This week’s mystery movie was the 1943 RKO film Forever and a Day with a cast so large that it’s beyond me to list everyone!
Further information on Forever and a Day is available from the AFI Catalog.
Forever and a Day is available on Amazon Prime.
I picked Forever and a Day by going through the trades, and after rejecting a few other promising candidates (no decent print, too many screen caps on IMDB), settled on Forever because it continued the theme of Star Spangled Rhythm as an all-star film with an enormous cast – including Buster Keaton. It’s a tribute to the actors, writers and directors that with so many people, the story didn’t wind up an incomprehensible mush. But it hangs together well and you can’t even blink for fear of missing some famous face who’s on screen for 30 seconds. Truly an amazing joint effort by Hollywood during World War II.
I can’t imagine Bosley would quibble with this film, given its patriotic theme, but one never knows.
Well, he likes it, but Bosley can never like something too much (The New York Times, March 13, 1943):
The most remarkable thing about the film Forever and a Day, which came yesterday to the Rivoli, is that it was cooperatively made by no less than seven directors and producers, 21 writers and 79 actors and actresses, most of them top-ranking stars or players with feature names. Furthermore it was conceived nigh onto two years ago as a tribute to Britain’s great courage by her nationals and friends in Hollywood; all who took part in the making gave their services free, and the profits realized in this country will go to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Under these circumstances, it is surprising that the film was actually made and also that it would be as agreeable as it is….
…. The story proves nothing in particular except that old British mansions have fine ghosts and that there’ll always be an England so long as there is one sentimentalist left. But the film is evenly constructed, well produced and nicely played. It should be a pleasant entertainment — especially for those who dote on the past.
For Monday, we have our mysterious leading lady.
Update: This is Ruth Warrick.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
This is Buster Keaton.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Edward Everett Horton.
And an enigmatic trio.
Update: This is, from left, Edmund Gwenn, Lumsden Hare and C. Aubrey Smith.
Brain Trust roll call: Sylvia (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Stacia (Tuesday’s mysterious fellow), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and both mystery guests) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and both mystery guests).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Claude Rains.
And these mystery folks.
Update: This is Ida Lupino and Brian Aherne.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Benito (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Stacia (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Funky PhD (mystery movie and all mysterious guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Wednesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Greg (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Suznchaz (mystery movie, Monday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests) and Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mysterious guests).
For Friday, we have many mysterious guests. Many!
First, we have this mysterious fellow. He does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: Eric Blore wonders where his toupee went.
Next, we have these mysterious ladies.
Update: This is Una O’Connor, left, and Merle Oberon.
And these quite mysterious folks.
Update: This is Elsa Lanchester and Robert Cummings.
And finally, our mysterious leading lady and leading man.
Update: This is Ruth Warrick and Kent Smith.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Dan Nather (Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Olivia de Havilland looking for a mirror in the dark?
LikeLike
An excellent guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Hmmm…..for some reason, that shadow looks like Barbara Stanwyck to me.
LikeLike
An excellent guess, but alas….
LikeLike
Aww, Larry, C’mon. Play fair. I know, I know, it’s your site so you make the rules, but still….
LikeLike
Be assured that all will become clear later in the week. Understand that given the broad and differing knowledge of the Brain Trust, I cannot possibly predict what will be easy and what will be difficult. I’m often surprised by how often people nail the mystery movie on Mondays regardless of how challenging I think it’s going to be. Sometimes I stump people until Wednesday or Thursday. I absolutely cannot predict how the mystery movies will play out.
This began years ago when I had access to the Los Angeles Times photo archive and could rummage through thousands of photo envelopes of less remembered/forgotten faces. When the blog was scrapped, I was forced to progress to films. These days I have to search extensively in obscure or forgotten movies to find one that doesn’t have a zillion screen caps on IMDB. I typically spend hours on Saturdays and Sundays looking for a movie that is 1) a good film (or was considered a good film at the time) 2) hasn’t run 98 times on TCM 3) is a decent print (harder than you would think) and 4) doesn’t have a zillion screen caps on IMDB. Without exaggeration, some films have an image on IMDB from every camera setup, running into the hundreds!
Thanks for playing and do come back. Rest assured, my goal is to have everyone recognize the movie by the end of the week and, I hope, have their interest piqued about a film they have never seen.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m just teasing you. Your site’s just too much fun to quit. Keep up the good work.
LikeLike
As I said once before, Larry, I can’t believe the work you put into providing your followers with this game. I could tell you to get a life, but then I would have to get one, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Olivia de Havilland was my first guess, too
LikeLike
A shot in the dark (ha ha) Monday guess — Joan Crawford.
LikeLike
A great guess, but alas….
LikeLike
Looks like before Grace Kelly’s time but that’s who I see. Can I please have another guess: Brenda Marshall????
LikeLike
A great guess, but alas…. All will become clear soon enough!
LikeLike
Can’t sleep
Would know Buster anywhere.
