This week’s mystery movie has been the 1933 Paramount picture “The Story of Temple Drake,” with Miriam Hopkins, William Gargan, Jack La Rue, Florence Eldridge, Sir Guy Standing, Irving Pichel, Jobyna Howland and William Collier Jr.
It was directed by Stephen Roberts, with a screenplay by Oliver H.P. Garrett from a novel (“Sanctuary”) by William Faulkner. It was photographed by Karl Struss. The film also featured Elizabeth Patterson, James Eagles, Harlan E. Knight, James Mason, Louise Beavers and Arthur Belasco.
“Deliberately sordid, unsympathetic and nearly offensive … crudely realistic.” — The Los Angeles Times
“Better than anticipated …. A gruesome, sordid tale … but it has a certain strength.” The New York Times
“Temple Drake” elicited several interesting comments from the Brain Trust.
Gary Martin said: Also in 1959 at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, I had the pleasure of designing the set for Look Homeward Angel starring Miriam Hopkins. I had been warned that she would be “a bitch” but after I had a stairway changed to her needs …and in record time …I became her pet. One day she gave me a tub of gardenias …of two that she had picked at the beach. It was then I discovered that I am allergic to gardenias. A very nice lady. Is this she or am I just getting old and sentimental?
Howard Mandelbaum said: I saw “Temple Drake” at the Museum of Modern Art. The screening kicked off a big Paramount retrospective. Miriam Hopkins spoke afterward. She apologized for the movie, which was totally unnecessary. There are stories of her jumping the line in the ladies room that night, announcing, “I’ve suffered more than you have.”
And here’s why I picked the movie:
A restored print of the movie was shown at the 2010 TCM Classic Film Festival, but has not been generally released. I happened to record it during my DVR binge last year.
Look! It’s Rube Wolf!
Here’s The Times review from June 3, 1933.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is Henry Hall.
And for Tuesday, we have a mysterious gent.
Update: This is James Eagles.
And for Wednesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Florence Eldridge.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Dan Nather (mystery movie), David Inman (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and mystery guests) and Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mystery guests).
And for Thursday, we have a mystery gent. I was originally going to use another image from this scene, but that one, alas, turns up in Google image search.
Update: This is William Gargan.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guest), Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest), Dewey Webb (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Dan Nather (Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests) and Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guest).
And for Friday, we have Pia Zadora in “The Lonely Lady.”
Update: And this is Miriam Hopkins.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guest), Ed (Thursday’s mystery guest), Julie Merholz (mystery movie and mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guest), Jenny M (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guest) and Dan Nather (Monday and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Henry Hall Monday and THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE?
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Boy, we’re really stretching the meaning of “gent” this week, aren’t we?! I’m going to take a wild guess and say THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE . . .
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Monday — Sir Guy Standing (sitting)
Tuesday — James Eagles(?)
Wednesday — Elizabeth Patterson
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Hmm — then it must be Henry Hall for Monday . . .
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Today’s gent is James Eagles, and the movie is “The Story of Temple Drake.”
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Henry Hall for monday and James Eagles for tuesday make this film THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE 1933.
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Monday: Henry Hall in “The Story of Temple Drake.”
Tues: James Eaqles as “The Feeb”
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Florence Eldredge today.
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James Eagles Tuesday?
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Florence Eldridge, ‘The Story of Temple Drake’
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She reminds me of the you Elsa Lanchester.
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Interesting observation…. but alas, I’m afraid not.
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…young…
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Florence Eldridge in The Story Of Temple Drake
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Enter Florence Eldridge.
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Sara Allgood
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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It sorta kinda looks like Josephine Hutchinson. Or not.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Florence Eldgrridge.
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Florence Eldgridge.
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William Gargan today.
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Thursday is Wm Gargen
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William Gargan
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The Story of Temple Drake…Mon.judge is Henry Hall, Wed. is Florence Eldridge and Friday should be Miriam Hopkins.
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William Gargan.
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William Gargan in the Story of Temple Drake.
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Thursday’s mystery man is William Gargan.
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Finally Miriam Hopkins today.
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Miriam Hopkins.
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Also in 1959 at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, I had the pleasure of designing the set for Look Homeward Angel starring Miriam Hopkins. I had been warned that she would be “a bitch” but after I had a stairway changed to her needs …and in record time …I became her pet. One day she gave me a tub of gardenias …of two that she had picked at the beach. It was then I discovered that I am allergic to gardenias. A very nice lady. Is this she or am I just getting old and sentimental?
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Is Friday Rosemary Lane?
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OK. It looks like Miriam Hopkins.
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That should be “It looks like Miriam Hopkins” in the most recent post.
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Monday: Henry Hall, Tuesday: James Eagles, Wednesday: Florence
Eldredge, Thursday: William Gargan, Friday: Miriam Hopkins.
Movie is “The Story of Temple Drake.”
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The Story of Temple Drake w/ Miriam Hopkins, William Gargan, Henry Hall, & Florence Eldridge
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