Robert Montgomery

Robert Montgomery Headshot

Actor • Director • Producer

Birth Date: May 21, 1904

Death Date: September 27, 1981

Birth Place: Fishkill Landing, New York

Dapper, talented MGM contract lead from 1929, primarily cast as amusing, boyish, upper-crust playboys opposite stars such as Greta Garbo ("Inspiration," 1931) and Joan Crawford ("The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," 1937). Besides Crawford, he was most often paired with glamorous Norma Shearer, opposite whom he co-starred in five films between 1929 and 1934; their best teamings were "The Divorcee" (1930) and the uproarious adaptation of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" (1931).

As the decade wore on Montgomery fought for a wider range of roles, and achieved notable success as the deranged killer in "Night Must Fall" (1937). Another change-of-pace role came in an even more acclaimed and popular film, the comic fantasy, "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941), with Montgomery as a pug who is "removed" to heaven by an angel before his appointed time and is allowed to continue his life on earth in another body.

Montgomery's image toughened even more after WWII, during which he had distinguished himself in naval action in Europe. Montgomery made his directorial debut when an ailing John Ford was unable to complete "They Were Expendable" (1945), and he attracted considerable attention with his screen adaptation of Raymond Chandler's "Lady in the Lake" (1946). The film was related entirely from a "subjective" camera perspective, and is considered one of the more interesting failed experiments in cinematic narrative.

Montgomery kept making films until the early 1950s, and while never entirely eschewing the light entertainments with which he was long associated (e.g., "June Bride," 1948, opposite Bette Davis), he did make the occasional worthy offbeat item (e.g., the noir "Ride the Pink Horse," 1947, which he also directed).

Montgomery subsequently trained his sights on TV, hosting the well-received "Robert Montgomery Presents" anthology series for eight years. He also ventured onto the stage, winning a Tony for directing "The Desperate Hours" in 1955. At times Montgomery also became active in politics: he was, unfortunately, a friendly witness at the infamous HUAC hearings which led to the Hollywood blacklist; later, Montgomery served as a communications consultant to President Eisenhower following the 1952 campaign.

Credits

The Gallant Hours

Director
Movie
1960

The Gallant Hours

Producer
Movie
1960

BonanzaStream

Guest Star
Series
1959

Eye Witness

Actor
Show
1953

Tomahawk

Actor
Blair Streeter
Movie
1951

What's My Line?Stream

Guest
Game Show
1950

Testimonio Ocular

Actor
Movie
1950

Testimonio Ocular

Director
Movie
1950

Eye Witness

Actor
Adam Heyward
Movie
1950

Eye Witness

Director
Movie
1950

Once More, My Darling

Actor
Collier "Collie" Laing
Movie
1949

Once More, My Darling

Director
Movie
1949

June Bride

Actor
Carey Jackson
Movie
1948

The Saxon Charm

Actor
Matt Saxon
Movie
1948

The Secret Land

Voice
Movie
1948

Ride the Pink Horse

Actor
Lucky Gagin
Movie
1947

Ride the Pink Horse

Director
Movie
1947

Ride a Pink Horse

Actor
Lucky Gagin
Movie
1947

Ride a Pink Horse

Director
Movie
1947

La Señora del Lago

Actor
Movie
1946

La Señora del Lago

Director
Movie
1946

La Dama en el Lago

Actor
Movie
1946

La Dama en el Lago

Director
Movie
1946

Lady in the LakeStream

Actor
Phillip Marlowe
Movie
1946
60%

Lady in the LakeStream

Director
Movie
1946
60%

They Were ExpendableStream

Actor
Lt. John Brickley
Movie
1945
92%

They Were ExpendableStream

Director
Movie
1945
92%

El Difunto no Protesta

Actor
Movie
1941

El Muerto Protesta

Actor
Movie
1941

Rage in Heaven

Actor
Philip Monrell
Movie
1941

Unfinished Business

Actor
Tommy Duncan
Movie
1941

Mr. & Mrs. SmithStream

Actor
David
Movie
1941
64%

Here Comes Mr. JordanStream

Actor
Joe Pendleton
Movie
1941
100%

The Earl of Chicago

Actor
Robert Kilmount
Movie
1940

Haunted Honeymoon

Actor
Lord Peter Wimsey
Movie
1940

Fast and Loose

Actor
Joel Sloane
Movie
1939

Yellow Jack

Actor
John O'Hara
Movie
1938

The First Hundred Years

Actor
David Conway
Movie
1938

Three Loves Has Nancy

Actor
Malcolm `'Mal'` Niles
Movie
1938

Ever Since Eve

Actor
Freddy Matthews
Movie
1937

The Last of Mrs. CheyneyStream

Actor
Lord Arthur Dilling
Movie
1937

Live, Love and Learn

Actor
Bob Graham
Movie
1937

Night Must FallStream

Actor
Danny
Movie
1937

Trouble for Two

Actor
Prince Florizel
Movie
1936

Piccadilly Jim

Actor
James Crocker, Jr.
Movie
1936

Petticoat Fever

Actor
Dascom Dinsmore
Movie
1936

Vanessa, Her Love Story

Actor
Benjamin Herries
Movie
1935

No More Ladies

Actor
Sherry
Movie
1935

Biography of a Bachelor Girl

Actor
Richard `'Dickie'` Kurt
Movie
1935

Fugitive Lovers

Actor
Paul Porter
Movie
1934

The Mystery of Mr. X

Actor
Deputy
Movie
1934

Forsaking All Others

Actor
Dillon Todd
Movie
1934

Riptide

Actor
Tommie
Movie
1934

Hide-Out

Actor
Jonathan "Lucky" Wilson
Movie
1934

De Mujer a Mujer

Actor
Movie
1933

Hell Below

Actor
Lt. Thomas Knowlton USN
Movie
1933

Made on Broadway

Actor
Jeff
Movie
1933

Another Language

Actor
Victor Hallam
Movie
1933

Cuando las Damas se Encuentran

Actor
Movie
1933

Night Flight

Actor
Auguste Pellerin
Movie
1933

When Ladies Meet

Actor
Jimmie Lee
Movie
1933

Faithless

Actor
William "Bill" Wade
Movie
1932

Lovers Courageous

Actor
Willie
Movie
1932

Blondie of the Follies

Actor
Larry
Movie
1932

But the Flesh Is Weak

Actor
Max Clement
Movie
1932

The Easiest Way

Actor
Jack `'Johnny'` Madison
Movie
1931

Inspiration

Actor
André Montell
Movie
1931

The Man in Possession

Actor
Raymond Dabney
Movie
1931

Private Lives

Actor
Elyot "Elly" Chase
Movie
1931

Shipmates

Actor
John Paul Jones
Movie
1931

Strangers May Kiss

Actor
Steve
Movie
1931

Love in the Rough

Actor
Kelly
Movie
1930

Sins of the Children

Actor
Nick Higginson
Movie
1930

War Nurse

Actor
Wally
Movie
1930

Free and Easy

Actor
Larry
Movie
1930

The Big House

Actor
Kent Marlowe
Movie
1930

Our Blushing Brides

Actor
Tony Jardine
Movie
1930

The DivorceeStream

Actor
Don
Movie
1930
78%

Their Own Desire

Actor
Jack
Movie
1929

Untamed

Actor
Andy McAllister
Movie
1929