Douglass Montgomery

Tall, oval-faced, fair-haired, sensitive-looking 'Douglass Montgomery' (qv) was born in Los Angeles on October 29, 1909, the son of a jeweler. Graduating from Los Angeles High School, he sought early experience at the Pasadena Playhouse. Deciding to move to New York to pursue the stage, he was quickly typed as dashing suitors in romantic and social dramas.After his discovery by an MGM agent and his resulting studio contract, Douglass' marquee name was immediately changed to Kent Douglass as to not mistake him for the studio's major star 'Robert Montgomery' (qv). A handsome and dapper dramatic "second lead" opposite some of MGM's powerhouse actresses he supported 'Joan Crawford' (qv) in her vehicle _Paid (1930)_ (qv), which was his debut film, and, more memorably, 'Katharine Hepburn' (qv) in _Little Women (1933)_ (qv) as "Laurie" opposite Hepburn's "Jo." Other "second lead" MGM credits included _Daybreak (1931)_ (qv) starring 'Ramon Novarro' (qv) and 'Helen Chandler' (qv); _Five and Ten (1931)_ (qv) with 'Marion Davies' (qv), 'Leslie Howard' (qv); and two co-leads -- as "Roy Cronin" opposite 'Mae Clarke' (qv)'s "Myra" in the romantic WWI drama _Waterloo Bridge (1931)_ (qv) directed by 'James Whale' (qv), and the melodrama _A House Divided (1931)_ (qv) as the son of 'Walter Huston' (qv) and love interest to 'Helen Chandler' (qv), directed by 'William Wyler' (qv).Montgomery's stay at MGM was very brief and when he left, in 1932, he changed his name immediately back to his real name. Now a freelancing agent, Douglass went on to lead or second lead in such films as Paramount's _8 Girls in a Boat (1934)_ (qv) opposite 'Dorothy Wilson' (qv); Universal's _Little Man, What Now? (1934)_ (qv) co-starring 'Margaret Sullavan' (qv); Fox's _Music in the Air (1934)_ (qv) starring 'Gloria Swanson' (qv); Universal's _Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935)_ (qv) with 'Claude Rains' (qv) and 'Heather Angel' (qv); and Universal's _Lady Tubbs (1935)_ (qv) starring 'Alice Brady' (qv).Montgomery scored well with his first top-billed role as the frail, alcoholic 19th century "Swanee River" composer Stephen Foster in the "poverty row" biopic _Harmony Lane (1935)_ (qv) with 'Evelyn Venable' (qv) and 'Adrienne Ames' (qv) as his lady loves. This success was followed by a co-star role opposite 'Constance Bennett' (qv) in _Everything Is Thunder (1936)_ (qv); as well as a top-billed role in the British comedy _Tropical Trouble (1936)_ (qv); a spoiled playboy lead in _Life Begins with Love (1937)_ (qv) opposite 'Jean Parker' (qv), who played "Beth" in his version of _Little Women (1933)_ (qv); the crime drama _Counsel for Crime (1937)_ (qv); and a fourth billed role in the 'Bob Hope' (qv) comedy mystery classic _The Cat and the Canary (1939)_ (qv).Montgomery's career was interrupted by World War II service with Royal Canadian Air Force. He would move to Great Britain and made a few films there. He played American pilot John Hollis in _Johnny in the Clouds (1945)_ (qv) starring 'Michael Redgrave' (qv) and 'John Mills' (qv); played an amnesiac in the romantic drama _Woman to Woman (1947)_ (qv); flew to Rome to play an American composer in the Italian romancer _Sinfonia fatale (1947)_ (qv) (When in Rome) with 'Marina Berti' (qv) and 'Sarah Churchill' (qv); and his last, the melodrama _Forbidden (1949)_ (qv) with 'Hazel Court' (qv).Montgomery married British actress 'Kay Young' (qv) on March 14, 1952, who was previously married to actor 'Michael Wilding' (qv). Young and Montgomery remained married until his death. Moving to TV work, he and Kay eventually moved to the States and he finished his career with guest appearances in such anthology shows as "Cameo Theatre" "'Robert Montgomery' (qv) Presents," "Kraft Theatre" and "TV Rerader's Digest" in which he ably played the title roles in stories about "Peer Gynt," "Robert Louis Stevenson" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."'Douglass Montgomery' (qv) died of spinal cancer in Norwalk, Connecticut, aged 58, on July 23, 1966.::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net