{May Movie of the Month} Adventure (1945)

“Gable’s Back and Garson’s Got Him!”

You couldn’t tread many places without hearing MGM’s infectious tagline for Adventure. The return of Clark Gable after a three year absence from the screen was heralded high and low. Clark, now a decorated war hero and a widower, was a bit thicker around the middle, a bit grayer around the temples, a bit sadder in the eyes…but was back in the saddle.

While Clark had been overseas, British import Greer Garson had become the #1 leading lady at MGM, after such hits as Mrs. Miniver and Random Harvest.

In the beginning this film has a lot in common with Teacher’s Pet, which would follow 13 years later. In both, Clark starts out as a crusty, stubborn, ignorant man’s man, denouncing formal education and spitting in its face. Falling in love with an educated woman changes his viewpoint.

In fact, I find Clark’s character downright dislikable in the beginning of this film. So arrogant and cocky, making fun of libraries and educated people, mocking religion and anything anyone else believes in.

Delightful in this film is Joan Blondell, as Greer’s roommate. More of a good-time girl than stoic Greer, Clark is attracted to her at first and they dance and cuddle and kiss.

But then she seems to be perfectly fine when Clark and Greer, after having a big fight, drive off to Reno and get married, leaving her in the lurch. She’s instantly happy for them, despite the fact that she had her claws firmly in Clark first.

And she’s the first to turn on him when, upon returning from their honeymoon, it is apparent he will not make an ideal husband.

I’m still not quite sure how Harry changes from not believing in marriage to running off with a woman he was yelling at just moments earlier. He claims he just did it because that is what she wanted. So…in that day and age, it seems he just married her to get her into bed? Seems that way.

Eventually it is evident we are supposed to “like” Clark as he realizes the errors of his ways, but he is such a jerk by that time, who can forgive him? He is awfully cruel to Maria (Lina Romay), a Spanish girl who is madly in love with him and waits patiently for his visits. He mocks and pushes around Mudgin (Gone with the Wind’s Thomas Mitchell) and is only sorry when he dies.

This film is one of only a handful in which we get to see Clark play father, if only for a few minutes. The scenes where he is begging his baby to live are a bit melodramatic, but it is really touching and sweet. Although it has always bothered me a bit that after the baby begins to finally breathe, he doesn’t grab him up and hold him!

I can’t help but wince at Clark calling Greer his “screwball” a few times throughout the film. Considering he was recently widowed by “the Queen of Screwball,” you can’t tell me he never made the connection.

Greer was one of the few leading ladies that Clark did not get along with. She was a bit too formal, too prim for his tastes–taking afternoon breaks for tea and demanding a closed set during romatic scenes.

Greer later recalled, “Adventure was not a good experience. Clark was very taciturn and withdrawn and, I think, somewhat embarrassed at having to deal with things like wardrobe fittings and makeup after the war years. Despite his reputation, he was not really a ladies’ man. I think he was most relaxed when he was out hanging with men.”

 This film is often described as being an enormous flop, but that isn’t at all true. Crowds flocked to see the return of the King of Hollywood, and Greer was immensely popular. The film had a grand premeire at Radio City Music Hall and had a healthy gross of over $3,800,000. It was however, critically panned for its mis-matched stars, meandering plot and syrupy melodrama.

Fun fact: In addition to Thomas Mitchell in the cast, Harry Davenport, who played Dr. Meade in Gone with the Wind, shows up as Dr. Ashlon.

Read more about the film here and see 212 pictures from the film in the gallery.

Adventure is new to DVD from the Warner Brothers Archive Collection.