This week’s mystery movie was the 1939 Twentieth Century-Fox film Stanley and Livingstone, with Spencer Tracy, Nancy Kelly, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Henry Hull and Henry Travers.
Directed by Henry King.
Associate producer Kenneth MacGowan.
Screenplay by Philip Dunne and Julien Josephson.
Historical research and story outline by Hal Long and Sam Hellman.
Safari episodes, technical director Mrs. Martin Johnson.
Chief white hunter Capt. A.J. Klein.
Photographed by Sidney Wagner.
Directed by Otto Brower.
Photographed by George Barnes.
Art direction by William Darling and George Dudley.
Set decoration by Thomas Little.
Edited by Barbara McLean.
Costumes by Royer.
Sound by Alfred Bruzlin and Roger Heman.
Musical direction by Louis Silver.
Further information on Stanley and Livingstone is available from the AFI Catalog.
Stanley and Livingstone is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked Stanley and Livingstone by going through the trades, and although Harrison’s Reports gave it a fairly negative review, the film did well with Motion Picture Daily and Showmen’s Trade Review. It turned out to be a pretty good movie! In James Curtis’ excellent biography of Spencer Tracy (2011) Curtis notes that Tracy agonized about delivering the famous line “Dr. Livingstone, I presume” (which he does).
I’m going guess that Frank Nugent liked the film, as historically challenged as it may be.
Why it’s an early appearance by Bosley Crowther, in his days as an “alphabet critic.” (The New York Times, August 5, 1939):
The motion picture which Darryl Zanuck and company have fabricated on the theme of Henry M. Stanley’s successful search for the unlost missionary Dr. David Livingstone is one which, on the whole, celebrates worthily the story of perhaps the toughest news assignment in journalistic history. Intelligent and restrained and dignified, even to the point of playing down the moment which brought forth that favorite quotation “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Stanley and Livingstone (at the Roxy) is the best break the Fourth Estate has had on the screen since the beginning of the stereotype era.
For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Everett Brown.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious officer.
Update: This is Paul Harvey.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Henry Hull.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Monday’s mystery guest), Megan and Thom (Monday’s mystery guest), and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and both mysterious guests).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Walter Brennan.
Also this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Charles Coburn.
And this mysterious chap.
Update: This is Henry Travers.
Finally, this mystery fellow.
Update: This is Sir Cedric Hardwicke.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Stacia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Sylvia (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery guest), B.J. Merholz Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Sheila (Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Nancy Kelly.
And this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Spencer Tracy.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guest and Thursday’s mysterious guest No. 1), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Dan Nather (mystery movie, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests) and Stranger Warm (mystery movie, Thursday’s mystery guests No. 1 and 3).
ladailymirror.com 
Everett Brown on Monday?
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Monday’s guest is Everett Brown.
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Everett Brown and Paul Harvey in STANLEY & LIVINGSTONE.
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Our mystery movie is The Plainsman.
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An interesting guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Henry Hull today.
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SANTA FE TRAIL. Ernest Shipman Monday and Charles D brown Tuesday.
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An interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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Hm Wednesday is Henry Hull, mysterious officer on Tuesday is Paul Harvey, mysterious fellow Monday is Everett Brown, and the movie is STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE (1939)
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Mr. Henry Hull.
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Wed – Henry Hull
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Frank Craven today, I think. Could this be “In This Our Life”?
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An interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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Henry Hull today, looking prosperous
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Henry Hull and maybe Thunder Over the Plains.
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STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE. Everett brown Monday, Paul Harvey Tuesday, Henry Hull today.
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I think the movie is “The Return of Frank James” 1940
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Ugh! My bad. Just noticed that TROFJ is a Technicolor film. Back to the drawing board.
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Paul Harvey on Tuesday, Henry Hull on Wednesday?
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Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn, Henry Travers, and Cedric Hardwicke.
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Henry Hull, Walter Brennan and a slew of other great character actors in 1939’s “Stanley and Livingstone”.
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Stanley and Livingstone (1939) w/Henry Hull, Spencer Tracy, Cedric Hardwicke, Walter Brennan, Charles Colburn, Henry Travers, Paul Harvey, Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly…
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Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn, Henry Travers and Cedric Hardwicke.
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Stanley and Livingston 1939
Mon – Everett Brown, I think.
Tues – Paul Harvey , I think.
Wed – Henry Hull
Thur – Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn, Henry Travers and Cedric Hardwicke
That leaves for Friday, Spencer Tracy, Nancy Kelly and maybe Richard Greene.
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Will Rogers on Thursday?
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“Doctor Livingstone, I presume?” Our film is 1939’s “Stanley and Livingstone, featuring, starting on Tuesday, Paul Harvey, Henry Hull, Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn, Henry Travers and Sir Cedric Hardwicke.
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STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE (1939)
Can’t guess Monday and Tuesday’s gents, but I think that’s Henry Hull on Wednesday. Today, we hit the jackpot with Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn, Henry Travers, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke.
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Stanley and Livingston! Walter Brennan and Henry Travers on Thursday.
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Nancy Kelly and Spencer Tracy.
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Nancy Kelly and Spencer Tracy.
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Nancy Kelly and Spencer Tracy, but no Richard Greene.
The song “Onward Christian Soldiers” swirling through my head, remembering watching this film on the “Million Dollar Movie” as a kid.
Totally forgot about the section with the US cavalry, so a very clever and sneaky diversion by you.
Enjoyed this.
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