This week’s mystery movie was the 1947 Paramount film Welcome Stranger, with Bing Crosby, Joan Caulfield, Barry Fitzgerald, Wanda Hendrix, Frank Faylen, Elizabeth Patterson, Robert Shayne, Larry Young, Percy Kilbride, Charles Dingle and Don Beddoe.
Screenplay by Arthur Sheekman.
Adaptation by Arthur Sheekman and N. Richard Nash.
Story by Frank Butler.
Photography by Lionel Lindon.
Costumes by Edith Head.
Art direction by Hans Dreier and Franz Bachelin.
Editorial supervision by LeRoy Stone.
Process photography by Farciot Edouart.
Set decoration by Sam Comer and John MacNeil.
Technical Adviser Dr. Benjamin Sacks.
Lyrics by Johnny Burke.
Music by James Van Heusen.
Music score by Robert Emmett Dolan.
Vocal arrangements by Joseph J. Lilley.
Dances staged by Billy Daniels.
Edited by Everett Douglas.
Makeup by Wally Westmore.
Sound recording by Stanley Cooley and Joel Moss.
Produced by Sol C. Siegel.
Directed by Elliott Nugent.
Further information about Welcome Stranger is available from the AFI Catalog.
Welcome Stranger is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked Welcome Stranger by going through the trades, intrigued by the presence of Wanda Hendrix, also seen in the 1947 Ride the Pink Horse, and the story by the prolific Frank Butler. Barry Fitzgerald outdoes Lionel Barrymore’s Dr. Gillespie as a fussy, crusty, crotchety small-town doctor.
I’ll guess that Bosley Crowther found it mediocre entertainment, assuming he wasn’t a Bing Crosby fan.
Oops! It was fobbed off on one of the “alphabet critics” (T.M.P., probably Thomas M. Pryor, The New York Times, Aug. 7, 1947):
The news most moviegoers must be waiting to hear about the new Bing Crosby-Barry Fitzgerald picture at the Paramount Theater is “How does it compare with Going My Way?”
Well, it can be said that Welcome Stranger is as genial as the day is long — just the kind of picture that is nice to have around, even though it may not prompt one to shout huzzas. While it is not the intention to sell short this amiable comedy-drama about a pair of smalltown medical practitioners, the fact is that Welcome Stranger misses by a considerable margin the high mark in entertainment established by its distinguished predecessor.
For Monday we have, yes, a mysterious newsboy in a newsboy cap. I simply couldn’t resist.
Update: This is Joe Recht.
For Tuesday, we have two mysterious fellows.
Update: This is Charles R. Moore, left, and Clarence Brooks.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have another mysterious fellow. His companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear Friday.
For Friday, adding a mysterious guest. He does not approve of such goings-on!
Update: This is Barry Fitzgerald, left, at maximum grouch, and Clarence Muse.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mysterious fellow No. 1).
”Tricky Tuesday” has detoured to “Tricky Thursday” for these mysterious folks.
Update: This is Wanda Hendrix and Frank Faylen.
And also these mysterious fellows.
Update: This is director Elliott Nugent, left, in a cameo and Barry Fitzgerald.
But no trickery here!
Update: This is Larry Young, left, and Robert Shayne.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus mysterious companion cropped out due to lack of mysteriousness), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Robert Morrisey (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Bob Hansen (Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Thom and Megan (mystery movie and all mystery guests).
For “Tricky Friday,” we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Joan Caulfield.
And a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Bing Crosby.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (Thursday’s mysterious newsman), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie, Thursday’s mysterious newsman and mystery companion and mysterious leading persons), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
SHE WOULDN’T SAY YES. Jesse Graves and Nick Stewart.
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Charles R. Moore and George Read in THE DIVORCEE.
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Not only a mysterious newsboy in a newsboy cap, but a train, train porters and the possibility of rainy weather – at night. Can’t wait until “Hmmm Wednesday” and more favorite things.
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WELCOME STRANGER. Joe Recht Monday, Charles R. Moore and Clarence Brooks Tuesday, and Clarence Muse today.
