This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 Twentieth Century-Fox film Come to the Stable, with Loretta Young, Celeste Holm, Hugh Marlowe, Elsa Lanchester, Thomas Gomez, Dorothy Patrick, Basil Ruysdael, Dooley Wilson, Regis Toomey and Mike Mazurki.
Screenplay by Oscar Millard and Sally Benson.
From a story by Clare Boothe Luce.
Music by Cyril Mockridge.
Musical direction by Lionel Newman.
Photography by Joseph La Shelle.
Art direction by Lyle Wheeler and Joseph C. Wright.
Set decorations by Thomas Little and Paul S. Fox.
Edited by William Reynolds.
Wardrobe by Charles LeMaire.
Costumes designed by Kay Nelson.
Through a Long and Sleepless Night by Alfred Newman and Mack Gordon.
Orchestration by Edward Powell and Maurice de Packh.
Makeup by Ben Nye.
Photographic effects by Fred Sersen.
Sound by Bernard Freericks and Roger Heman.
Produced by Samuel G. Engel.
Directed by Henry Koster.
More on the fascinating history of Come to the Stable is available from the AFI Catalog.
Come to the Stable is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I chose Come to the Stable by going through the trades. It’s a bit out of the usual rotation of holiday movies, which pleased me.
I’m going to guess that unless Bosley Crowther was feeling particularly grumpy, he gave this one a passing review.
No, he did not approve of such goings-on, though he takes a LONG time to say so (The New York Times, July 28, 1949):
The gentle but dauntless persistence of two Roman Catholic nuns in procuring land and resources for a new children’s hospital is the nub of sentiment and humor that have been rather copiously crammed by Twentieth Century-Fox into Come to the Stable, which opened at the Rivoli last night. Likewise, the verve with which these sisters indulge in intense activities, such as driving a Jeep and playing tennis, is the cause for much pointed merriment.
Following the popular pattern of The Bells of St. Mary’s and Going My Way, which found much charm and amusement in the lives of nuns and priests, this fable, originally written for the screen by Clare Boothe Luce, finds further romantic enchantment in the work and devotion of nuns.
….Henry Koster, who made his reputation directing Deanna Durbin’s early films, has directed this one in comparable fashion. Some may find it appropriate and charming. We do not. For nuns, in our estimation — however lovely they may be — are not subjects for the same glamour treatment as is given a youthful movie star.
For Monday, we have a mysterious lad.
Update: This is Roddy McCaskill, though I accepted Teddy Driver as well.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious woman. Her companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear later.
Update: for “Aha Thursday,” adding our mysterious manicurist’s mystery client.
Update: This is Thomas Gomez and Marion Martin, with Mike Mazurki as Back of the Back Guy.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Louis Jean Heydt
We also have two mysterious clerics and Back of the Wimple Nun.
Update: This is Regis Toomey, left, and Basil Ruysdael, with Loretta Young as Back of the Wimple Nun.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious angel, Tuesday’s mystery manicurist and guest cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and Back of the Back Guy) and Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mysterious manicurist).
Also for “Aha Thursday,” we have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Mike Mazurki.
And this mysterious woman.
Update: This is Elsa Lanchester.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, all mysterious guests, cropped-out individuals and Back of the Wimple Nun), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests, Back of the Wimple Nun), Incredibleinman (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Wimple Nun), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mysterious manicurist and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Wimple Nun), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 1), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery fellow No. 1), Greg (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Suzanne A. Stone (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery angel, Wednesday’s mystery guests), Barb (mystery movie), Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests) and Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests, cropped-out fellow, plus Back of the Wimple Nun).
For Friday, we have these mysterious folks.
Update: This is, from left, Dorothy Patrick, Tim Huntley and Hugh Marlowe.
And two mysterious nuns with a mystery companion.
Update: This is, from left, Celeste Holm, Dooley Wilson and Loretta Young.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Chrisbo (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mysterious fellow No 1 and Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Earl Boebert (Thursday’s mystery guest No. 1), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests), Richard Wegescheide (Wednesday’s mystery guest No. 1 and mystery cleric No. 1, and Thursday’s mysterious fellow), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests) and Benito (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Wild guess: PENNY SERENADE?
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An interesting guess, but Cary Grant does not appear in our mystery film.
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Monday: Roddy McCaskill.
