This week’s mystery movie has been the 1938 Warner Bros. picture “Men Are Such Fools,” with Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Hugh Herbert, Johnnie Davis, Penny Singleton, Mona Barrie, Marcia Ralston and Gene Lockhart. The movie was directed by Busby Berkeley from a screenplay by Norman Reilly Raine and Horace Jackson, based on a Saturday Evening Post story by Faith Baldwin.
As far as I can tell, “Men Are Such Fools” has never been released on VHS or DVD. It aired on TCM in 2011 during a Busby Berkley birthday tribute.
If you look quickly you will see the Tower and Rialto theaters on Broadway during a car chase.
The Tower and Rialto theaters on Broadway, via Google Street View.
Alas, I have to switch mystery movies this week. I am usually quite careful about keeping records of which films I have used, but I neglected to note that the picture I planned for this week’s feature was a repeat from several years ago.
Update: This is Johnnie Davis.
So I’m swapping movies. For Tuesday, we have a new mystery guest and a new mystery movie.
And for Wednesday, we have a mystery woman. I have cropped out her entirely unmysterious companion.
Update: This is Renie Riano (credited as Reine Riaino).
Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (mystery guest), Patrice Roe (mystery guest), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and mystery guest), Mary Mallory (mystery guest/wrong movie), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery guest), Dewey Webb (mystery guest), Don Danard (mystery guest and mystery studio), David Inman (mystery guest), Rick Scott (mystery guest), Bob Hansen (mystery guest), Suzanne Annette Stone (mystery guest, mystery studio) and Tim Doherty (mystery guest).
And for Thursday, a mystery woman with pearls.
Update: This is Marcia Ralston.
Brain Trust roll call: Julie Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Roget-L.A. (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guest), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guest), Sheila (mystery movie and mystery guests), Lee Ann Megan and Thom (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Dewey Webb (mystery movie,Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Vince Keenan (Wednesday’s mystery guest).
And for Friday, we have two mystery police officers and a mystery woman.
Update: This is Priscilla Lane with Edward Gargan, left, and Edgar Dearing.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guest) and Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guest).
Note to Vince Keenan: You’re right, but the answers aren’t posted until Saturday.
Johnnie Davis.
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Johnnie Davis?
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Looks like Sterling Holloway doing a Dick Shawn impression before Dick Shawn was old enough to do himself.
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An intriguing possibility. But alas, no.
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Johnnie Davis in “Men are Such Fools”
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Is it Johnnie Davis from HOLLYWOOD HOTEL?
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Johnnie Davis
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Johnnie Davis
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I’m pretty sure this is Johnnie “Scat” Davis, an comic from the thirties. Showed up in a number of Warner Brothers features.
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Could this be a younger than usual Jack Oakie?
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Interesting guess. But alas, no.
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Johnnie Davis.
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Is Tues Sterling Holloway?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Johnny “Scat” Davis
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Looks like Johnny “Scat” Davis. I haven’t a clue what the movie is.
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Trumpeter and Warner Bros. star Johnnie Davis, who introduced “Hooray For Hollywood” in “Hollywood Hotel”
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Sterling Price Holloway Jr.
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Sterling Price Holloway Jr. as Horace De Vibill in “The Untouchables” on TV?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Johnnie Scat Davis?
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Luther Adler?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Renie Riano
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Wednesday’s mystery woman is Renie Riano.
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Renie Riano in MEN ARE SUCH FOOLS.
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Renie Riano on Wednesday?
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Today it’s Renie Riano of the Jiggs and Maggie series.
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Renie Riano in “Men Are Such Fools.”
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Johnnie Davis and Renie Riano, ‘Men Are Such Fools’.
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Rags Ragland Tuesday, Agnes Moorehead today?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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For Tuesday, a young Shemp Howard?
Wednesday, an also young Ellen Corby?
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Alas, no.
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Is Tuesday Harpo without his wig?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Is Wednesday’s lady Renie Riano?
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Renie Riano in Men Are Such Fools
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Could that be Johnnie ‘Scat’ Davis?
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Could it be Johnnie “Scat” Davis?
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Renie Riano Tuesday and Marcia Ralston today so MEN ARE SUCH FOOLS. Bogart in the suit Tuesday.
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Marcia Ralston.
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Marcia Ralston.
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Marcia Ralston?
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Is is Johnnie “Scat” Davis?
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Priscilla Lane and Edgar Dearing on the right.
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Ed Gargan, Priscilla Lane and Edgar Dearing. What a threesome.
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Edward Gargan, Priscilla Lane, Edgar Dearing
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Well, the officer driving is Edgar Dearing and the other one is …. gimme a minute or two and I’ll think of it !!!
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The police officer beside the driver is Edward Gargan.
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Could Friday´s lady be the talented Priscilla Lane?
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I see Priscilla Lane on Friday.
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Notable for 1. Humphrey Bogart’s bathing suit scene. 2. Wayne Morris became an ace pilot in WW2.
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Yes, I think that clip turns up in various documentaries, although the entire film has never been released. I can’t say it’s one of his most iconic roles.
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