Forever and a Day 1943
Mon – I’m going to guess that the silo is Ruth Warrick (she of Citizen Kane and All My Children) since her character is the one telling the history of the house and her hairdo is of the 1940s era.
Tues – Buster Keaton (the good Pomfret according to Warrick)
It appears that you are on an ‘All star review’ kick after last week, but this one is from the UK.
LikeLike
This is supremely unhelpful but that second photo looks like Buster Keaton as a wacky inventor in some movie circa 1939, but I can’t remember what movie and the IMDb isn’t helping me out here. Absolutely no idea about the first photo. (Sorry if this is a duplicate, logging in got complicated and I don’t know if my first comment saved!)
LikeLike
In silhouette, Ruth Warrick in “Forever and a Day.” On Tuesday, one of the greatest of them all, Buster Keaton.
LikeLike
Ruth Warrick and Buster Keaton in FOREVER AND A DAY.
LikeLike
FOREVER AND A DAY. Ida Lupino Monday, Buster Keaton Tuesday, Edward Everett Horton and Edmund Gwenn, Lumsden Hare, and C. Aubrey Smith today.
LikeLike
Edmund Gwenn and C. Aubrey Smith in FOREVER AND A DAY 1943. What a cast!
LikeLike
Oh, it’s FOREVER AND A DAY (1943)! I recognized Ed Gwenn and C. Aubrey Smith! Still don’t know who the mystery lady is but probably Ida Lupino.
LikeLike
Monday: Ruth Warrick. Tuesday: Buster Keaton. Wednesday: a heavily made up Edward Everett Horton, Edmund Gwenn, Arthur Treacher, and C. Aubrey Smith. Picture is “Forever and a Day,” 1943
LikeLike
Forever and a Day (1943) with Edward Everett Horton, Edmund Gwenn, C. Aubrey Smith, et al
LikeLike
Wed – 2nd image: Edmond Gwenn, Lumsden Hare (I think) and C. Aubrey Smith.
Not sure about image 1 yet.
I was wrong about Keaton being (the “good Pomfret”). He’s a plumber.
LikeLike
Edmund Gwenn, Melville Cooper and
LikeLike
Edward Everett Horton, Edmund Gwenn, Lumsden Hare and C. Aubrey Smith.
LikeLike
Forever and a Day (1943) w/C. Aubrey Smith, Ray Milland, Edmund Gwenn, Buster Keaton, Ida Lupino, Ruth Warrick, Herbert Marshall, Arthur Treacher, Gene and June Lockhart, Claude Rains, Ian Hunter, Reginald Owen, Merle Oberon…
LikeLike
Edmund Gwenn, Cecil Kellaway, C. Aubrey Smith and about 100 others in Forever and a Day, 1943.
LikeLike
Our movie is Forever and a Day, with Buster Keaton, Edward Everett Horton, Edmund Gwenn, and C. Aubrey Smith.
LikeLike
wed –
here’s my stab at the guy in image 1.
If he’s “Pomfret’s lawyer” in the film, maybe he is Alan Edmiston? Haven’t located a photo of the actor, so… just a guess.
LikeLike
1943’s “Forever And A Day” with Ruth Warrick, Edmund Gwen, C. Aubrey Smith and Edward Everett Horton.
LikeLike
C. Aubrey Smith and Edmund Gwenn on Wednesday. Wish I knew the others …
LikeLike
Claude Rains and Ida Lupino and Brian Aherne.
LikeLike
If it took forever and a day I couldn’t meet this challenge.
LikeLike
Claude Rains, Ida Lupino and Brian Aherne.
LikeLike
I think I got it — FOREVER AND A DAY (1943)
Monday and Tuesday — don’t know and I’m not even gonna guess
Wednesday — Edward Everett Horton, and C. Aubrey Smith (the only member of the trio I recognize)
Thursday — Robert Newton(?), Ida Lupino, and I. Dunno
LikeLike
Claude Rains, Ida Lupino and Brian Aherne? in Forever and a Day (1943)
LikeLike
Thur – 1) Claude Rains
2) future America-bound couple Ida Lupino and Brian Aherne
That leaves the full reveal of British Ruth Warrick and her American (distant) cousin, Kent Smith for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to who you’ll include with them, as your selection is HUGE.
LikeLike
I meant that your options list is HUGE.
LikeLike
Aha! Claude Rains, Ida Lupino and Brian Aherne.
LikeLike
Eric Blore, Una O’Connor, Merle Oberon, Elsa Lanchester, Robert Cummings, Ruth Warrick, and Kent Smith.
LikeLike
Eric Blore, Merle Oberon, Una O’Connor, Elsa Lanchester, Nigel Bruce, Bob Cummings, Ruth Warrick and Kent Smith.
LikeLike
Fri – 1) Eric Blore
2) Una O’Connora and Merle Oberon
3) Elsa Lanchester and Robert Cummings
4) Ruth Warrick and Kent Smith
Looking forward to the Saturday breakdown.
LikeLike