Royal Command Film Performance (1950) reception line/celebrities Dietrich, Montgomery Clift etc

The 1950 Royal Film Performance was The Mudlark, which would explain the prominence of Irene Dunne and the young actor. Alec Guinness should have been there as well but doesn’t seem to be.

John Mills was what the Brits calls a shortarse, especially noticeable standing near Ray Milland and James Stewart. He's not much taller than the "Queen Mum."

Miss Vera Ellen shows up in food-rationed Austerity Britain choosing to look hungry.

Swanson's glamorous presence reminds me that SUNSET BOULEVARD would probably never be selected for this occasion.

Mum got a bouquet of orchids and all I got were these shitty carnations.

One of Irene Dunne's last major films.

"I never formally retired," Dunne later explained, "but an awful lot of the girls my age soldiered on in bad vehicles. I couldn't run around with an ax in my hand like Bette [Davis] and Joan [Crawford] did to keep things going."

Claudette really gets into the deep curtsey for the Queen Mum, Marlene much less so. Look on her face says, "I just busted my ass to help save Democracy and as an American citizen, I have to do this? Really?"

No new male star was hotter on both of sides of the Atlantic in 1950 than Richard Todd.

I believe that's Margaret Lockwood sitting down amongst the crowd in a glittering white gown, smoking a cigarette. She was a HUGE film star in the UK but never impressed here much, except in Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes.

Is it odd that Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) proceeded her husband King George VI in that reception line? As she's all decked out with that tiara and huge bouquet, he merely comes off as her butler.

Both Elizabeths seem most entranced with Tyrone Power.

edited clip with sound

Yes, Margaret Lockwood isn't standing like the peasants. She obviously thinks of herself as more regal than the BRF.

Miss Dietrichs gown by Christian Dior. Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry is her own.

When Travis Banton designed a period ball gown for Dunnes movie "High, Wide and Handsome "- an exaggerated confection , its surface strewn with thousands of tiny sequins and enormous tulle bows- Marlene joked: "Have you any tulle left in stock after making this dress ? I know she must be ' the bow kind , ' but haven't you exaggerated it just a little bit ? "

She might have had similar thoughts, side-eyeing Irene's over-embroidered princess dress.

glorious black and white

and yet more footage from same event... Monty Clift cruising the room to see who might be available later on, although none of the men appear to be under 70.

I wonder if Monty had been briefed on the "cottages" of London, so he knew where to go for "extracurricular entertainment."

R13, well, there is Tyrone Power in the room, and he was only 36 (albeit already looking much older than his years).

Funny how the camera will linger on a lady's skirt before scanning up to her face. What were they thinking?

Is that Claudette's husband with her at the end of r13? The famous Hollywood doctor?

Alec Guinness makes an appearance in that reel.

You just know King George was dying for a cigarette.

Monty seemded to have spotted somebody earlier while doing some radio thing with the ladys.

Claudette seemed very free with her profiles that night.

Where's Prince Philip?

Apparently, Monty Clift showed up at the event accompanied by Mrs Tyrone Power, Linda Christian, causing tongues to wag.

Monty & La Linda dancing

With Marlene and Michael Wilding

Is Mrs. Tyrone Power wearing a Don Loper original?

Do Chuck and Cammie go to the movies…er…I mean, cinema….err, I mean FILMS , these days ?