Oscar Profile #227: Robert Montgomery

Born Henry Montgomery, Jr., the son of the owner of the New York Rubber Company, on May 21, 1904 in Fishkill Landing (now Beacon), New York, the future actor-producer-director Robert Montgomery had a privileged childhood. His father’s fortune, however, was gone by the time he committed suicide by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1922. Young Montgomery went to New York City to try his luck at writing and acting. He married first wife, actress Elizabeth Allen, not to be confused with British actress Elizabeth Allan, in 1928. Together the couple had three children including future Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery (1933-1995). On stage he formed a friendship with George Cukor which led to movie opportunities in 1929.

Initially in comedic roles, Montgomery received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a nervous and scared convict in 1930’s The Big House. His career seemed to stall with a series of forgettable roles when Norma Shearer chose him as her co-star in Private Lives after which he enjoyed star billing in all his films.

Montgomery’s 1930s hits included When Ladies Meet with Ann Harding and Myrna Loy, Another Language with Helen Hayes, Night Flight with Hayes and Clark Gable, Forsaking All Others with Gable and Joan Crawford, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney with Crawford and Night Must Fall with Rosalind Russell, for which he received his first Oscar nomination. He was elected President of the Screen Actors Guild in 1935 and served until 1938. He served another term from 1946 to 1947.

The actor’s 1941 output included Alfred Hitchcock’s only comedy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Carole Lombard, Rage in Heaven with Ingrid Bergman and Here Comes Mr. Jordan, for which he received his second Oscar nomination.

A Naval Commander during World War II, he returned to the screen in a role similar to that experience in 1945’s They Were Expendable for which he directed several scenes in the legendary John Ford’s absence. He then directed four films of his own in which he also starred, including 1947’s The Lady in the Lake and Ride the Pink Horse. He divorced first wife Elizabeth Allen and married second wife Elizabeth “Buffy” Grant in 1950.

Moving to TV in 1950, Montgomery produced the highly successful Robert Montgomery Presents from 1950-1957, occasionally acting and directing in the anthology series. In 1953, he became President Dwight Eisenhower’s TV advisor. Ike always maintained that had Richard Nixon utilized his services for the first Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960 he would have won the debate and the election. In 1955 he directed the Broadway play The Desperate Hours for which he won a Tony.

Montgomery directed, but did not act in his first film in ten years, 1960’s The Gallant Hours starring James Cagney as Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey. , after which he retired from show business.

Robert Montgomery died on September 27, 1981. He was 77.

ESSENTIAL FILMS

PRIVATE LIVES (1931), directed by Sidney Franklin

One of Montgomery’s early roles was as one of Norma Shearer’s conquests in 1930’s The Divorcée for which she won an Oscar. That was followed by The Big House in which Montgomery scored excellent notices as a nervous inmate who is responsible for false charges against cellmate Chester Morris. After that he seemed to be stuck in humdrum roles until Shearer came to his rescue by selecting him as her co-star in Noel Coward’s droll comedy in which she would have Gertrude Lawrence’s role and he would have Coward’s. The result was a critical and audience success which made him a major star.

NIGHT MUST FALL (1937), directed by Richard Thorpe

Montgomery took a role that nobody wanted, that of a serial killer of old ladies in the film version of Emlyn Williams’ play, and turned it into a screen gem. The actor uses his charm to not only seduce his victims, but also the audience. There’s never been a sweeter killer.

Dame May Whitty, making her long delayed Hollywood debut at 72, recreates her sensational London and Broadway role as the last of his old ladies. The two were justly rewarded with Oscar nominations. Rosalind Russell plays Whitty’s assistant, the only one who suspects that he is the elusive killer.

HERE COMES MR. JORDAN (1941), directed by Alexander Hall

Montgomery is in top form as the boxer who dies before his time and comes back in the body of a millionaire who people are out to kill in this comedy classic later remade by Warren Beatty as Heaven Can Wait.

The actor not only delivers his finest screen performance here, hut brings out the best in a cast that includes Claude Rains as a heavenly messenger, James Gleason as the fighter’s trainer, Evelyn Keyes and Rita Johnson as the new women in his life and many others. Both Montgomery and Gleason were Oscar nominated for their performances. The film was nominated for seven Oscars overall and won two, for Best Original Story and Best Screenplay.

THEY WERE EXPENDABLE (1945), directed by JohnFord

A Naval Commander during World War II, Montgomery returned to the screen as a PT boat commander in defense of the Philippines.

This is not one of those war films where heroic exploits save the day. Deliberately slow-paced and riveting, it is the story of men and women fighting a war with an uncertain outcome, one in which “the end is near” is the catch-phrase of the day. Montgomery, John Wayne and Donna Reed head an exceptionally fine cast that also includes Jack Holt, Ward Bond, Marshall Thompson, Leon Ames, Don Curtis and Cameron Mitchell. Montgomery filled in for Ford while the legendary director was recuperating from injuries sustained during filming. It was the impetus he needed to step out as a director on his own

RIDE THE PINK HORSE (1947), directed by Robert Montgomery

Montgomery’s first film as a director was 1947’s The Lady in the Lake in which he played Philip Marlowe with a subjective camera. The actor’s face was only seen in mirror shots. It was a screen first.

This lesser known second film has some firsts of its own. It’s a film noir set in sunny Santa Fe, New Mexico. The protagonist, played by Montgomery, is a not a two-fisted hero, but a naïve outsider who is almost killed and must depend on the kindness of strangers for his survival. His life depends on the heroism of a young Indian girl, played by 18-year-old Wanda Hendrix, and a portly Mexican bar owner played by Thomas Gomez in an Oscar nominated performance.

Montgomery would act in only four more films, two of which he directed, before turning to TV and even greater success in 1950.