Howard Meets Davis - Part Three

After months away from his children and his home, both in England, and the purchase of five polo ponies to alleviate his boredom and irritation, Leslie Howard finally began filming for Of Human Bondage (1934) in February, 1934.

The entire cast was English except for Bette Davis and Howard thought an English actress should have been cast as Mildred Rogers. Even though Davis had hired a British maid in an effort to learn the accent, Howard was not impressed. Davis was aware of Howard's feelings that she was ridiculous for the part. To observers Howard was polite but to Davis Howard was unsupportive, reading a book off stage while throwing her

Leslie Howard's Radio Career

I have added a Radio Career Section on Leslie Howard's Wikipedia page, Leslie Howard on Wikipedia, along with a table detailing Howard's appearances with links to those recordings that have survived.

You can also see this information by accessing the "Radio Appearance Log" link in the "Photos and Magazine Mentions" Section of my blog. You can also listen to all of Howard's recordings by visiting my YouTube site, Leslie Howard on the Radio, or by accessing the "On The Radio" link in the "Photos and Magazine Mentions" Section of my blog and scrolling to the recording you would like to hear.

At this point after my own extensive research, along with Ginevra Di Verduno (who may be continuing to research), I believe the information is complete. Any broadcast not found is assumed to be lost. If anyone is able to locate any missing broadcasts, I will be forever in your debt if you let me know.

I am so grateful to Ginevra Di Verduno and her sites Leslie Howard Forever and Inafferrabile (Elusive) Leslie Howard for the hard work she has done in finding all this information and preserving the memory of Leslie Howard. I only knew what to look for because Ms Di Verduno found it first. I wish with all my heart that more of Mr. Howard's radio appearances had survived, especially those of his own radio show, Leslie Howard's Matinee, but I am grateful to be able to listen to those that are available for a better glimpse into the personality of this fine man.

[Leslie Howard, 1934]

[Leslie Howard, 1937]

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Howard Meets Davis - Part Two

Upon arriving in Hollywood in the fall of 1933 to begin filming Of Human Bondage (1934) Leslie Howard found that nothing was ready. Even though RKO had urged him to hurry up and return from England, Howard found himself sitting around waiting, as usual. The cast had not been selected and it appeared the studio was in no hurry. Howard sat through Christmas in California without his children who were old enough to decide where they wanted to be and they had opted to stay at home in Stowe Maries. He fumed. And bought horses.

The director of the film, John Cromwell, had noticed Bette Davis in The Cabin in the Cotton (1932) and thought she would be perfect for the role of Mildred Rogers. Pandro S. Berman, who was producing the film, agreed. Meantime, after Bette Davis was shown the screenplay by Wilson Mizner and Davis learned that RKO owned the rights to the film she petitioned Jack Warner to let her try for the part of Mildred Rogers. Other actresses had turned down the part, unwilling to be shown in such an unflattering light. But Davis was not afraid. After much back and forth and trade agreements Davis got the part.

Howard was shocked and dismayed.

To be continued...

[Leslie Howard and Bette Davis
in Of Human Bondage, 1934]

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Howard Meets Davis - Part One

[Leslie Howard on the set for Of Human Bondage, 1934]

Leslie Howard's initial experience with Bette Davis was one of disinterest and disapproval.

Howard was in England during the summer of 1933. Having completed Columbia's first film there, The Lady Is Willing (1934), Howard moved on to the Talbot Jennings play This Side Idolatry set in 1592 London with Howard acting as Shakespeare. According to Howard's daughter,

It's Love I'm After

It's Love I'm After is a 1937 film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Leslie Howard, Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland. It will be shown this weekend on TCM. [See your local listings]

Howard chose this film at the time because he thought it would be a break from stress. He had just finished his tour of Hamlet which he produced, directed and starred in. Although Howard decided to close the show on Broadway after only 39 performances, the tour was very successful. But Howard was tired. He thought a comedy would be just the thing to bring in some cash and relax with his family. Howard had already worked with Bette Davis in Of Human Bondage (1934) and The Petrified Forest (1936) and he was comfortable with her. He already has his mind on his next film, Pygmalion (1938), and was excited that he would be able to direct.

Here is the trailer for It's Love I'm After.

It's Love I'm After Trailer

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Happy Independence Day!

Here's to wishing all of you the best 4th ever!

Leslie Howard in From the Four Corners, 1941

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