Tuesday: Thomas Gomez, Marion Martin.
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Mike Mazurki on right.
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Marion martin
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Her face looks soooo familiar. Portrayed a LOT of nurses, I think.
Looks like she’s prepping to give, or has just given our OS guy an injection of some kind…(just meandering thoughts, no guess as yet.)
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COME TO THE STABLE. Roddy McCaskill Monday, Thomas Gomez just out of frame with Marion Martin and Hugh Marlowe back of back, and Louis Jean Heydt, Regis toomey, Basil ruysdael, and Loretta Young BOTH today.
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Louis Jean Heydt; Regis Toomey, Basil Ruysdael, Loretta Young.
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Hmmm … priests, nuns, Louis Jean Heydt and Regis Toomey — I’m guessing this is “Come to the Stable,” with Loretta Young as BOTW nun.
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Tagline: Laughs To Make Your Heart Ring Out With Joy! I guess we know who comes to the stable at Christmas.
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Louis Jean Heydt, Regis Toomey and Basil Rusydael in COME TO THE STABLE.
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Marion Martin, Louis Jean Heydt, Basil Ruysdael and Regis Toomey, ‘Come to the Stable’.
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Regis Toomey and Basil Ruysdael (and Loretta Young?) in Come to the Stable (1949)
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Louis Jean Heydt, aka deadster in THE BIG SLEEP, today
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Come to the Stable (1949) w/Loretta Young, Celeste Holm, Regis Toomey, Hugh Marlowe, Elsa Lanchester, Basil Ruysdael, Louis Jean Heydt, Roddy McCaskill, Marion Martin…
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Aw,I love Louis Heydt! In “Come to the Stable”.
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With Basil Ruysdael and Regis Toomey appearing as priests along with Louis Jean Heydt the movie almost certainly has be “Come to the Stable” from 1949. But, I’ve been wrong before.
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Come to the Stable, from 1949, with an unknown Cherub, Louis Jean Heydt, Regis Toomey.
I am sure the glamorous nuns Celeste Holm and Loretta Young are lurking about soon.
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Is the movie Come To The Stable? Looks like there’s a stable and a nun ….
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Our move is Come to the Stable, with Regis Toomey, Basil Ruysdael, and Louis Jean Heydt for today. Marion Martin and Teddy Driver are our guests for Tuesday and Monday.
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Ha! All is clear now with that nun’s cheekbones.
“Come to the Stable” 1949
Monday – I think this particular cherub is Teddy Driver, but not sure.
Tuesday – Marion Martin is the manicurist.
“Cropped for lack of mysteriousness” is Thomas Gomez. I think Hugh Marlowe is the FG BOTHG.
Wednesday – Louis Jean Heydt, Regis Toomey and Basil Ruysdael are talking to BOTHN, Loretta Young.
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Mike Mazurski and Elsa Lanchester today.
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Louis Jean Heydt + Mike Mazurki + Elsa Lanchester = Come to the Stable. Lovely performance by Thomas Gomez in that one.
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Mike Mazurki; Elsa Lanchester.
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I will join the stampede to guess Mike Mazurki on Thursday.
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Thursday – Mike Mazurki and Elsa Lanchester
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You have Louis Heydt on Wednesday, and I believe the priest on the left is Regis Toomey. Thursday is Mike Mazurky in the top photo. I don’t remember seeing this picture.
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Thomas Gomez, Mike Mazurki and Elsa Lanchester.
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Mike Mazurki and Elsa Lanchester in Come to the Stable (1949)
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Thomas Gomez, Mike Mazurki and Elsa Lanchester in COME TO THE STABLE 1949
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Dorothy Patrick, Wally Brown, & Hugh Marlowe, with Celeste Holm, Dooley Wilson, & Loretta Young.
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Dorothy Patrick, Hugh Marlowe for sure. I think the guy in the middle is G.P. (Timothy) Huntley but I’m not sure.
Celeste Holm, Dooley Wilson and Loretta Young.
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Hugh Marlowe, Celeste Holm, Dooley Wilson, Loretta Young and Dorothy Patrick.
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Dorothy Patrick, Tim Huntley, Hugh Marlowe; Celeste Holm, Dooley Wilson, Loretta Young.
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Dorothy Patrick, (?), Hugh Marlowe, Celeste Holm, Dooley Wilson, and Loretta Young in Come to the Stable (1949)
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