This week’s mystery movie has been the 1931 RKO picture “Millie,” based on the novel by Donald Henderson Clarke, directed by John Francis Dillon, produced by Charles R. Rogers, adapted by Charles Kenyon, with dialogue by Charles Kenyon and Ralph Murphy, music by Nacio Herb Brown and photography by Ernest Haller. The movie features Helen Twelvetrees, Lilyan Tashman, Robert Ames, James Hall, John Halliday, Joan Blondell, Anita Louise, Edmund Breese, Frank McHugh, Charlotte Walker, Franklin Parker, Charles Delaney and Harry Stubbs.
The movie is available on Amazon.
“Millie” received a brief, unsigned review in the New York Times (Feb. 7, 1931).
Donald Henderson Clarke’s novel of the titian-haired beauty who loved many men, but not the right kind, comes to the screen of the Mayfair as such a pleasant and diverting entertainment that its modest excursions into psychological drama need not be taken too seriously. Helen Twelvetrees makes a splendid Millie, and the tragic current of her life is made safe for the diversion seeker by the intelligent and good-humored playing of Lilyan Tashman, Robert Ames, John Halliday, Anita Louise and Frank McHugh, among others.
“Millie” opened in Los Angeles at the Orpheum on Friday, March 13, 1931.
The review by John Scott in the Los Angeles Times (March 16, 1931) noted that the first-day audience was composed mostly of women and “laughed and cried with Millie, the central figure whose quest for decent men went for naught.”
Built for the box office, “Millie” skirts the thin ice of implausibility and in a few spots jumps into open water feet first….
For Helen Twelvetrees, who plays the name role, there can be nothing but the highest praise. She transcends story material, gives us emotional yet as sincere a portrayal as has been seen in many a moon. Miss Twelvetrees rises above the obvious plot and shines with a brilliancy which places her among the screen’s elect.
For Monday, we have this mysterious lady.
This lady is truly a mystery. In the film, she plays Millie’s mother, Mrs. Blake, and has a minuscule role. The role isn’t credited in IMDB. Charlotte Walker appears in the movie credits and is listed on IMDB as playing Millie’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Maitland, which is a much larger role. But I accepted Charlotte Walker as the answer.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is James Hall.
For Wednesday, we have two dashing mystery gents. I have cropped out our leading lady, who will appear on Friday.
Update: This is John Halliday and Robert Ames.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery gent), Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery gent), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mystery guests), Benito (Tuesday’s mystery gent), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery gent) and Bob Hansen (Tuesday’s mystery gent).
And for Thursday … Oh my.
Update: This is Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Don Danard (Wednesday’s mustachioed mystery guest) and Bob Hansen (Wednesday’s mustachioed mystery guest).
And for Friday, our leading lady is not having a good day.
Update: This is Helen Twelvetrees.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Thursdays’ mystery women), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery women), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery women) and Dan Nather (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery women).
ladailymirror.com 
Phyllis Povah?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Lucile Watson.
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Good guess, but she didn’t make any movies that year.
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Sara Allgood
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Good guess, but she was in the UK at the time.
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Venturing a pure guess, is she Marjorie Bennett phoning for a deadly kiss?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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James Hall today.
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James Hall for Tuesday.
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Nance O’Neill yesterday and THE GOOD BAD GIRL?
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Charlotte Walker and James Hall in MILLIE.
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James Hall, best known in Hell’s Angels 1930
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James Hall in ??????
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Tuesday’s guy is James Hall.
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I was dithering between this and the title I chose yesterday. MILLIE. John Halliday on the left today and Robert Ames on the right, and Charlotte Walker on Monday.
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John Halliday and Robert Ames.
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John Halliday and sad old Robert Ames, ‘Millie’.
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John Halliday and Robert Ames in MILLIE.
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The gentleman with the cigarette looks like John Halliday.
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Is everyone guessing Adolph Menjou
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You’re the only one so far….. Alas, I’m afraid not.
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On Wednesday, I think the guy on the left is John Halliday.
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Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman
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Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman today.
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Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman.
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I just looked at the Tuesday gent and from nowhere came the name Richard Dix. If it is in fact he I’ll be amazed because if I’ve ever seen him it would be when looking at old cigarette cards sixty odd years ago. I’ve now checked and it looks as though it could be him.
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An interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Can’t miss today’s gals — Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman in MILLIE (1931).
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It’s Helen Twelvetrees with a scrubbed face.
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Helen Twelvetrees, not thirteen.
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Why is Helen Twelvetrees looking so sad.
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I know that’s Robert Ames on the right in Wednesday’s photo, but don’t know his companion . . .
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And, of course, Helen Twelvetrees today.
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Vivian Leigh
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