This week’s mystery movie was the 1939 Warner Bros. film Waterfront, with Gloria Dickson, Dennis Morgan, Marie Wilson, Larry Williams, Sheila Bromley, Larry Williams, Aldrich Bowker, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Arthur Gardner and George Lloyd.
Directed by Terry Morse.
Screenplay by Lee Katz and Arthur Ripley.
From the play by Kenyon Nicholson.
Dialogue direction by Arthur Ripley.
Photographed by James Van Trees.
Edited by Louis Hesse.
Art direction by Charles Novi.
Gowns by Milo Anderson.
Sound by Stanley Jones.
Further information on Waterfront is available from the AFI Catalog.
Waterfront has never been commercially released, as far as I can tell.
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I picked Waterfront by going through the trades, but using a slightly different strategy: I looked for movies that were considered “unsuitable.” It has the usual troupe of Warner Bros. actors, but Ward Bond gets a surprisingly large (though not sympathetic) role – and enters a dance contest!
As this was adapted from the stage, I assume The New York Times looked on it somewhat positively.
It’s Bosley Crowther during his time as an “alphabet critic.” And he does not approve of such goings-on! This is his entire review:
If you can imagine anything less inspiring about which to make a picture than the blood feud existing between two dim-witted longshoremen with nasty dispositions, then you may possibly conceive something more unimportant than Waterfront, a piece of flotsam currently being cast up at the Globe. Indeed, the only exercise it remotely offers to even a normal mind is that of speculating vaguely as to whether the next bit of physical annoyance will come in the shape of a bullet, a hurled bottle, a swinging club or just a rain of flying fists. As entertainment — for anyone other than persons with a repressed desire to brawl — it is nil.
For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Aldrich Bowker.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Charles Trowbridge.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow and Back of the Head Woman.
Update: This is Ward Bond with Sheila Bromley as Back of the Head Woman.
Brain Trust roll call: Greg (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Anne Papineau (Tuesday’s mystery guest) and Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Sheila Bromley.
We also have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is John Hamilton
And this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Frank Faylen.
Brain Trust roll call: Greg (mystery movie, Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mysterious man), Stacia (Wednesday’s mysterious gent), B.J. Merholz (Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Sylvia (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Monday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests) and Sheila (Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, we have two mysterious women.
Update: This is Gloria Dickson, left, and Marie Wilson.
And a mysterious fellow, with Back of the Head Cop.
Update: This is Dennis Morgan and Lee Phelps as Back of the Head Cop.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Funky PhD (Thursday’s mystery men), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie, mysterious screenwriter and Thursday’s mystery man No. 2), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests), Benito (Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery men), Stacia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), and Thom and Megan (mystery movie and all mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Sidney Toler.
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An excellent guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Tuesday’s mystery man is Charles Trowbridge.
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Charles Trowbridge on Tuesday.
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Samuel S. Hinds.
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Tuesday is Charles Trowbridge.
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Hm Wednesday’s mystery man is Ward Bond and I’m pretty sure Monday’s mystery man is Aldrich Bowker. The movie should be “Waterfront” from 1939.
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UNION PACIFIC. Lynne Overman Tuesday and Ward Bond and Barbara Stnwyck BOTH tody.
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Wednesday really looks like a young Ward Bond but I have no idea what the film could be!
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Changing Monday to Charles Trowbridge and today is Ward Bond.
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Wednesday’s guy looks like a very young Ward Bond. Not sure though. Maybe Thursday will bring the dawn.
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I don’t know who Wednesday’s guy is, but he reminds me of Kramer on “Seinfeld” (Michael Richards?).
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On Monday, Aldrich Bowker, and on Wednesday, Ward Bond, making this film the 1939 version of “Waterfront.”
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Charles Trowbridge for Tuesday, Ward Bond for Wednesday?
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WATERFRONT. Aldrich Bowker and Dennis Morgan BOTH Monday, Charles Trowbridge Tuesday, Ward Bond and Gloria Dickson BOTH Wednesday, today Sheila Bromley, John Hamilton, Frank Faylen.
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Thursday’s mysterious men are John Hamilton and Frank Faylen.
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Frank Faylen, probably prowling a waterfront. Co-written by Arthur Ripley.
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On Thursday Sheila Bromley, John “Perry White” Hamilton and Frank Faylen.
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Ward Bond, Sylvia Sidney, John Hamilton
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I finally decided Tuesday’s Mystery Fellow is Charles Trowbridge, and Wednesday is Ward Bond (with the best hair I’ve ever seen on him), one Thursday Mysterious Fellow has got to be Frank Faylen, so this must be WATERFRONT (1937).
I think that’s Sheila Bromley with Ward on Wednesday, and also for Aha Thursday. Aldritch Bowker is Monday.
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Oops, make that WATERFRONT (1939), not 1937.
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Finally! As an experiment, tried to use AI to find a movie with Ward Bond, John Hamilton and Frank Faylen in the cast. Gave up after a couple of mistaken side trips. Anyway, good old fashioned “shoe leather” does the trick again.
Waterfront 1939
Monday – Aldrich Bowker and Dennis Morgan (BOTHG)
Tuesday – Charles Trowbridge
Wednesday – Ward Bond and Gloria Dickson (BOTHW)
Thursday – Sheila Bromley, John Hamilton and Frank Faylen
That leaves for Friday, full reveals of Dennis Morgan and Gloria Dickson
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Our movie is Waterfront with Aldrich Bowker, Charles Trowbridge, Ward Bond, Sheila Bromley, John Hamilton, and Frank Faylen.
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Gloria Dickson, Marie Windsor, and Dennis Morgan.
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Friday
Dennis Morgan and maybe the BOTHG is Lee Phelps?(TCM lists Phelps as “Turnkey”)
Ann Stacey and Marie Wilson
Looking forward to your Saturday breakdown.
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Oops!
Ann Stacey is the character’s name. I meant Gloria Dickson.
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