Robert Montgomery

Biography

Robert Montgomery was an American actor, director and producer whose career began on the New York stage before Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed him and cast him in one comedy after another. Born in 1904 in Fishkill Landing, New York, the place now known as Beacon, he made his film debut in So This Is College in 1929 and soon showed he could handle drama as well, playing the prisoner Kent in The Big House (1930) and a psychopathic murderer in Night Must Fall (1937), the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. A second nomination followed for Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). He starred in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941), made his uncredited directing debut on They Were Expendable (1945), then directed and starred in Lady in the Lake (1946) and Ride the Pink Horse (1947). He hosted the Emmy-winning Robert Montgomery Presents from 1950 to 1957 and won a Tony in 1955 for directing The Desperate Hours.

77years old at death

Born May 21, 1904Beacon
Died September 27, 1981New York City
Star sign: GeminiFirst day of the sign, on the Taurus cusp
Also credited as Henry Montgomery Jr. and Henry Montgomery

Movie Career

Films: 17
Career span: 31 years1929 to 1960

Genres

Drama71%, 12 films
Romance35%, 6 films
Comedy29%, 5 films
Crime18%, 3 films
Mystery18%, 3 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Montgomery turned down an offer to appear opposite Vilma Banky in the film This Is Heaven (1929) while he was still a popular stage actor in New York.
Behind the camera
Montgomery directed Lady in the Lake (1947), a film noir based on Raymond Chandler's detective novel, and played Philip Marlowe. Shot entirely from Marlowe's viewpoint, it showed Montgomery on screen just a few times, including three mirror reflections.
Beyond film
Montgomery was the host of Robert Montgomery Presents, a television series that won an Emmy Award and aired from 1950 to 1957.

Robert Montgomery movies on Netflix

The Gallant Hours1960IMDb rating 7.1as Narration (American scenes)
Eye Witness1950IMDb rating 6.2as Adam Heyward
Ride the Pink Horse1947IMDb rating 7.2as Lucky Gagin
Lady in the Lake1946IMDb rating 6.5as Phillip Marlowe
They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2as Lt. John Brickley
Here Comes Mr. Jordan1941IMDb rating 7.5as Joe Pendleton
Mr. & Mrs. Smith1941IMDb rating 6.3as David
Rage in Heaven1941IMDb rating 6.4as Philip Monrell
Night Must Fall1937IMDb rating 7.2as Danny
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney1937IMDb rating 6.4as Lord Arthur Dilling
Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4as Dillon 'Dill" Todd
Night Flight1933IMDb rating 6.1as Auguste Pellerin
Inspiration1931IMDb rating 6.2as André Montell
Our Blushing Brides1930IMDb rating 6.2as Tony Jardine
The Big House1930IMDb rating 7.1as Kent Marlowe
The Divorcee1930IMDb rating 6.6as Don
Their Own Desire1929IMDb rating 5.8as Jack

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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They Were Expendable1945 Drama, Waras Lt. John Brickley
IMDb rating 7.210K votes
Here Comes Mr. Jordan1941 Comedy, Fantasy, Romanceas Joe Pendleton
IMDb rating 7.58.2K votes
Mr. & Mrs. Smith1941as David
IMDb rating 6.312K votes
Lady in the Lake1946as Phillip Marlowe
IMDb rating 6.57.2K votes
Night Must Fall1937as Danny
IMDb rating 7.23.4K votes
Ride the Pink Horse1947as Lucky Gagin
IMDb rating 7.23.9K votes
The Gallant Hours1960as Narration (American scenes)
IMDb rating 7.12.3K votes
The Divorcee1930as Don
IMDb rating 6.64.2K votes

Most often with

W.S. Van Dyke directed two of these films, Clarence Brown two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Joan Crawford

