This week’s mystery movie was the 1944 film Storm Over Lisbon, with Vera Hruba Ralston, Richard Arlen, Erich von Stroheim, Otto Kruger, Eduardo Ciannelli, Robert Livingston, Mona Barrie, Frank Orth, Sarah Edwards, Alice Fleming, Leon Belasco and Kenne Duncan.
Original story by Elizabeth Meehan. Adaptation by Dane Lussier. Screenplay by Doris Gilbert.
Associate producer, George Sherman.
Photography by John Alton.
Musical director Morton Scott.
Edited by Arthur Roberts.
Sound by Dick Tyler.
Art direction by Russell Kimball.
Egyptian Dance by the Aida Broadbent Girls.
Set decorations by Otto Siegel.
Costumes by Adele.
Special effects by Theodore Lydecker.
Directed by George Sherman.
Storm Over Lisbon is available from Amazon.
More on the history of the film is available from the AFI catalog.
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I had been curious about Storm Over Lisbon for a long time and finally found a copy. The plot is like someone found a Lego set of World War II espionage films. Many familiar elements but put together in a strange way. Visually, a very interesting film.
Pretty sure Bosley Crowther is going to hate it. Nope. It’s one of the alphabet soup critics: A.W., probably Abe Weiler (Sept. 11, 1944):
Despite an imposing cast, sumptuous settings and an arresting title, Storm Over Lisbon, the melodrama which arrived at the Republic on Saturday, is an over-long, dull and hackneyed exercise in intrigue. Having previously employed Erich von Stroheim, Vera Hruba Ralston (the former Czech ice skater and dancer) and Richard Arlen in an scientific thriller set in Arizona and titled The Lady and the Monster, Republic, the producers, now have seen fit to install that trio in an opulent and improbable nightclub bursting with spies. What happens there shouldn’t, and probably couldn’t happen to any self-respecting espionage agent.
For Monday, we have a mystery guest.
Update: This is Vera Hruba Ralston.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Mona Barrie.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have these two intriguing mystery ladies.
Update: This is Sarah Edwards, left, and Alice Fleming.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and both mystery guests) and Thom and Megan (Tuesday’s mystery woman).
Note to Sylvia: Yes, Monday’s mystery woman is real. She will appear Friday.
For “Aha Thursday,” we have these mystery gents.
Update: This is Willy Kaufman, left, and Eduardo Ciannelli.
We also have a mysterious bartender and Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is perennial bartender Frank Orth and George Humbert as Back of the Head guy.
And finally, this mystery fellow.
Update: This is Otto Kruger.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery women).
For Friday, we have this mysterious gent.
Update: This is Richard Arlen.
We also have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Erich von Stroheim
And finally, here’s our mystery woman from Monday, but with better lighting.
Update: This is Vera Hruba Ralston.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Jenny M. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus Friday’s mystery leads), Incredible Inman (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus Friday’s mystery leads) and Thom and Megan (mystery movie, Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Another stab in the dark on a Monday – Lena Horne.
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A good guess, but alas… I’ll cast more light on the subject later in the week!
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The lighting and set design are a little off, but at first blush it sure appears to be Gale Sondergaard, “Mrs. Hammond,” in “The Letter.”
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An interesting guess! Alas, I’m afraid not. All will become clear later in the week.
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Is Monday’s woman a real person? She seems a bit mannequin-like. And that Arabian-esque setting, in a department store, or a fashion showroom??
Tuesday’s woman appears to be a high-end (sterling tea service) personal assistant (lots of phones on her desk.)
In summary, I have no guesses – just meandering.
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CAST A DARK SHADOW. Lita Roza Monday and Kay Walsh Tuesday.
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An interesting guess, but alas….
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Monday: Vera Hruba Ralston in STORM OVER LISBON (1944)
Tuesday: Mona Barrie
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Wild guess: DREAM WIFE 1953
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Wow that would be interesting! Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Sarah Edwards and Alice Fleming
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Our mystery star for today is Mona Barrie.
