This week’s mystery movie was the 1941 Universal film It Started With Eve, with Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton, Robert Cummings, Guy Kibbee, Margaret Tallichet, Catharine Doucet, Walter Catlett, Charles Coleman, Leonard Elliott, Irving Bacon, Gus Schilling, Wade Boteler and Dorothea Kent.
Screenplay by Norman Krasna and Leo Townsend.
Original story by Hans Kraly.
Photographed by Rudolph Mate.
Art direction by Jack Otterson, associate Martin Obzina.
Edited by Bernard W. Burton.
Assistant director Philip Karlstein.
Gowns by Vera West.
Set decorations by R.A. Gausman.
Musical direction by Charles Previn.
Musical score by H.J. Salter.
Vocal coach Andres de Segurola.
Sound director Bernard B. Brown.
Technician Joseph Lapis.
Produced by Joe Pasternak.
Directed by Henry Koster.
Further information on It Started With Eve is available from the AFI Catalog.
It Started With Eve is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Critics’ Choice Video.
::
What? Another Deanna Durbin mystery movie?
Yes, it’s true. I picked It Started With Eve by going through the trades. And there’s Charles Laughton playing the entire picture in heavy “age” makeup – ideal for a mystery movie. It’s a fairly entertaining picture with a plot that isn’t too taxing. And Laughton in “foxy grandpa” mode has a dance number with Durbin.
I suspect The New York Times will pass on this as diverting fluff.
Why if it isn’t Bosley Crowther (October 3, 1941):
He has the figure for it. You might even say he has the face. And, since the range of his acting has covered everything else, it is not at all surprising to discover Charles Laughton playing cupid in Universal’s It Started With Eve, which came to the Music Hall yesterday. A nice old cupid he is, too. Not the conventional, underdressed type, of course, but an ancient and mellow variety with white hair and a droopy mustache, frisky little crotchets and a twinkle in his eye. And, since the targets for his archery are Deanna Durbin and Robert Cummings, be assured that It Started With Eve has what it takes to make a fresh and pleasing film.
For Monday, we have a mystery fellow.
Update: This is Charles Laughton.
For Tuesday, we have some mysterious women.
Update: This is Margaret Tallichet, left, and Catharine (Catherine) Doucet.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Monday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Monday’s mystery guest), Benito (Monday’s mystery guest), Skretvedt1958 (Monday’s mystery guest), Dan Nather (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious fellow) and All About Eve 1950 (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have another mystery woman.
Update: This is Marie “The Body” McDonald.
And a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Mantan Moreland.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Dan Nather (Tuesday’s mysterious women), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery women) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery women).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious padre.
Update: This is Guy Kibbee, who speaks Spanish in the film; presumably dubbed.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mysterious guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Dan Nather (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Boebert (Wednesday’s mysterious railroad porter), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, we have a better view of Monday’s mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Charles Laughton.
And this mysterious fellow (who knows how to wear a hat).
Update: This is Robert Cummings.
Finally, our mysterious leading lady.
Update: This is Deanna Durbin.
Brain Trust roll call: Greg (mystery movie and Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery men), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mysterious cleric), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s cleric of mystery), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery fellow), Sylvia (Thursday’s mysterious padre), Incredible Inman (mystery movie, Monday’s and Thursday’s mystery men), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Thursday’s mysterious cleric), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mysterious man of the cloth), Dan Nather (Thursday’s mysterious cleric) and Bruce (Wednesday’s mystery man).
ladailymirror.com 
Charles Laughton in “It Started with Eve”
LikeLike
frank morgan?
LikeLike
An excellent guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Charles Laughton in The Man from Down Under.
LikeLike
Charles Laughton in THE MAN FROM DOWN UNDER.
LikeLike
Charles Laughton, expert level geezer
LikeLike
Looks like Charles Laughton to me.
LikeLike
Oscar Homolka in I REMEMBER MAMA?
LikeLike
This was before you figured it out!
LikeLike
Scratch my last guess — I shoulda known better.
This is Charles Laughton in IT STARTED WITH EVE (1941) — probably my favorite Deanna Durbin picture!
LikeLike
Charles Laughton in It Started With Eve (1941)
LikeLike
Margaret Tallichet and Catherine Doucet on Tuesday.
LikeLike
Margaret Tallichet and Catherine Doucet for Monday.
LikeLike
IT STARTED WITH EVE
Margaret Tallichet, Catherine Douchet.
LikeLike
Margaret Tallichet and Catherine Doucet in IT STARTED WITH EVE.
LikeLike
IT STARTED WITH EVE. Charles Laughton Monday, Margaret Tallichet and Catherine Doucet Tuesday, Marie McDonald and Mantan Moreland today.
LikeLike
It Started with Eve (1941) w/Charles Laughton, Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings, Guy Kibbee, Catherine Doucet, Margaret Tallichet, Mantan Moreland, Walter Catlett, Irving Bacon, John Banner, Clara Blandick…
LikeLike
Marie McDonald is the cigarette girl, and none other than Mantan Moreland is the porter.
LikeLike
Sure looks like Mantan Moreland on Wednesday.
LikeLike
Marie McDonald and Mantan Moreland
LikeLike
Marie McDonald and Mantan Moreland.
LikeLike
You’re really good at finding images where the angles make the actor almost unrecognizable. Didn’t know who Monday’s guy was until Wednesday’s guy appeared. Now I can’t unsee him. Anyhoo…
“It Started With Eve” 1941
Mon – (in deathbed makeup and mustache) Charles Laughton, gazing at his OS son Robert Cummings
Tue – seated is Catherine Doucet. In the FG is Margaret Tallichet (wife of William Wyler)
Wed – Marie McDonald is our cigarette girl. Mantan Moreland is our train porter.
LikeLike
Marie McDonald, Mantan Moreland.
LikeLike
Charles Laughton, Mantan Moreland, Guy Kibbee in It Started with Eve.
LikeLike
The Kibbers.
LikeLike
Guy Kibbee
LikeLike
Guy Kibbee. Gee he sure worked a lot.
LikeLike
Thu – Guy Kibbee
LikeLike
Today’s clergyman is Guy Kibbee. I’m guessing that Monday’s mystery man is Charles Laughton and the movie is “It Started with Eve.”
LikeLike
Guy Kibbee. It Started With Eve.
LikeLike
Guy Kibbee.
LikeLike
Good old Guy Kibbee as the clergyman.
LikeLike
I think Thursday is Mantan Moreland, which narrows it to a few hundred pictures I’d guess.
LikeLike
Charles Laughton, Robert Cummings, And Deanna Durbin.
LikeLike
Charles Laughton, Bob Cummings and Deanna Durbin.
LikeLike
The canary is Deanna Durbin in IT STARTED WITH EVE 1941
LikeLike
And here are the stars of the show: Charles Laughton, Robert Cummings, and Deanna Durbin.
LikeLike
Charles Laughton (great dance number between him and the leading lady)
Robert Cummings
Deanna Durbin
LikeLike