This week’s mystery movie has been the 1934 MGM film “The Show-Off,” with Spencer Tracy, Madge Evans, Henry Wadsworth, Lois Wilson, Grant Mitchell, Clara Blandick, Alan Edwards and Claude Gillingwater. The screenplay was by Herman J. Mankiewicz from a play by George Kelly, with art direction by David Townsend, interior decoration by Edwin B. Willis and photography by James Wong Howe. The film was directed by Charles F. Riesner and produced by Lucien Hubbard.
“The Show-Off” is not commercially available.
Writing in the New York Times (March 17, 1934), Mordaunt Hall said:
At the Capitol the principal attraction is the pictorial transcription of George Kelly’s successful old play, “The Show-Off,” with Spencer Tracy in the rôle created on the stage by the late Louis John Bartels. Although the film undoubtedly lacks the nimble wit and subtle shadings of the original, it still possesses a generous fund of laughable incidents. The story is, however, a slice of life that might have been equally as clever on the screen as the parent work, but those responsible for the adaptation and the direction were evidently too zealous in making unnecessary changes.
For Monday, we have an elegant mystery woman.
Update: This is Dora Clement.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent. Pay no attention to Back of the Head Guy, who will make his appearance Friday.
Update: This is Richard Tucker.
For Wednesday, we have a mystery gent – and Back of the Head Guy, sans chapeau.
Update: This is Henry Wadsworth.
Brain Trust roll call: Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery gent), Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery gent/wrong movie) and Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery gent).
For Thursday, we have two mystery guests.
Update: This is Clara Blandick (Auntie Em in “Wizard of Oz”) and Grant Mitchell.
Brain Trust roll call: Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy).
And for Friday, Back of the Head Guy and a mystery companion.
Update: This is Spencer Tracy and Madge Evans.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (Thursday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Chrisbo (Thursday’s mystery woman), B.J. Merholz (Thursday’s mystery gent), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sylvia E (Thursday’s mystery woman), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Cathy Courtney (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Youngish Fay Bainter?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Ethel Grey Terry.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Richard Tucker for Tuesday.
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Richard Tucker today.
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Richard Tucker.
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Edward Keane
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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SHADOW OF THE LAW. Marion Shilling Monday and William Powell with Tucker today.
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Henry Wadsworth, ‘The Show Off’.
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THE SHOW-OFF (1934/ with Mystery Man Spencer Tracy)
Monday – Dora Clement
Tuesday – Richard Tucker
Wednesday – William Wadsworth
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Dora Clement, Henry Wadsworth and Mr. Spencer Tracy in THE SHOW-OFF 1934.
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THE SHOW-OFF. Dora Clement Monday, Henry Wadsworth Wednesday, and Clara Blandick and Grant Mitchell today.
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Clara Blandick, Grant Mitchell.
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One of Thursday’s mystery guests appears to be Clara Blandick
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Clara Blandick and Grant Mitchell.
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Clara Blandick on Thursday?
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Grant Mitchell
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Clara Blandick and Grant Mitchell in The Show-Off.
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Tuesday’s Mystery Man looks like Boyd Davis.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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The Show-Off with Dora Clement for Monday, Richard Tucker for Tuesday, Henry Wadsworth for Wednesday, and Clara Blandick and Grant Mitchell for today.
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Monday: Dora Clement, Tuesday: Richard Tucker, Wed: Henry Wadsworth, Thurs- Clara Blandick and Grant Mitchell. The movie is The Show-Off, 1934
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Boy! A tough one. I’m not sure at all.
Maybeeee…..Murder at Midnight????
Tues – William Humphrey
Thurs – Clara Blandick (if it is her, I had no idea Auntie Em was in so many murder mysteries!)
I hold out hope for Friday’s leading man to help.
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Ha! This was fun, too – though I was completely off with the exception of Clara.
Movie: The Show Off (1934)
M – Dora Clement
T – Richard Tucker
W – Henry Wadsworth
Th – Clara Blandick & Grant Mitchell
F – Spencer Tracy & Madge Evans
What a great cast! Thanks.
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The Show Off (1934) w/Lois Wilson, Clara Blandick, Grant Mitchell, Spencer Tracy…
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Are the last two Clara Blandick and Grant Mitchell?
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Spence again and Madge Evans.
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Spencer Tracy and Madge Evans.
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Friday is Spencer Tracy and Madge Evans
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Spencer Tracy & Madge Evans.
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The movie is The Show Off – Wed is Henry Wadsworth. Thurs are Grant Mitchell and Clara Blandick. Friday are our stars Spencer Tracy and Madge Evans.
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George Kelly, who wrote the play the film is based on, was Grace Kelly’s uncle.
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