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“the Unsuspected” starring Claude Rains from 1947?
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STORM OVER LISBON. Vera Ralston in shadow Monday, Mona Barrie Tuesday, Sarah Edwards and Alice Fleming Wednesday, Eduardo Cianelli, Frank Orth, Erich von Stroheim as BOTH, and Otto Kruger.
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Willy Kaufman, Eduardo Ciannelli; Frank Orth, George Humbert; Otto Kruger.
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Storm Over Lisbon
Monday – Vera Ralston
Tuesday – Mona Barrie
Wednesday – Sarah Edwards, Alice Fleming
Thursday – Frank Orth, Otto Kruger
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Letters of transit posted from a bar in Morocco find their way to a night club in Portugal two years later and generate a storm over Lisbon.
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Republic Studios’ “Storm Over Lisbon.” On Monday, Vera Ralston in silhouette; Tuesday, Mona Barrie; Wednesday’s club hopping dowagers: Sarah Edwards and Alice Fleming; on Thursday … Willy Kaufman and Eduardo Cianelli, Frank Orth and George Humbert as the back of the head guy, and a threatening Otto Kruger.
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I thought that was Mona Barrie on Tuesday. Then came, Sarah Edwards, Alice Fleming, Eduardo Ciannelli, Frank Orth, Otto Kruger and tomorrow Vera Ralston, Richard Arlen and Erich von Stroheim in STORM OVER LISBON.
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Eduardo Ciannelli, Frank Orth and Otto Kruger today. Put them all together and they spell “Storm Over Lisbon.”
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Thurs – Eduardo Ciannelli
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Storm Over Lisbon (1944) w/Eduardo Ciannelli, Vera Ralston, Erich von Stroheim, Otto Kruger, Richard Arlen, Mona Barrie, Frank Orth, Alice Fleming, Sarah Edwards…
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“Storm Over Lisbon” 1944
Monday – I think this is Vera Hruba Ralston (not the mannequin that I thought before)
Tuesday – Mona Barrie
Weds – I think, Sarah Edwards and Alice Fleming
Thurs – Not sure of the guy screen left, maybe Ed Agresti or Robert Livingston?? The guy on screen right is Eduardo Cianneli / Frank Orth is our bartender and I think the BOTHG is Richard Arlen / Otto Kruger is our guy with the rope and OS is Erich von Stroheim
Friday will bring full images of Vera Ralston and Richard Arlen
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Our mystery movie is Storm Over Lisbon, with Vera Hruba Ralston for Monday. For Wednesday, our guests are Sarah Edwards and Alice Fleming. For Thursday, our guests are Willy Kaufman, Eduardo Ciannelli, Frank Orth, possibly Richard Arlen, and Otto Kruger.
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This mystery was a challenge as well as being fun. The other photos I located while researching, particularly the ones with Mr von Stroheim, have statues galore. I assume they’re full of meaning.
Looking forward to Saturday’s breakdown.
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Richard Arlen, Toluca Lake Honorary Mayor, Erich von Stroheim, and Vera Ralston, Mrs. Herbert Yates, again.
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Monday – Vera Ralston
Thurs #3 Otto Kruger
Fri – #1 Richard Arlen, #2 Erich von Stroheim and #3 Vera Ralston
Movie is Storm Over Lisbon
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Wed – #1 Sarah Edwards & Alice Fleming
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Wed #2 – Will Kaufman & Eduardo Ciannell
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Richard Arlen; Erich von Stroheim; Vera Ralston.
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Our 2 casino gents should have read #1 for Thurs, not Wed
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Thurs bartender is Frank Orth
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Our sec on Tues us Mona Barrie
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Storm over Lisbon. Just a guess. Can’t think of the barenders name and Eduardo’s didnt’ come into focus for a few days.
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Storm Over Lisbon with Vera Ralston, Frank Orth, Eric Von Stroheim, Eduardo Ciannelli, Otto Kruger, Richard Arlen
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