This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 Warner Bros. picture “The Girl From Jones Beach,” with Ronald Reagan, Virginia Mayo, Eddie Bracken, Dona Drake, Henry Travers, Lois Wilson, Florence Bates, Jerome Cowan, Helen Westcott, Paul Harvey, Lloyd Corrigan, Gary Gray and Myrna Dell.
The screenplay was by I.A.L. Diamond from a story by Allen Boretz, photography by Carl Guthrie, art direction by Stanley Fleischer, dialogue direction by John Maxwell, set decoration by William Kuehl, special effects by William McGann and Edwin DuPar, wardrobe by Leah Rhodes, makeup by Perc Westmore and orchestrations by Leonid Raab. Music by David Buttolph, produced by Alex Gottlieb and directed by Peter Godfrey.
“The Girl From Jones Beach” is available on DVD from Warner Archive.
I picked the “The Girl From Jones Beach” because of its summer theme, but it has a notable history. In 1948, Warner Bros. suspended Lauren Bacall, originally cast in the lead, for refusing to make the picture, which was to star Dennis Morgan. At first, studio sources told the New York Times that Bacall had no objections to the picture, but wanted a vacation after making “Key Largo.”
Irritated by Warners’ claims, Bacall went on the record with the New York Times (April 25, 1948) saying that she refused the picture because “I’m not a bathing beauty” but she also tore into the project.
“The script is bad,” she said. “It’s labeled a comedy but I don’t think it’s funny. As a picture, I feel it’s completely wrong. When it comes out, I think I’ll be justified. As for jeopardizing the jobs of 200 people, Warners has laid off five times that many people in the last six months. Let’s face it. They have the interests of Warner Bros. at heart and I have the interests of me at heart, and we just aren’t getting together.”
Warners suspended Bacall again for refusing to make “Blowing Wild,” a remake of “Torrid Zone” originally retitled “Sacramento Sal.”
Writing in the New York Times (July 30, 1949), Bosley Crowther said:
The brand of humor concocted in I.A.L. Diamond’s script is not of a lofty order. Indeed, it is noticeably low. And it may be because the competition is not of an overwhelming sort. Eddie Bracken’s frenzied performance of a scatter-brained promotion man is largely composed of wide-eyed ogles at dames. And Dona Drake’s girlish clowning of his sweetheart is mostly a matter of acting bored….
As a comedy actress Miss Mayo is no better than a rather weak script. But as a model for bathing apparel — well, do you or do you not like bathing suits?
For Monday, we have a mystery woman She does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Dona Drake.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman. Ignore Back of the Head Guy, who will make an appearance later in the week.
Update: This is Helen Westcott and Back of Head Guy Eddie Bracken.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mystery woman) and Gary (mystery studio).
For Wednesday, we have a mystery woman who would not approve of such goings-on – IF she knew what was going on (she does not).
Update: This is Myrna Dell.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Jenny M. (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman), Gary (mystery movie, mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy).
For Thursday, we have a mystery guest (he does not approve of such goings-on) and another shot of Posterior of the Cranium Gentleman.
Update: This Eddie Bracken (Back of the Head Guy) and Chester Clute.
We also have a mystery lad (Are those pictures supposed to be family photos? You WB prop guys are sure a bundle of laffs).
Update: This is Gary Gray.
And our mystery lad’s mystery mom.
Update: This is Lois Wilson.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery woman, Tuesday’s Posterior of the Cranium Gentleman), Benito (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery woman and mystery leading man to be seen tomorrow) and Gary (Wednesday’s mystery woman and by email a photo of all 12 women who would not approve of such goings-on — if they knew what was going on).
For Friday, our leading man and leading lady approve of such goings-on.
Update: Ronald Reagan and Virginia Mayo.
Our mystery second leads….
Update: This is Dona Drake and Eddie Bracken.
