Girl Richard "Dickie" Kurt
1935 Vanessa: Her Love Story Benjamin Herries
1935 No More Ladies Sheridan Warren
1936 Petticoat Fever Dascom Dinsmore
1936 Trouble for Two Prince Florizel Alternative title: The Suicide Club
1936 Piccadilly Jim James "Piccadilly Jim" Crocker Jr.
1937 The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Lord Arthur Dilling
1937 Night Must Fall Danny Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
1937 Ever Since Eve Freddie Matthews
1937 Live, Love and Learn Bob Graham
1938 The First Hundred Years David Conway
1938 Yellow Jack John O'Hara
1938 Three Loves Has Nancy Malcolm "Mal" Niles
1939 Fast and Loose Joel Sloane
1940 The Earl of Chicago Robert Kilmount
1940 Busman's Honeymoon Lord Peter Wimsey Alternative title: Haunted Honeymoon
1940 The Door with Seven Locks Craig the butler Alternative title: Chamber of Horrors
1941 Mr. & Mrs. Smith David Smith
1941 Rage in Heaven Philip Monrell
1941 Here Comes Mr. Jordan Joe Pendleton Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
1941 Unfinished Business Tommy Duncan
1945 They Were Expendable Lt. John Brickley Also directed during illness of John Ford (uncredited)
1947 Lady in the Lake Phillip Marlowe Also directed
1947 Ride the Pink Horse Lucky Gagin Also directed
1948 The Saxon Charm Matt Saxon
1948 June Bride Carey Jackson
1949 Poet's Pub Dancer Uncredited
1949 Once More, My Darling Collier "Collie" Laing Also directed
1950 Your Witness Adam Heyward Also directed
1960 The Gallant Hours Narrator Also directed

Television credits

Year Title Role Notes
1950–57 Robert Montgomery Presents Host
1958 Navy Log Host Episode: "The Butchers of Kapsan"

Radio appearances

YearProgramEpisode/source
1942Philip Morris PlayhouseMan Hunt[15]
1948SuspenseThe Black Curtain[16]

References

  1. ↑ Variety obituary, September 30, 1981.
  2. 1 2 3 R.E. Lee. "Robert Montgomery Biography". The Earl of Hollywood. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Elizabeth Montgomery's Family Tree", Bewitched.net; retrieved August 4, 2010.
  4. ↑ "3 Drown in Hudson ..." The New York Times, July 3, 1922.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Garbo's Lover in 'Inspiration' Was Lucky Role for Montgomery". The Milwaukee Journal, March 22, 1945, p. 1.
  6. ↑ Lion of Hollywood (2005) by Scott Eyman, p. 279
  7. ↑ Mayer, Geoff; McDonnell, Brian (2007). Encyclopedia of Film Noir. ABC-CLIO. p. 355. ISBN 0313333068.
  8. ↑ "Behind the Scenes: Robert Montgomery." The New York Times, March 1, 1956.
  9. ↑ Brownell, Kathryn Cramer (2014). Showbiz Politics: Hollywood in American Political Life. UNC Press. p. 141. ISBN 1469617927.
  10. ↑ New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937
  11. ↑ "Elizabeth Allen a Bride". The New York Times, April 15, 1928, p. 27.
  12. ↑ "R. Montgomery Marries". The New York Times, December 12, 1950, p. 47.
  13. ↑ "Robert Montgomery, actor-producer, dies". The Galveston Daily News. Galveston, TX. United Press International. 28 September 1981. Retrieved 17 January 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Pilato 2012, p. XV.
  15. ↑ "Radio Highlights". Harrisburg Telegraph. July 31, 1942. p. 11. Retrieved August 18, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Radio's Golden Age". Nostalgia Digest. 38 (3): 40–41. Summer 2012.

Further reading

  • Pilato, Herbie J. Twitch Upon a Star: The Bewitched Life and Career of Elizabeth Montgomery. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2012. ISBN 978-1-58979-749-9.
  • Wise, James. Stars in Blue: Movie Actors in America's Sea Services. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-937-9. OCLC 36824724
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