This week’s mystery movie was the 1947 United Artists film The Private Affairs of Bel Ami, with George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, Ann Dvorak, Frances Dee, John Carradine, Susan Douglas, Hugo Haas, Marie Wilson, Albert Basserman, Katherine Emery, Richard Fraser and Warren William.
Screenplay by Albert Lewin.
Musical score composed and conducted by Darius Milhaud.
Production staged by Gordon Wiles.
Associate Producer Ray Heinz.
Photographed by Russell Metty.
Costumes by Norma.
Song My Bel Ami by Jack Lawrence and Irving Drutman.
Painting The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Max Ernst.
Art direction by Frank Sylos.
Edited by Albrecht Joseph.
Set Decoration by Edward Boyle.
Assistant Director Robert Aldrich.
Sound by Frank Webster.
Special scenic effects by Robert Moreland and Tom Lawless.
Makeup by Ern Westmore.
Head of makeup Gus Norin.
Musical supervisor Rudolph Polk.
Choreography by Ernst and Maria Matray.
Produced by David L. Loew.
Directed by Albert Lewin.
Further information on The Private Affairs of Bel Ami is available from the AFI Catalog. (The Breen office did NOT approve of such goings-on).
The Private Affairs of Bel Ami is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked The Private Affairs of Bel Ami by going through the trades after skipping my first two candidates for the usual reasons: One was a poor print and the other had a zillion screencaps uploaded to IMDB.com by some superfan. I was pleased with my discovery, for I always pick movies I don’t know. I skipped John Carradine because we just saw him in heavy makeup as Abraham Lincoln. Angela Lansbury is quite lovely in the film and the Darius Milhaud score is exceptional.
I’m going to guess that Bosley Crowther liked it or at least only had a few minor quibbles.
Uh-oh. He hated it (The New York Times, June 16, 1947):
Perhaps we had better advise you that The Private Affairs of Bel Ami reaches the peak of its excitement in a forward which awesomely proclaims: “This is the history of a scoundrel–the time is 1880, the place is Paris.” If that portentous information doesn’t knock you out of your seat, you may be reasonably certain that nothing else in the picture will. For the simple fact is that much more tension is contained in those kick-off words than ever thereafter develops on the Globe’s overburdened screen.
For Monday, we have a mysterious child.
Update: This is Karolyn Grimes.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Katherine Emery.
Brain Trust roll call: SuznChaz (Monday’s mysterious girl), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery girl), Sheila Joyce (Monday’s mystery girl), Howard Mandelbaum (Monday’s mysterious girl) and Roget-L.A. (Monday’s mystery girl).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Richard Fraser.
And this mystery chap. He does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Warren William in his final film appearance.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and both mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman), Sheila (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman), Megan and Thom (mystery movie and both mysterious guests) and Blackwing Jenny (Tuesday’s mystery woman).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious woman who does not approve of such goings-on, and a companion.
Update: This is Marie Wilson, left. Her companion, possibly Judy Cook, has a nonspeaking role.
We also have this mysterious woman.
Update: This is Ann Dvorak.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mysterious fellows), Greg (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mysterious gent No. 2), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery men), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and all mysterious guests), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery man No. 2), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mysterious guests), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery man No. 2), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Blackwing Jenny (Wednesday’s mystery man No. 2).
For Friday, we have a woman of mystery.
Update: This is Angela Lansbury.
And this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is George Sanders, making the discovery that being a writer is hard work.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mysterious women), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery women), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery women), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery women) and Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery women).
ladailymirror.com 
Barbie and Ken
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Karolyn Grimes as Debby in “the Bishop’s Wife”?
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Sweet-faced Karolyn Grimes in “The Private Affairs of Bel Ami”.
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Karolyn Grimes?
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Karolyn Grimes in The Bishop’s Wife.
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Karolyn Grimes
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THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI. Karolyn Grimes Monday and Katherine Emery today.
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The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947)/Karolyn Grimes, Katherine Emery, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, Ann Dvorak, Warren William, Marie Wilson, Frances Dee, John Carradine…
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Katherine Emery in THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI (1947).
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Other than picking up a “Zuzu’s petals” vibe for Monday’s child, no guess from me. Today’s woman didn’t help. Hopefully will have more time tomorrow.
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Katherine Emery, ‘The Private Affairs of Bel Ami’?
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From Sylvia E. – sending test to Larry
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Our guest today is Katherine Emery, in The Private Affairs of Bel Ami. Karolyn Grimes was our guest yesterday.
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Tuesday’s belle epoque belle is Katherine Emery.
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Richard Fraser and Warren William
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Warren William and Katherine Emery adds up to 1947’s The Private Affairs of Bel Ami.
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Richard Fraser; Warren William.
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Karolyn Grimes, Katherine Emery, Richard Fraser and Warren William in THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI.
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Warren William
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The Private Affairs of Bel Ami 1947
Monday – (Zuzu’s petals) Karolyn Grimes
Tuesday – Katharine Emery
Wednesday – Richard Fraser (I think) and Warren William
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Warren “Hat Too Small” Williams today
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Karolyn Grimes on Monday, followed by Katherine Emery, Richard Fraser and the Pre-Code king, Warren William. The film is “The Private Affairs of Bel Ami.”
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Always happy to ID the great Warren William. This was his last film.
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Marie Wilson and Susan Douglas Rubes plus Ann Dvorak.
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Marie Wilson and Ann Dvorak.
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Thursday – Marie Wilson in the foreground. Not sure of her friend. Maybe she’s Judy Cook (listed as ‘Hortense’ in the cast). Image 2 is Ann Dvorak.
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The Period costumes suggest Lillian Russell.
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An interesting guess! Our mystery movie is a bit more Continental.
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I am not one to expose affaires privées, monsieur.
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Marie Wilson; Ann Dvorak
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Marie Wilson and Ann Dvorak
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Angela Lansbury and George Sanders.
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Angela Lansbury and George Saunders
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Angela Lansbury and George Sanders.
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Milhaud also composed La Creation Du Monde, a modern Gershwin style (or did George copy him?) piece you’d enjoy
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It’s a lot of fun, as is Le Boeuf Sur le Toit. Dave Brubeck studied with Milhaud and named one of his sons Darius.
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