This week’s mystery movie was the 1938 MGM film The Girl of the Golden West, with Jeannette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Walter Pidgeon, Leo Carrillo, Buddy Ebsen, Leonard Penn, Priscilla Lawson, Bob Murphy, Olin Howland, Cliff Edwards, Billy Bevan, Brandon Tynan, H.B. Warner, Monty Woolley, Charley Grapewin, Noah Beery Sr., Bill Cody Jr., Jeanne Ellis and Ynez Seabury. 
Screenplay by Isabel Dawn and Boyce DeGaw.
Based on the play by David Belasco.
Music by Sigmund Romberg.
Lyrics by Gus Kahn.
Musical direction by Herbert Stothart.
Orchestral and vocal arrangements by Leonid Raab, Leo Arnaud, Murray Cutter and Paul Marquardt.
Dances and ensembles by Albertina Rasch.
Recording by Douglas Shearer.
Art direction by Cedric Gibbons.
Associates Eddie Imazu and Edwin B. Willis.
Musical presentation by Merrill Pye.
Gowns by Adrian.
Photographed by Oliver T. Marsh.
Montages by Slavko Vorkapich.
Edited by W. Donn Hayes.
Produced by Wm. Anthony McGuire.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
More information on The Girl of the Golden West is available from the AFI Catalog.
The Girl of the Golden West is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked The Girl of the Golden West by going through the trades. As usual, it had lots of interesting faces, a good score (I’m on a musicals kick, apparently) and very few screen shots on imdb. Interestingly enough, the AFI Catalog and The New York Times review refer to sepia sequences, but my print is strictly black and white.
I’m going to guess that The New York Times liked it, and I’ll go with Frank S. Nugent.
Oh, he hated it: (March 25, 1938):
David Belasco’s vintage (circa 1904) melodrama The Girl of the Golden West is back in town again, bringing with it memories of that fabulous pressbook issued by the Warners when they released their second film version of it in 1930:
“THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST
With 12 Smashing Anti-Climax
That You’ll Never Forget!!!”
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, sponsor of the 1938 — or Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald — version at the Capitol, is not exactly bragging about the anti-climaxes, but they are there, at least twelve of them, and Gounod’s Ave Maria and Liszt’s Liebestraum as well.In fact, you’ll find practically everything you might have counted upon finding in the Capitol’s new operetta, and a few things you hadn’t bargained for.
For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Nelson Eddy.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” we have our leading man – or at least a mysterious lad portraying our leading man when he was a boy.
Update: This is Bill Cody Jr.
We also have our leading lady – or a mysterious girl portraying our leading lady before she grew up.
Update: This is Jeanne Ellis.
Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s man of mystery).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious flutist.
Update: This is Buddy Ebsen.
Brain Trust roll call: Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery fellow and Tuesday’s mystery girl) and Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guests).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this dashing mystery fellow.
Update: This is Walter Pidgeon.
And, this mysterious vaquero. Yes I know we just had him. Talk to the mysterious casting director! Also Back of the Hat Guy.
Update: This is Leo Carrillo with Nelson Eddy as Back of the Hat Guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious bandit, Tuesday’s mystery girl and Wednesday’s mystery flutist), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), L.C. mystery movie and mysterious cast), Funky PhD (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious bandito, Tuesday’s mystery girl and Wednesday’s mysterious flutist), Robert Morrissey (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mysterious flutist and mysterious composer), Stacia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery flutist), Incredible Inman (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious bandito and Wednesday’s mystery flutist), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery flutist) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mysterious guests).
For Friday, we have our mysterious leading man.
Update: This is Nelson Eddy.
And our mysterious leading lady.
Update: This is Jeanette MacDonald.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Boebert (Thursday’s mysterious vaquero), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Benito (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious flutist), Stacia (Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Not sure of the fellow’s identity, but I’m guessing the movie is “Rio Rita.”
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An excellent guess! But alas….
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Nelson Eddy in THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST 1938.
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Rudolph Valentino?
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An interesting guess! but alas….
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Yesterday’s guest is Nelson Eddy in The Girl of the Golden West. Today’s guests are Owen Marsh and Jeanne Ellis, I think.
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I’m gonna guess George Raft for Monday’s Man of Mystery
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Bill Cody, Jr. and Jeanne Ellis.
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Is this one of the many movies about Joaquin Murrieta?
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No, but the story has been filmed more than once.
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GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST. Nelson Eddy Monday, Bill Cody Jr. An Jolene Ellis Tuesday, buddy ebsen today
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Wednesday’s flute tooter is Buddy Ebsen in 1938’s The Girl of the Golden West. Previously appearing where Nelson Eddy, Owen Marsh and Jeanne Ellis.
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Girl of the Golden West 1938
Mon – Nelson Eddy
Tues – Bill Cody Jr and Jeanne Ellis
Wed – Buddy Epsen (a very, very young Buddy Epsen)
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The Girl of the Golden West (1938) w/Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald, Walter Pidgeon, Leo Carrillo, Buddy Ebsen, Jeanne Ellis, Owen Marsh…
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Wednesday’s mysterious flutist is Buddy Ebsen. The movie is “Girl of the Golden West,” which makes Monday’s mystery man Nelson Eddy. The boy is Owen Marsh and the girl is Jeanne Ellis.
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A quick look for Buddy Ebsen, flautist, gives us 1938’s The Girl of the Golden West, with Sigmund Romberg’s music instead of Puccini’s. I’ve never heard of this Jeanette/Nelson movie – thanks! I will check it out.
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The Girl of the Golden West (1938) – Nelson Eddy is Monday’s mystery man, Jeanne Ellis and I think Bill Cody Jr. on Tuesday, Buddy Ebsen on Wednesday.
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Buddy Ebsen.
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Buddy Ebsen today. I’m thinking that Monday’s mystery guy is Nelson Eddy and this is “Girl of the Golden West.”
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Buddy Ebsen in Girl of the Golden West.
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Monday, upon seeing our mystery fellow, I thought “hey, Nelson Eddy,” but talked myself out of saying anything … too big a star for Monday, blah blah blah. So, on Wednesday, would like to go on record stating that’s Nelson Eddy in “Girl of the Golden West.” Buddy Ebsen helped out on Wednesday. Hoping the children are Bill Cody Jr. and Jeanne Ellis. A blogger said they’re Michael Chapin and Eilene Janssen but Eilene was an infant in 1938.
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Walter Pidgeon, and Leo Carrillk with NE both.
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Leo Carrillo on Thursday?
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Walter Pigeon and Leo Carillo.
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Buddy “winner of the Newport Beach to Ensenada race” Ebsen in THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST 1938
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Thursday is Walter Pidgeon and Leo Carillo. I’d never heard of this movie before but I have to see it now, what a cast!
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Thur – Walter Pidgeon and Leo Carrillo
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Walter Pidgeon and Leo Carrillo
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Nelson and Jeanette today. why do you say i only got a guest yesterday, i said both carrillo and pidgeon.
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Jeanette and Nelson together again.
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Fri – Nelson Eddy and Jeannette MacDonald
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