This week’s mystery movie was the 1942 Republic film Lady for a Night, with Joan Blondell, John Wayne, Philip Merivale, Blanche Yurka, Ray Middleton, Edith Barrett, Leonid Kinskey, Hattie Noel, Montagu Love, Carmel Myers, Dorothy Burgess, Guy Usher, Ivan Miller, Patricia Knox, Lew Payton, Marilyn Hare and the Hall Johnson Choir.
Directed by Leigh Jason.
Further information on Lady for a Night is available from the AFI Catalog.
Lady for a Night is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
I picked Lady for a Night by going through the trades. It sounded like an unusual movie and it is probably one of the more curious entries in John Wayne’s filmography (Scott Eyman’s Wayne biography doesn’t even mention it!). For that matter, it is probably one of the most unusual movies in Joan Blondell’s filmography as well. The film might have done better with a different cast and possibly a different director.
It’s a fairly easy call that Bosley Crowther did not approve of such goings-on. I’m going to guess that The New York Times sent one of the “alphabet critics” or passed on it.
Oh dear. Bosley really doesn’t like it. (February 12, 1942):
Before you drop around to see Republic’s Lady for a Night at Loew’s Criterion — this is, if you do drop around — we suggest that you sniff some wisteria and check your wits outside. For this costly (for Republic) concoction whipped up in “Old Southern” costumes by a company of well-known actors out of a badly dog-eared script is as muzzy and stereotype as you’re likely to encounter in these times.
For Monday, we have a cheerful mystery woman.
Update: This is Hattie Noel.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Lew Payton.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious woman).
For “Hm Wednesday,” our mystery woman is having an intense moment.
Update: This is Edith Barrett.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Tuesday’s mysterious fellow).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious woman. She does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Blanche Yurka.
And a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Ray Middleton.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and all mystery guests), and Megan and Thom (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, we have these two mysterious gents.
Update: This is Leonid Kinskey, left, and John Wayne.
And our mysterious leading lady.
Update: This is Joan Blondell.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Woman) and Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Marietta Cantry in PITTSBURGH (1942).
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An excellent guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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If Monday’s mystery woman isn’t Hattie McDaniel then it’s certainly her doppelganger.
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A good guess, but not this time, alas.
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Hattie Noel in “Lady for a Night”
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Darn I spelled my own name wrong.
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Hattie Noel in “Lady for a Night”
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Lew Payton as “Napoleon”
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No guesses yet. I think I’m picking up a sense of ‘the White House’ and ‘presidential elections’ in these photos (circa 1800s.)
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Hattie Noel; Jesse Graves; Edith Barrett in LADY FOR A NIGHT.
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On Wednesday, Edith Barrett
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Hattie Noel, Lew Payton, Edith Barrett and Blanche Yurka in LADY FOR A NIGHT.
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Our movie is Lady for a Night, and our agitated mystery guest is Edith Barrett. Monday’s guest is Hattie Noel.
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Blanche Yurka and Ray Middleton
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LADY FOR A NIGHT. Hattie Noel Monday, Jesse Graves Tuesday, Edith Barrett with Joan Blondell (BOTH), Blanche Yurka and Ray Middleton today.
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The lovable Blanche Yurka and Ray Middleton.
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Leonid Kinskey, John Wayne, and Joan Blondell.
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John Wayne, Leonid Kinskey and Joan Blondell.
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Lady for a Night 1942
Mon – Hattie Noel
Tues – Lew Payton, I think
Weds – Edith Barrett, I think (maybe the BOTHW is her sinister sister?)
Thur – Blanche Yurka (the sinister sister) / not sure about the guy with the bottle
Fri – John Wayne and Leonid Kinskey /Joan Blondell
Had no idea until today and the appearance of the leads. Sounds like a good little murder mystery.
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