- Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Old Man Rhythm, 1934. Rogers bettled John Raymond, John Beal and Randolph Scott for the RKO froth – remembered only for Buddy becoming America’s Boyfriend upon marrying America’s Sweetheart, Mary Pickford in 1937 (until her 1979 death).
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John Howard, Hitting A New High, 1936. Or low, considering how it flopped… And co-star Lily Pons with it! The French coloratura soprano from the Metropolitan Opera, was supposed to be the new Jeannette McDonald. Sang well, but lacked the essentials: talk, individuality and charisma. Ater one more film, totalling four in all, it was… adieu, ma belle!
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Alan Marshal, Four Girls In White, 1938. The Australian actor from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1938, took Dr Stephen Melford from Marshall. Took his wife, Jeanette MacDonald, too. Double whammy!
- Frank Albertson, It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946.
- William Lundigan, State Department File 649, 1948. Raymond was lucky to escape the lame thriller-cum-tribute to “the unsung and often unhonored heroes” of the Foreign Service of the United States “who have given their health and their lives in obscurity.” They deserved better.
Birth year: 1908Death year: 1998Other name: Casting Calls: 5