This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 RKO picture “The Woman on Pier 13” (originally released as “I Married a Communist”) starring Laraine Day, Robert Ryan, John Agar, Thomas Gomez, Janis Carter, Richard Rober, William Talman, Paul E. Burns, Paul Guilfoyle, G. Pat Collins, Fred Graham, Harry Chesire and Jack Stoney. It was written by Charles Grayon and Robert Hardy Andrews from a story by George W. George and George F. Slavin. It was photographed by Nicholas Musuraca, with art direction by Albert S. D’Agostino and Walter E. Keller, music by Leigh Harline, set decoration by Darrell Silvera and James Altwies, gowns by Michael Woulfe and hairstyles by Larry Germain. It was directed by Robert Stevenson.
“The Woman on Pier 13” is available from Warner Archive for $15.49.
“I Married a Communist” opened Oct. 8, 1949, in Los Angeles.
And my special reason for selecting the film is to pick up the thread from last week’s episode of “Perry Mason.” Here we have the future Hamilton Burger (William Talman) getting fresh with Laraine Day.
And for Monday, we have a mystery gent in pinstripes.
Update: This is Richard Rober.
And for Tuesday, we have another dapper gent.
Update: This is G. Pat Collins.
Brain Trust roll call: David Hartzog (Monday’s mystery gent), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and guest) and Don Danard (Monday’s mystery guest).
For Wednesday, we have a somber gent armed with a letter opener.
This is Harry Cheshire, whom you may recall as the minister performing the wedding at the end of “The Best Years of Our Lives.”
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest) and Bob Levinson (Monday’s mystery guest).
And for Thursday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is Paul E. Burns.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest), David Hartzog (mystery movie –alternative title — Wednesday’s mystery gent), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and guests), Diane Ely (Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Patrick (Wednesday’s mystery gent).
And for Friday, we have two (non) mystery guests.
Update: This is Janis Carter and Robert Ryan.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, guests and a mystery location), Earl Boebert (mystery background), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Thursday’s mystery guest) and Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guest).
Richard Rober?
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Monday’s gent sure looks like Dana Andrews – but I cannot imagine your giving us Dana Andrews on a Monday!
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You’re right… It’s not, but an interesting guess.
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Warren Hull?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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I had the same thought about Dana Andrews!
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Dapper Richard Rober in “The Woman on Pier 13” (aka “I Married a Communist”).
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Actually, how about Robert Sterling?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Robert Cummings in his Dana Andrews period.
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Alas, no.
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I keep thinking ‘it is’ then ‘it isn’t’ but no other name springs to mind so here goes. Dana Andrews.
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Nope, not Dana Andrews.
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Richard Rober
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shadow looks like Hitchcock in one of his cameos
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Alas, no.
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I’m curious about the shadow to the right of our mystery gent. Is that a man holding something close to his face? Will we find out later this week? (Only the shadow knows?)
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A grip who forgot to get out of the way, perhaps.
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William Windom. I know. FAIL. Not even.
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Yes, not even.
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Kind of looks like Richard Arlen, at least to me, after his silent film era.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Donald Cook.
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Alas, no.
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G. Pat Collins.
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Steve Cochrane and Lionel Stander in the Kid from Brooklyn?
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Interesting guesses. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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It certainly looks like George “Pat” Collins today.
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Paul Douglas on Tuesday?
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Alas, no.
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I’ll go for G. Pat Collins as todays guest.
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Richard Rober
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I seem to be caught in the disappearing comment vortex as well. I guessed Paul Douglas for Tuesday, but it vanished.
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Alas, no…. People have complained that their comments are disappearing, but rest assured I am getting them all.
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More bushy brows: Harry Cheshire.
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Frank Conroy today.
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Alas, no.
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THE LAST GANGSTER?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Today it’s Harry Cheshire.
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I have to confess I did some looking around ….the film is “The Woman on Pier 13”.
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Today, Harry Chesire.
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I Married a Communist, Robert Ryan?
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I’m guessing that it is not a coincidence that all three gents Monday through Wednesday are look a likes for more famous actors.
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Richard Rober on monday and Harry Cheshire today make this THE WOMAN ON PIER 13.
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Don’t know the movie, but I think Letter Opener Guy is Harry Cheshire.
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I think Wednesday’s somber gent is Harry Cheshire.
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Thanks for the clue to alternate titles. It’s WOMAN ON PIER 13 or I MARRIED A COMMUNIST. Richard Rober Monday, Lester Matthews Tuesday, Harry Cheshire Wednesday, Fred Graham today? The front of the Montecito Apartments on Franklin appears as a San Francisco apartment building in the film.
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I’m completely baffled, but I’m pretty sure Wednesday’s backdrop is the San Francisco Embarcadero, with Alcatraz in the distance.
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Say hello to Paul E. Burns.
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Today it’s Paul E. Burns.
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Paul E. Burns,
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The view from the window (Wednesday) makes me feel as if I had seen this film recently. Something about a playboy who inherits the family firm. But I have seen so many I can’t remember which one. I can only come up with B. Stanwyck in Martha Ivers …but that was a factory not a pier. Perhaps it was the same studio art department.
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Is Thur’s gent Joseph Schildkraut?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Robert Ryan and Laraine Day today. San Francisco harbor is visible Wednesday.
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Oops, Janis Carter.
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Robert Ryan
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Friday, Robert Ryan
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Richard Rober on Monday, Harry Cheshire on Wednesday, and Robert Ryan on Friday. Internet source says I married a Communist. Is the internet source right? Doesn’t feel right. Who is the blond?
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Is this “The Woman on Pier 13”?
(OK, I confess. I checked it out).
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Janis Carter and Robert Ryan.
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Why the poker face, Robert Ryan?
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Laraine Day and Robert Ryan in The Woman on Pier 13 from 1949.
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Aka The Woman on Pier 13
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The Woman On Pier 13
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Friday is Robert Ryan and Janis Carter – The Woman in Pier 13
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Wen is Harry Cheshire. Monday is Richard Rober. Tues might be G. Pat Collins.
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I recall seeing this “back then”. Would any Movie channel run it today?
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