Last week’s mystery movie was the 1940 MGM picture “Dulcy,” with Ann Sothern, Ian Hunter, Roland Young, Reginald Gardiner, Billie Burke, Lynne Carver and Dan Dailey Jr.
Screenplay by Albert Mannheimer, Jerome Chodorov and Joseph A Fields, based on a play by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly, photography by Charles Lawton, music by Bronislau Kaper, recording by Douglas Shearer, art direction by Cedric Gibbons, with associate Howard Campbell, set decorations by Edwin B. Willis, gowns by Adrian, hairstyles for Miss Sothern by Sydney Guilaroff and editing by Frank E. Hull
Produced by Edgar Selwyn, directed by S. Sylvan Simon.
“Dulcy” has apparently never been commercially released on DVD or VHS.
Writing in the New York Times (Nov. 28, 1940), Bosley Crowther said:
Ann Sothern must be awfully tired of displaying her particular talent for acting nitwit dames, especially in second-rate films. But apparently MGM isn’t weary of having her do it, for here she is, cast again in another of those screw-loose comedies constructed along the lines of a rotating squirrel cage. This time it is a re-remake of the old Kaufman-Connelly play, “Dulcy,” in which she goes ’round and ’round, accompanied by several other eminent screen whacks, and the theater in which all this silly gyrating occurs is Loew’s Criterion.
….Such crack-brained low comedy is only amusing when done with nimble zest. And this isn’t. Except for one fast sequence in a speed boat, it is slow and labored clowning by several uninspired wags. And besides — “Dulcy” first showed back in 1921; she has not improved with the years and frequent imitation. In short – and to put it bluntly – the bloom is off the rose.
For Monday, we have a mystery child. He approves of our leading leady, whom you will see on Friday.
Update: This is Donald Huie.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman who is puzzled by such goings-on. Her grouchy boss does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is May McAvoy.
Howard Mandelbaum recused himself this week because we had a recent conversation that involved our mystery movie. Howard mentioned it in passing and I was pleased to find the DVD in the archives. And here we are.
For Wednesday we have, a somewhat perplexed mystery photo emeritus…. I have cropped out the other actors due to their lack of mysteriousness.
Update: This is, of course, Jack Mulhall. A still photo fails to capture all his double and triple takes.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery woman).
For Thursday, we have three not terribly mysterious guests…
Update: This is Billie Burke, Reginald Gardener and Roland Young.
We also have a very wet mystery gent…
Update: This is a very wet Hans Conried.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest and mystery cropped-out gent), Sheila (Wednesday’s mystery gent) and Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery gent).
For Friday, well someone may not approve of these goings-on!
Update: This is Lynne Carver and Dan Dailey.
And here’s our non-mysterious leading lady and leading man.
Update: This is Ann Sothern and Ian Hunter.
Brain Trust roll call: Benito (mystery movie and mystery leading lady), Mary Mallory (Monday’s mystery lad and Thursday’s mysterious trio), Sheila (Thursday’s mysterious trio), Chrisbo (Thursday’s mystery woman and mystery movie spouse), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery woman and Thursday’s mystery trio plus Thursday’s very wet comedian), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery trio), Gary (mystery movie, mystery leading lady, Thursday’s mystery trio and a very nice personal recollection. Thanks for sharing!), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman, Wednesday’s mystery gent, Thursday’s mystery trio and mysterious wet comedian), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), LC (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Thom and Megan (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman and Thursday’s mystery trio plus mysterious wet comedian).
ladailymirror.com 
Always nice to see someone who *does* approve of such goings-on…
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Donald Huie as “Sneezy” in DULCY.
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Just a guess……Hayward So Hoo.
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A good guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Hayward Soo Hoo.
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A good guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM?
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An interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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May McAvoy.
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I think that’s Fay Bainter, and the movie WOMAN OF THE YEAR.
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An interesting guess. But I’m afraid not.
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How ’bout “China Sky” for the movie?
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Interesting guess. But I’m afraid not. Also, the wrong studio.
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LOVE CRAZY
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Right era, right studio, but I’m afraid not.
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WEEKEND AT THE WALDORF.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Yay! Jack Mulhall! Someone will be happy! DULCY. So is Bobby Callahan the boy?
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Is Dan Dailey the person cut out?
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Jack Mulhall for Wednesday.
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Mr. Jack Mulhall.
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These rogues lead me to DULCY 1940, starring lovable dingbat Ann Sothern
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Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner, and Roland Young, and is that Ian Hunter who’s all wet?
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Donald Huie is the boy.
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Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner, Roland Young for Thursday.
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Billie Burke, a familiar looking gent, and Billie’s “Topper” spouse: Roland Young. But I can’t tell if it’s one of the “Topper” films.
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Tuesday is May McAvoy, Followed by our people on thursday: Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner, Roland Young and Hans Conreid.
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Indeed not mysterious but delightful Billie Burke, Roland Young and Reginald Gardner. Must be “Dulcy.”
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Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner, and Roland Young. It must be MGM’s Dulcey, starring Ann Southern. RG starred in Visit to a Small Planet …with Paul Lynde… at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, 1959, whilst I was there. He sat in the bar and drank after the performances.Not much more to tell you about him other than that…not even a Betty Grable tale or two altho I did pump him for them.
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Monday’s guest is a true mystery to me. Tuesday: May McAvoy, Wed: Jack Mulhall (love him!), Thurs: Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner, Roland Young and Hans Corned. The movie is “Dulcy.”
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I hate auto correct!! Thursday: Should have been Hans Conried, not Hans Corned.
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Dulcy 1940
Mon. – Donald Huie
Tues. – May McAvoy
Wed. – Jack Mulhall (I think) – Mystery guy – Dan Daily, Jr. (I think)
Thur. – Billie Burke, Reginald Owen, Roland Young
Hans Conreid (so very young) – Is white hat guy Gerald Oliver-Smith?
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Dulcy (1940) w/Ann Southern, Reginald Gardiner, Donald Huie, Ian Hunter, Billie Burke, Roland Young,…
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What happened to my reply in which I named Dulcey as the Ann Southern MGM film?
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Dulcy is our movie with Billie Burke, Reginald Gardiner, Roland Young, and Hans Conried today, and May McAvoy for Tuesday.
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Hans Conreid all wet, Lynne Carver and Dan Dailey, Ann Sothern and Ian Hunter.
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Lynne Carver, Dan Dailey, Ann Sothern and Ian Hunter.
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Fri. – Lynne Carver and Dan Daily Jr. / Ann Southern and Ian Hunter.
I hope Gary’s recollection is not too personal and that it makes it into your Saturday breakdown. This was a fun mystery. Thanks.
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Friday: Lynne Carver with Dan Dailey and Ann Southern with Ian Hunter.
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Is the little boy from Monday Donald Huie?
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