Brain Trust roll call: Suzanne Stone (Monday’s mystery woman), David Inman (Thursday’s mystery bill collector), Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery woman, mystery Posterior of the Cranium gentleman, Thursday’s mystery lad and Thursday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Gary (Thursday’s mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, mystery Posterior of the Cranium gentleman, Thursday’s mystery lad and Thursday’s mystery woman), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery lad, mystery bill collector and mystery woman), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery bill collector) and Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (Thursday’s mystery bill collector).
ladailymirror.com 
Happy birthday! Other than that, I got nothing.
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Thanks!
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Dona Drake.
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Janis Paige?
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Interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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That was my guess too, dagnabit
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Joan Evans?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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THE GIRLFROM JONES BEACH.
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It is a mystery why this woman is dressed and made up to look just like Janis Paige in Romance on the High Seas. I am curious if it is a Warner Bros. film as well.
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William Bendix as back of the head guy?
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I’m not sure Bendix had that much hair!
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Helen Westcott.
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Edmund O’Brien.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Helen Westcott
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Barbara Bates or a contemporary of the era.
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The Girl from Jones Beach
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Going for a Tuesday win: Dona Drake, Venus Am Strand, and BOHG Eddie Bracken in Girl from Jones Beach.
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I mean Helen Westcott.
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I’m with Inman!!
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I suppose appearances can be deceptive but it looks to me that Wednesday Woman would very much approve of what was going on so long as she was involved. BTW no idea who she is.
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Our mystery woman assumes that she is “the one.” But in fact our leading man is lying to her and she is merely one of many. She would definitely not approve of such goings-on.
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Myrna Dell. Back of the cranium: Eddie Bracken
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Gloria DeHaven yesterday.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Is Monday’s girl Dona Drake? If so, guessing the movie is The Girl From Jones Beach 1949, and Ron Raygun will appear
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Could Tuesday’s mystery woman be Nancy Olson?
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Alas I’m afraid not.
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For Wednesday: I believe this is Myrna Dell …with twelve choices and so many years gone by …this is not easy!
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Chester Clute today.
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Gary Gray is the kid.
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Lois Wilson today and THE GIRL FROM JONES BEACH. Ronald Reagan as back of the head guy on Tuesday.
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Dona Drake Monday, Eddie Bracken as back of the head guy, Carol Brewster Wednesday, and Angi O’Poulos with Bracken.
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Chester Clute appears in ?????
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Add Gary Gray and Lois Wilson to make this GIRL FROM JONES BEACH 1949.
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Chester Clute, Gary Gray, and Lois Wilson. Only a few years older than me, Gary Gray was my surrogate in the movies. I never missed a film if I knew he would be in it.
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The Girl From Jones Beach
Monday – Helen Westcott (?)
Tuesday – Dona Drake and Ronald Reagan
Wednesday – Nancy Valentine (?)
Thursday – Ronald Reagan, Paul Harvey, Gary Gray, Lois Wilson
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Okay, instead of Mr. Prez, let’s put Eddie Bracken.
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Mystery mom/knitting lady: Spring Byington?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Gary Gray and Lois Wilson.
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Is Thursday’s mystery man Chester Clute?
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Chester Clute for today.
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Almost forgot Chester Clute.
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Ronald Reagan and Virginia Mayo and Dona Drake and Eddie Bracken. Helen Westcott Tuesday, and Chester Clute as the bill collector yesterday.
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Mr. Reagan, Miss Mayo, Miss Drake and Mr. Bracken.
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Thurs, son is Gary Gray and his mom is Lois Wilson.
Friday our stars, Ronald Reagan with Virginia Mayo and Eddie Bracken with Donna Drake in The Girl From Jones Beach.
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Thurs gent must be Chester Clute with his funny mustache.
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I think Wed’s gal might be Carol Brewster
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Movie – The Girl from Jones Beach 1949
Mon – I think is Alice Wallace w/ Eddie Bracken (back of the head guy)
Tues – Helen Wescott
Wed – I think is Myrna Dell
Thur – Eddie Bracken (b.o.t.h. again) with Chester Clute
kid is Gary Gray and knitting lady is Lois Wilson
Fri – Ronald Reagan & Virginia Mayo
Dona Drake and Eddie Bracken
No “Thursday aha” moment, but still fun. Thanks.
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