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Clarence Muse is Wednesday’s guy. Soooo many movies to choose from.
I’m going to start with this one and work back if it turns out to be wrong. It’s the right time period, has a train, a cast of several porters, Clarence Muse and last but not least, a newsboy.
“Welcome Stranger” 1947
Monday – maybe Joe Recht
Tuesday – I’m pretty sure Charles R. Moore is checking the weather and the guy watching him I think is Clarence Brooks
Wednesday – Clarence Muse (my only sure thing) and if I’m right about the movie either Bing Crosby or Barry Fitzgerald (or both) are cropped out of my frame.
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Clarence Muse.
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That’s the multi-talented Clarence Muse playing a porter, demonstrating the fact that during Hollywood’s “Golden Age,” talented African-Americans were positioned in real – and reel – life as subservients. A cursory glance at IMDb shows him “working on the railroad” at least five times in his career.
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That’s Clarence Muse on Wednesday. Don’t know the movie!
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I’ll wildly guess “Lady on a Train.”
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Our mystery movie is Welcome Stranger, with Clarence Muse for today, Charles R. Moore and Clarence Brooke on Tuesday, and Joe Recht on Monday.
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Is the movie “The Narrow Margin” with Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor?
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Bing Crosby out of picture with Muse, Wanda Hendrix and Frank Faylen, Eliot Nugent and Barry Fitzgerald, and Lew Davis and robert Shayne.
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1947’s Paramount release, “Welcome Stranger,” featuring Joe Recht as the newsboy; Charles R. Moore and Clarence Brooks as train attendants; Clarence Muse as a dining car waiter; Wanda Hendrix and Frank Faylen; cigarette-smoking “Dr. Morton” stands beside Barry Fitzgerald but I don’t think Dr. Morton is played by Elliott Nugent despite the IMDB claim; and finally Larry Young and Robert Shayne as know-it-all young physicians.
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Frank Faylen
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Wanda Hendrix, Joe Recht, Frank Faylen, Thomas Mitchell and Robert Shayne in WELCOME STRANGER.
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I think I forgot to add the cameo by director Elliott Nugent.
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OK, my first guess went amiss but the appearance of Wanda Hendrix and Frank Faylen has totally convinced me that the movie is Welcome Stranger with Bing Crosby, Joan Caulfield, and Barry Fitzgerald in the lead roles.
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Izzat Gale Storm?
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Welcome Stranger (1947) w/Frank Faylen, Bing Crosby, Wanda Hendrix, Joan Caufield, Barry Fitzgerald, Clarence Muse, Joe Recht, Clarence Brooks…
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WELCOME STRANGER
Monday: Joe Recht
Tuesday: Charles R. Moore, Clarence Brooks
Wednesday: Clarence Muse
Thursday: Wanda Hendrix, Frank Faylen; Edward Clark, Barry Fitzgerald; Elliott Nugent, Robert Shayne.
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Was sorry to learn that this was Charles R. Moore’s final picture.
Thursday: 1) Wanda Hendrix and Frank Faylen (forever Dobie Gillis’ father to me.)
2) Director Elliot Nugent is playing Doctor Morton on screen left, with ‘covered face’ Barry Fitzgerald. Found a note that says that Billy Wilder directed this scene.
3) Robert Shayne is the screen right guy who is Bing Crosby’s rival for Ms. Joan Caufield. Just a guess on the guy next to him, Larry Young? I found a photo of him from this film wearing a stethoscope, so he must be Shayne’s doctor friend, ‘Ronnie Jenks’.
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Joan Caufield and Bing Crosby.
I’m looking forward to hearing about how you chose this one. Looks like a cute little story.
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Barry Fitzgerald on Wednesday with Clarence Muse, and Joan Caulfield and Bing Crosby today.
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Joan Caulfield, Bing Crosby.
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Joan Caulfield and Bing Crosby.
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Tricky Friday: Joan Caulfield and Bing Crosby in Welcome Stranger (1947)
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