This week’s mystery movie, deemed “unsuitable” for children by Modern Screen Magazine, was the 1931 MGM film The Bachelor Father, with Marion Davies, Ralph Forbes, C. Aubrey Smith, Ray Milland, Guinn Williams, David Torrence, Doris Lloyd, Edgar Norton, Nena Quartaro, Halliwell Hobbes, Elizabeth Murray and James Gordon.
From the play by Edward Childs Carpenter.
Screenplay by Laurence E. Johnson.
Recording director Douglas Shearer.
Art direction by Cedric Gibbons.
Gowns by Adrian.
Photographed by Oliver T. Marsh.
Edited by Harry Reynolds.
A Marion Davies production.
Further information on The Bachelor Father is available from the AFI Catalog.
The Bachelor Father is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
Note: Harrison’s Reports, though praising the film as a comedy, questioned whether it should be shown to “children” between the ages of 14 and … 20.
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The Bachelor Father gets the “unsuitable” designation because it deals with a crusty old English bachelor (C. Aubrey Smith at the most animated I’ve ever seen him), who boasts that although he has never married, he has children scattered all over the world, the idea being that he invite them all to live with him. And, of course, things get complicated rather quickly. Marion Davies, who plays one of the children (spoiler – or is she?) is endearingly rough-edged.
As it originated as a play, I assume The New York Times will praise the film, but are we in Mordaunt Hall territory?
We have a winner! (Mordaunt Hall, February 2, 1931):
The mills of Hollywood have ground out a fairly good pictorial adaptation of Edward Childs Carpenter’s stage comedy The Bachelor Father, which, while some of its fun has been diluted, can boast of preserving its original title and also of having in the leading masculine role C. Aubrey Smith, who played the same part before the footlights. And, as Antoinette, who prefers to be called Tony, there is Marion Davis. This film, which is now at the Capitol, is not as glib a piece of work as the play, but on several occasions it elicited rumbling mirth.
For Monday, in our continuing exploration of “unsuitable” movies, we have an unsuitable mystery woman.
Update: This is Elizabeth Murray.
For Tuesday, we have another “unsuitable” mystery woman.
Update: This is Nena Quartaro
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have an “unsuitable” mystery fellow.
Update: This is Ralph Forbes.
Brain Trust roll call: Stacia (Tuesday’s “unsuitable” mystery woman) and B.J. Merholz (era of “unsuitable” mystery film).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have an “unsuitable” mystery fellow plus “unsuitable” Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is C. Aubrey Smith, left, and Ray Milland as Back of the Head Guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s “unsuitable” mystery fellow), Stacia (“unsuitable” mystery movie and Wednesday’s “unsuitable” mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s “unsuitable” mystery guest) and Megan and Thom (Wednesday’s “unsuitable” mystery guest).
For Friday, we have an “unsuitable” mystery woman.
Update: This is Marion Davies.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s “unsuitable” mystery guests), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie and Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Stacia (Thursday’s mysterious guests), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
This is a wild guess and my internet connection is too flaky today for me to check into it fully but I really think Tuesday is Nina Quartero, who I recognize as “that lady who kind of looks like Liza Minnelli” from the execrable GOLDEN DAWN. No idea what this movie could be, though it looks familiar.
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I wasn’t permitted into these movies in the early ’30s,
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CHRISTOPHER STRONG. Zena Savine Monday, Lita Chevret yesterday, and Ralph Forbes today.
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Oh gosh that’s Ralph Forbes on Wednesday! He looks fine with the mustache but he’s 9000% more handsome without it. This must be THE BACHELOR FATHER (1931) which I haven’t seen in maybe two decades but I remember really liking it, I think it was during a little Marion Davies marathon on TCM one night.
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Ralph Forbes.
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Paulette Goddard on Tuesday?
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An interesting guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Nils Asther?
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An excellent guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Ralph Forbes is our mystery guest today.
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That’s C. Aubrey Smith for Thursday — and would BOTHG be William Haines, and would the movie be JUST A GIGOLO (1931)?
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Our movie is The Bachelor Father, with Nina Quartero for yesterday and Elizabeth Murray for Monday.
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And C. Aubrey Smith and Ray Milland as Back of the Head Guy for Thursday.
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THE BACHELOR FATHER. Doris Lloyd Monday, Nina Quartero Tuesday, Ralph Forbes Wednesday, and C. Aubrey Smith and Ray Milland today.
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Thursday’s older gent resembles C. Aubrey Smith, but no idea really. And definitely no idea of the movie.
Will await Friday to see if it’s any clearer.
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Nina Quartero, Ralph Forbes, C. Aubrey Smith and Ray Milland in The Bachelor Father.
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Finally remembering the “unsuitable” theme and going with maybe Wednesday’s guy actually is Mr Aubrey:
The Bachelor Father 1931
Mon – Elizabeth Murray, I think
Tues – Nina Quartero
Wed – Ralph Forbes
Thur – C. Aubrey Smith and BOTHG, a very young Ray Milland
Fri – Marion Davies
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C Aubrey Smith and Ray Milland on Thursday! Ray’s hair always looked the same, even when he got older and didn’t actually have hair anymore.
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The Bachelor Father.
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Nina Quartero, C. Aubrey Smith and Ray Milland in BACHELOR FATHER.
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Ralph Forbes and C. Aubrey Smith … Might this be “The Bachelor Father”?
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Marion Davies today.
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