Lewis Stone

Mary Doran

Clark Gable

Leon Ames

Sidney BraceyW.S. Van DykeDirector, 2 films

Clarence BrownDirector, 2 films

Films together

Joan Crawford3 films together, 1930 to 1937
Joan Crawford's page
- The Last of Mrs. Cheyney1937IMDb rating 6.4Montgomery as Lord Arthur DillingCrawford as Mrs. Fay Cheyney
- Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4Montgomery as Dillon 'Dill" ToddCrawford as Mary Clay
- Our Blushing Brides1930IMDb rating 6.2Montgomery as Tony JardineCrawford as Geraldine 'Gerry' March
Lewis Stone3 films together, 1929 to 1931
Lewis Stone's page
- Inspiration1931IMDb rating 6.2Montgomery as André MontellStone as Raymond Delval
- The Big House1930IMDb rating 7.1Montgomery as Kent MarloweStone as Warden James Adams
- Their Own Desire1929IMDb rating 5.8Montgomery as JackStone as Marlett
Mary Doran3 films together, 1929 to 1930
Mary Doran's page
- Our Blushing Brides1930IMDb rating 6.2Montgomery as Tony JardineDoran as Eloise - A Mannequin
- The Divorcee1930IMDb rating 6.6Montgomery as DonDoran as Janice
- Their Own Desire1929IMDb rating 5.8Montgomery as JackDoran as Suzanne
Clark Gable2 films together, 1933 to 1934
Clark Gable's page
- Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4Montgomery as Dillon 'Dill" ToddGable as Jeffrey Williams
- Night Flight1933IMDb rating 6.1Montgomery as Auguste PellerinGable as Jules
Leon Ames2 films together, 1945 to 1946
Leon Ames's page
- Lady in the Lake1946IMDb rating 6.5Montgomery as Phillip MarloweAmes as Derace Kingsby
- They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2Montgomery as Lt. John BrickleyAmes as Major James Morton
Sidney Bracey2 films together, 1931 to 1934
Sidney Bracey's page
- Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4Montgomery as Dillon 'Dill" ToddBracey as Paula's Chauffeur
- Inspiration1931IMDb rating 6.2Montgomery as André MontellBracey as Waiter with Coffee and Cream Pitchers
W.S. Van DykeDirector, 2 films, 1934 to 1941
All films by W.S. Van Dyke
- Rage in Heaven1941IMDb rating 6.4Montgomery as Philip Monrell
- Forsaking All Others1934IMDb rating 6.4Montgomery as Dillon 'Dill" Todd
Clarence BrownDirector, 2 films, 1931 to 1933
All films by Clarence Brown
- Night Flight1933IMDb rating 6.1Montgomery as Auguste Pellerin
- Inspiration1931IMDb rating 6.2Montgomery as André Montell
Also two films together15 more actors
- George IrvingInspiration (1931) and The Divorcee (1930)
- John MiljanInspiration (1931) and Our Blushing Brides (1930)
- Matthew BoultonRage in Heaven (1941) and Night Must Fall (1937)
- Eily MalyonNight Must Fall (1937) and Forsaking All Others (1934)
- Lucile WatsonMr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) and Rage in Heaven (1941)
- Robert Emmett O'ConnorOur Blushing Brides (1930) and The Big House (1930)
- Rosalind RussellNight Must Fall (1937) and Forsaking All Others (1934)
- Beryl MercerNight Must Fall (1937) and Inspiration (1931)
- Norma ShearerThe Divorcee (1930) and Their Own Desire (1929)
- Chester MorrisThe Big House (1930) and The Divorcee (1930)
- Philip MerivaleMr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) and Rage in Heaven (1941)
- Fletcher NortonInspiration (1931) and The Big House (1930)
- Gwen LeeInspiration (1931) and Our Blushing Brides (1930)
- Helene MillardThe Divorcee (1930) and Their Own Desire (1929)
- Zelda SearsInspiration (1931) and The Divorcee (1930)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Robert Montgomery's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$10.3 million

6 of the 17 films have a worldwide figure.

6Worldwide figure
1US gross only
10Figure not found

Top grosser

Lady in the Lake1946Phillip Marlowe$2.7 million

Highest grossing

The six biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Lady in the Lake1946as Phillip Marlowe
$2.7M25.8% of the total
2
Forsaking All Others1934as Dillon 'Dill" Todd
$2.2M21.4% of the total
3
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney1937as Lord Arthur Dilling
$1.8M17.5% of the total
4
Mr. & Mrs. Smith1941as David
$1.4M13.6% of the total
5
Our Blushing Brides1930as Tony Jardine
$1.2M11.8% of the total
6
Night Must Fall1937as Danny
$1.0M9.9% of the total