This week’s mystery movie was the 1934 Warner Bros. picture Big Hearted Herbert, with Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee, Patricia Ellis, Helen Lowell, Phillip Reed, Robert Barrat, Henry O’Neill, Marjorie Gateson, Nella Walker, Trent Durkin, Jay Ward, Hale Hamilton and Claudia Coleman.
Screenplay by Lillie Hayward and Ben Markson.
Based on a play adapted by Sophie Kerr and Anna Steese Richardson, from a story by Sophie Kerr.
Edited by Jack Killifer.
Art direction by Robert M. Haas.
Photographed by Arthur L. Todd.
Gowns by Orry-Kelly.
Vitaphone Orchestra conducted by Leo F. Forbstein.
Directed by William Keighley.
Further information about Big Hearted Herbert is available from the AFI Catalog.
Big Hearted Herbert is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked Big Hearted Herbert by going through the trades, as it received excellent reviews. I always think of Guy Kibbee in a minor role as a chorine’s sugar daddy bankrolling a Broadway show, where he appears in small doses. The script calls for him to be blustery and overbearing in a leading role and he certainly is. The play on which the film is based ran on Broadway in 1934 for 154 performances, so I’m going to assume that The New York Times was positively disposed toward the movie. I think we are in Mordaunt Hall territory here….
Aha… It’s Andre Sennwald, who approves (The New York Times, Nov. 14, 1934):
The disadvantages of being a fussbudget are cartooned with a good deal of comic bluster and lively domestic humor in the photoplay edition of Big Hearted Herbert, now at the Mayfair. Abandoning for the moment his waddling pursuit of the glamorous tootsies in the Warner Bros. troupe, Guy Kibbee sinks his ample bay window into this entertaining hearthside comedy and provides the sort of first-hand character sketch which he manages so excellently. For Mr. Kibbee, in his way, is as authentic as Mr. Jiggs. His grouch is the precise counterpart of the disgruntled phiz of a captured flounder. His jowls posses the classic droop and his shiny pate is bordered with just enough moss to prevent its being mistaken for a billiard ball.
For Monday, our mystery guest is having trouble with her maid’s outfit.
Update: This is Helen Lowell, who steals every scene she’s in.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious lad.
Update: This is Jay Ward.
For “Hm Wednesday,” our mystery fellow is on the phone.
Update: This is Milton Kibbee, Guy Kibbee’s brother.
And we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Gay Seabrook.
For “Aha Thursday,” we have two dapper mystery gents.
Update: This is Henry O’Neill, left, and Robert Barrat.
Brain Trust roll call: Blackwing Jenny (Wednesday’s mysterious secretary) and Chrisbo (Wednesday’s mystery stenographer).
For Friday, we have a better shot of Monday’s mystery maid.
Update: This is a better shot of Helen Lowell.
We also have this mystery couple.
Update: This is Patricia Ellis and Phillip Reed.
And this enigmatic couple.
Update: This is Aline MacMahon and Guy Kibbee.
Brain Trust roll call: Greg (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mysterious secretary and Thursday’s dapper mystery gents), Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mysterious lad, Wednesday’s mystery stenographer and Thursday’s dapper fellows), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s dapper gents), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mysterious dapper fellows), Suzanne Stone (mystery movie, mystery lead, Wednesday’s mysterious stenographer and Thursday’s dapper mysterious gents), B.J. Merholz (Thursday’s mystery fellow No. 1), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Incredibleinman (Thursday’s mysterious dapper gents), Sheila (mystery movie and Thursday’s mysterious dapper gents) and L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast).
Note to Chrisbo: Alas, it’s not.
ladailymirror.com 
Patsy Kelly?
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An excellent guess! This would be a good role for her, but, alas, it’s not her.
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Marie Prevost?
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Is the Mysterious Woman Gay Seabrook?
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Is that Gay Seabrook on Wednesday?
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Thursday’s two spiffy sports are, from left, Henry O’neill and Robert Barrat.
Wednesday’s secretary is possibly Gay Seabrook and, judging from the name on the door, the movie should be Big Hearted Herbert from 1934.
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BIG HEARTED HERBERT. Aline MacMahon Monday, Jay Ward Tuesday, Hale Hamilton and Gay Seabrook Wednesday, and Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat today.
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Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat
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Thursday – The gentleman on screen left is Henry O’Neill. Now to go through his zillion and one credits. I think I’m safe in narrowing the time frame to the mid to late 1930s. Anyway that’s where I’ll start.
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Henry O’Neill, Robert Barrat
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“Big Hearted Herbert” 1934, starring Guy Kibbee. Henry O’Neill, Robert Barratt, Gay Seabrook as the secretary (I knew she played Spanky’s mom, so that was my entree to the others.)
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Henry O’Neill
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Wild guess (based on the Gay Seabrook filmography): She Learned About Sailors
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Jay Ward, Milton Kibbee, Gay Seabrook, Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat in BIG HEARTED HERBERT.
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Today’s mystery gents are Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat. I’m less positive about the movie. “Midnight Alibi,” maybe?
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Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat, ‘Big Hearted Herbert’?
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Big Hearted Herbert (1934) w/Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee, Helen Lowell, Trent Durkin, Patricia Ellis, Robert Barratt, Henry O’Neill, Philip Reed…
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I’m going to start my guessing with “First Lady” 1937. This mystery appears to be a comedy from the mid to late thirties and Henry O’Neill is in it. Also , just having seen the play, POTUS, I’m predisposed to guess it.
Will keep searching though. Boy, was Mr O’Neill in a lot of movies.
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next guess:
“Big Hearted Herbert” 1934
Herbert Ka…is on the door behind the young stenographer who, if this is indeed the mystery movie, is Gay Seabrook. Also, Henry O’Neill is in this movie, too.
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Monday – Helen Lowell
Tuesday- Jay Ward
Wednesday – I think Joseph Crehan is the tax inspector, so must be this guy. Gay Seabrook as the steno.
Thursday – Henry O’Neill and Robert Barrat
Friday will bring Guy Kibbee and Aline MacMahon. Maybe Patricia Ellis and Phillip Reed
Nice challenge . Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
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Helen Lowell Monday and Today, Milton Kibbee Wednesday, Patricia Ellis and Philip Reed, and Aline MacMahon and Guy Kibbee.
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Helen Lowell, Patricia Ellis, Philip Reed, Aline MacMahon and Guy Kibbee.
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guy kibbee and aline macmahon today. Confusion is their business
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