Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Main title: Lettering over nighttime skyline of city featuring a clock tower.

This week’s mystery movie was the 1945 MGM film Bewitched, with Phyllis Thaxter, Edmund Gwenn, Henry H. Daniels Jr., Horace McNally, Minor Watson, Addison Richards, Kathleen Lockhart, Francis Pierlot, Sharon McManus, Gladys Blake, Will Wright, Oscar O’Shea and Virginia Brissac.

Harrison's Reports review of BewitchedAdapted for the screen by Arch Oboler from his original story Alter Ego.

Photographed by Charles Salerno Jr.

Musical score by Bronislau Kaper.

Associate producer Herbert Moulton.

Recording director Douglas Shearer.

Art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Malcolm Brown.

Set decorations by Edwin B. Willis and Mac Alper.

Edited by Harry Komer.

Produced by Jerry Bresler.

Directed by Arch Oboler.

Further information on Bewitched is available from the AFI Catalog.

Bewitched is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.

::

Following the theme from Lizzie of multiple personalities cured through hypnotism, I chose Bewitched, written and directed by Arch Oboler, known for radio’s Lights Out and Inner Sanctum programs. The radio show, titled Another World, is here. The script is here.

I’m guessing The New York Times passed on this movie or assigned it to one of the “alphabet critics.”

“Alphabet critic” TMP (possibly Thomas M. Pryor) said (August 17, 1945):

Working very industriously in the dual capacity of author and director, Arch Oboler, who wrote himself into a respectable position in the field of radio, has turned out a curiously arresting clinical film drama in Bewitched, which opened yesterday at Loew’s Criterion. Although he has written previously for the screen, this is Mr. Oboler’s first effort as a director and it reveals a promising photographic talent. This is not to imply that Mr. Oboler has introduced any new camera magic, but he has here achieved some imaginative montage effects which may be taken as an indication of better things to come…. Bewitched is a bit off the beaten track as this sort of screen fare goes and is worth stopping off to see, even if it does not maintain a steady level of suspense. Mr. Oboler has started off well.

 

 

Girl with dark hair in pigtails.
For Monday, we have a mysterious girl.

Update: This is Sharon McManus.

Woman on stage in floor-length gown, singing.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious singer.

Update: Our mysterious singer is as yet unidentified. There is an exterior shot of the theater showing a poster with her name, but the low resolution of the print makes it impossible to read.

2026_0602_mystery_photo_03
We also have this mysterious woman.

Update: This is Gladys Blake with Phyllis Thaxter as Back of the Head Woman.

Brain Trust roll call: B.J. Merholz (Monday’s mysterious girl) and L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast).

Younger man in tuxedo and bow tie talking to older man in three-piece suit.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have two mysterious fellows.

Update: This is Henry H. Daniels Jr., left, and Francis Pierlot.

Man with hat and slight mustache doing an awkward smile.
And this mysterious fellow.

Update: Will Wright strikes a jovial expression. Briefly.

Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (Monday’s mysterious girl and Tuesday’s mysterious woman) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie, mysterious girl and mystery theme). Note to Megan and Thom: A good guess, but our mystery movie was released during her hiatus from pictures.

Man and woman sitting at desk look at man standing next to desk holding a book.
For “Aha Thursday,” we have several mysterious persons.

Update: This is Edmund Gwenn, left, Virginia Brissac and Minor Watson.

Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious girl, Tuesday’s mystery woman No. 2 and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Stacia (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious girl, Wednesday’s mystery men Nos. 1 and 3), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie) and Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mysterious guests).

Man and woman facing each other at night. Both are wearing coats. Clouds in the background.
For Friday, we have our mysterious leading lady and leading man.

Update: This is Phyllis Thaxter and Horace (Stephen) McNally.

Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mysterious men), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Sylvia (Thursday’s mysterious man No. 1).

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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14 Responses to Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

  1. B.J.'s avatar B.J. says:

    Sharon McManus?

    Like

  2. LC's avatar LC says:

    Bewitched (1945) w/Sharon McManus, Phyllis Thaxter, Edmund Gwenn, Henry H. Daniels, Jr., Kathleen Lockhart, Gladys Blake, Addison Richards, Will Wright, Stephen McNally, Virginia Brissac…

    Like

  3. Megan and Thom's avatar Megan and Thom says:

    Is the singer Frances Farmer?

    Like

  4. mike hawks's avatar mike hawks says:

    Sharon McManus and Gladys Blake in HER HIGHNESS AND THE BELLBOY.

    Like

  5. Anne Papineau's avatar Anne Papineau says:

    On Monday, Sharon McManus in “Bewitched.” Yes, there is a thematic thread tied to last week’s offering.

    Like

  6. mary mallory's avatar mary mallory says:

    BEWITCHED. Sharon McManus Monday, Kathlleen Lockhart and Gladys Blake Tuesday, Henry H. Daniels, and Francis Pierlot and Will Wright today.mary

    Like

  7. Stacia's avatar Stacia says:

    Pretty sure the first guy on Hm Wednesday is Henry H. Daniels Jr., the hunky boytoy in MEET ME IN ST LOUIS (he wasn’t a boytoy, I just wanted to say that) and I *think* the man in the second photo on Wednesday is Will Wright, so this might be BEWITCHED (1945).

    Oh yeah, the girl on Monday is Sharon McManus, this is BEWITCHED.

    Like

  8. B.J.'s avatar B.J. says:

    I am both bothered and bewildered by this week’s puzzler.

    Like

  9. mike hawks's avatar mike hawks says:

    Hank Daniels, Jr., Francis Pierlot and Will Wright. BEWITCHED.

    Like

  10. Mary Mallory's avatar Mary Mallory says:

    Edmund Gwenn and Minor Watson today.

    Like

  11. mike hawks's avatar mike hawks says:

    Edmund Gwenn, Virginia Brissac and Minor Watson.

    Like

  12. Sylvia E's avatar Sylvia E says:

    I see you’re continuing with the ‘interesting brain’ theme.

    Bewitched 1945
    Mon – Sharon McManus (looking at OS Ms Thaxter and her doomed fiance Mr Daniels Jr)

    Tues – not sure – but maybe Kathleen Lockhart, Mom of June, 2nd Mom of Lassie. Her creds say that she could sing. Will await your reveal. The woman in the FG I think is Gladys Blake. I think the BOTHW in the BG is Ms Thaxter.

    Wed – Henry H Daniels Jr and Francis Pierlot. Will Wright is our smiling guy.

    Thur – Edmund Gwynn, Virginia Brissac (I think) and Minor Watson

    Fri – Phyllis Thaxter and Stephen (Horace) McNally

    Like

  13. mary mallory's avatar mary mallory says:

    Virginia Brissac Tuesday and yesterday, Phyllis Thaxter and Stephen Mcnally today.

    Like

  14. mike hawks's avatar mike hawks says:

    Phyllis Thaxter and Stephen McNally.

    Like

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