This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 MGM feature “The Great Sinner,” starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Melvyn Douglas, Walter Huston, Ethel Barrymore, Frank Morgan and Agnes Moorehead, with Ludwig Donath, Curt Bois and Ludwig Stossel. The screenplay was by Ladislas Fodor and Christopher Isherwood from a story by Fodor and Rene Fueloep-Miller. The music was by Bronislau Kaper and conducted by Andre Previn. It was directed by Robert Siodmak.
I chose “The Great Sinner” because it was photographed by George Folsey, who also filmed last week’s mystery movie, “Kind Lady” and I wanted to take another look at his work. The film opened Aug. 26, 1949, in Los Angeles at the Fox Wilshire, Egyptian and Los Angeles theaters.
It is available from Warner Archive for $15.49.
For Monday, we have a mystery guest with a turban.
Update: This is Martin Garralaga.
Please note: I an undergoing cataract surgery this week, so there may be no posts in the next few days.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery band conductor with glorious and very fashionable facial growth.
Update: This is Leonid Kinskey.
Brain Trust roll call: Don Danard (Monday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest).
And for Wednesday, yet another mystery chap.
Update: This is Frank Morgan.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery bandleader) and Floyd Thursby (Tuesday’s mystery bandleader).
For Thursday, we have another dapper gent.
Update: This is Walter Huston.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guest), Roget-L.A. (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Megan — sans Lee Ann and Thom — (Wednesday’s mystery guest).
And for Friday, we have Raquel Welch in “Mother, Jugs and Speed.”
Update: This is Ava Gardner.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guest), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Thursday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guest), Rick (Wednesday’s mystery guest), LC (mystery movie and mystery cast), Barbara Klein (mystery movie and three out of four mystery guests) and Michael Ryerson (Thursday’s mystery guest).
Wishing you well on your cataract surgery, Larry. Unfortunately, I have no idea who the fellow is!
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Thanks!
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Pedro de Cordoba. Be thinking about you this week.
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Thanks! (and alas, no.).
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Victor Francen to the far left.
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Alas, I’m afraid not. (at least relying on imdb).
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Larry, congrats on getting cataract surgery! I had it last year, and it really rocked my world. You’ll see more detail, deeper colors, and more distance (depending on what kind of lenses you select) than you ever saw before. Honest, you won’t believe it — I didn’t, at first. Just remember to do everything the doctors tell you, take your eye drops on schedule, and you’ll be all right . . .
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As for the photo, I really don’t have any ideas. I think I should know the guy in the turban; something in me says Lawrence Olivier. However, the guy with the monocle in the background is driving me crazy — I’ve seen him before, BUT I CANNOT THINK OF HIS NAME! ARRGH!
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too all mystery movie buffs and Larry. have a safe and happy thingsgiving
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Martin Garralaga (spelling?)
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Darn it, Benito knows the face but not the name. It’s an “Oh. Him” situation. Godspeed on the surgery, Larry.
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Sure I’m wrong but I wanted to send a ‘ get well’. Anthony Caruso.
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Thanks! (and alas, no).
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I just came out of an eye exam Friday. Wishing you the best this week. I suppose I would be mistaken to identify the pic as a vastly atypical role for May Robson.
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Thanks! And alas, May was otherwise occupied when this film was shot.
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Martin Garralaga in “The Great Sinner.”
(Wishing you a speedy recovery)
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Larry, I had cataract surgery a few years back and came thru’ it with flying colours.
Get ‘er done boy!
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Thanks!
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I think Oh Him Guy is Whit Bissell, Top of the Head Guy could be Fritz Kortner, and the Mystery Guy might be Charles Marsh. If I’m right – which is pretty iffy – the movie would be Somewhere in the Night.
Also (and again, only if I’m right), kudos for redefining death as “otherwise occupied,” regarding May Robson. 🙂
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Alas, no…. Whit is too well-known to ever make a Monday appearance. 🙂
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I almost forgot – good luck on your surgery.
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Thanks!
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Wishing all possible best with your surgery. Regarding mystery matters, might that be a turbaned Martin Garralaga on Monday and a baton-wielding Leonid Kinskey on Tuesday?
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I’d know that jawline anywhere! Leonid Kinskey.
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Mr. Tuesday sure looks like Leonid Kinskey, but did they ever cast him in a well-dressed part?
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He was fairly well dressed in DOWN ARGENTINE WAY (1940). And I guess you could throw CASABLANCA in there, too . . .
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Good luck on your surgery.
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Thanks!
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Frank Morgan.
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WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER. Clifford Brooke Monday, Leo Mostovoy yesterday, and Frank Morgan today.
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My first thought yesterday was Leonid Kinskey and I know I am right. Therefore, when we add Frank Morgan this is THE GREAT SINNER.
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Frank Morgan in ‘The Great Sinner’ for Wednesday? Hope your surgery went well!
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Sergeant Pepper on Tuesday?
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Good one!
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Could Wednesday’s mystery chap be Frank Morgan?
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Today’s Mystery Man looks like Frank Morgan hiding under some facial hair. Perhaps wishing he’d stayed in Oz.
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“The Great Sinner,” on Wednesday it’s The Wizard, Frank Morgan, portraying, according to IMDB, Aristide Pitard. What a great name.
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THE GREAT SINNER. Martin Garralaga Monday and Manfred Inger yesterday.
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Frank Morgan for Wednesday? I hope you recuperate quickly.
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Walter Huston.
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Walter Huston.
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Must be Walter Huston today.
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Walter Huston says Happy Thanksgiving!
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Frank Morgan on Wednesday
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This would be The Great Sinner (1949) w/Walter Huston, Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Ethel Barrymore, Leonid Kinskey…
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Another guess:
The Great Sinner
Monday – Martin Garralaga
Tuesday – Manfred Inger
Wednesday – Frank Morgan
Thursday – Walter Huston
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Walter Huston. The Great Sinner?
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The beautiful Ava Gardner today.
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Who would like to gamble with Ava Gardner.
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The Friday Lady may be Julie Newmar.
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Nothing like cataract surgery and false teeth to make a person feel new again. I highly recommend both! As for the mystery film I suspect that it is The Great Sinner, aka The Gambler, with Leonid Kinski, Martin Garralaga and Ava.
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Guessing it’s THE GREAT SINNER (1949), and Leonid Kinskey as the bushy band leader. Ava G is lovely, as always
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