Any Number Can Play
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Movie of the Week: Any Number Can Play (1949)
This week, Clark is a gambling house owner and Alexis Smith is his loving wife in Any Number Can Play (1949). Clark is Charley King, the owner of a gambling house in New York. After being diagnosed with a heart problem, he begins to re-evaluate his life: his relationship with his wife (Smith) and teenage son (Darryl Hickman), his business and his associates. Clark learns in the first few minutes of the film (from his doctor who smokes a cigarette and drinks liquor while he tells him) that he has angina pectoris, a heart condition brought on by stress (so the doctor says). Ironically, Clark’s fifth wife, whom he would…
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Nutshell Reviews: Command Decision (1948) and Any Number Can Play (1949)
In a Nutshell: Command Decision (1948) Directed by: Sam Wood Co-stars: Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy Synopsis: Gable is K.C. Dennis, a and American General in England during World War II. His duty is to plan bombing missions over Germany, at the loss of hundreds of men. Despite objections from fellow soldiers and Congressmen, he continues his mission because he believes it is key to the U.S. victory over Germany. Best Gable Quote: “Someday you’re going to wisecrack yourself right into the infantry, sergeant.” Fun Fact: The only Gable film in which there is no love story. There are no females in the cast. MGM received thousands of letters…
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December Movie of the Month: Any Number Can Play (1949)
This month, Clark Gable is an unhappy gambling man, Alexis Smith his neglected wife, Mary Astor his pleading ex-flame and Wendell Corey is devious brother-in-law in Any Number Can Play. Gable is Charley Kyng, the owner of a gambling house in New York. After learning he has a heart problem, he begins to re-evaluate his life: his relationship with his wife (Smith) and teenage son (Darryl Hickman), his business and his associates. This is one of Clark’s films that I didn’t like very much initially but in subsequent viewings I have become to appreciate it more and more. It’s not a masterpiece but the script is very down to earth…