Films
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Gossip Friday: Why Not Paul?
From February 1948, Jimmie Fidler’s column: I can’t help feeling irked when I read that Clark Gable, who will star in the screen version of “Command Decision,” is going to New York to study the stage performance of Paul Kelly. I have no brief against Gable; quite the contrary, I regard him as one of the most capable actors in Hollywood. But why not let Paul Kelly play the role on the screen which he’s created on the stage? Kelly is a Hollywood veteran; a great actor and a swell guy who’s had more buffets from Lady Luck than should fall to the lot of any one man. In “Command…
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Gossip Friday: Praise from Lombard
From December 1938: George King Wins Praise of Miss Lombard For Getting Clark Gable to Learn Dancing Ability as Hoofer Was Required For Role in ‘Idiot’s Delight’ HE LOSES WEIGHT by Robbin Coons Hollywood, Dec. 22–From Carole Lombard to George King: Congratulations. Miss Lombard presented the same to Mr. King because he had accomplished (1) what she had been unable to do and (2) what no movie script had been able to do, and (3) what no woman had been able to do. Mr. King, a business-like young man, had made Clark Gable dance. Mr. Gable, for these many years, had gone through life practically without stepping on a dance…
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1960: Why Gable Feared Rhett Butler
Below is one of Clark Gable’s final interviews, by an entertainment reporter who went to see him in Reno. Why Gable Feared Rhett Butler by Emery Wister November 18, 1960 One of Clark Gable’s last interviews was given to Emery Wister, The Charlotte News amusement writer. Here Mr. Gable, the film star who died in his sleep yesterday, tells some of his fears in playing the role of Rhett Butler in “Gone with the Wind.” RENO–Twenty-one years ago Clark Gable was afraid his career was about to come to a sudden, crashing halt. The public was insistent that he play the role of Rhett Butler in “Gone with the Wind.”…
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Gossip Friday: Like a Husband with a Hangover
From September 1954: The London Daily Sketch, a tabloid, criticizes Clark Gable for something that he can’t help–the fact that he is growing older. Somewhat uncharitably, it seems, the Daily Sketch says Gable’s kisses lack fire and that his tread is heavy, his eyes dull and his manner weary. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the paper claims that Gable in his latest movie, “Betrayed,” kisses Lana Turner “like a husband with a hangover.” Since Clark Gable hasn’t found the fountain of youth, nor the editors of the Daily Sketch either for that matter, no one is going to make an outright denial that Gable at 53 is…
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Gossip Friday: Part of His Duties
From May 1957: Clark Gable’s wife, Kay, who seldom visits the studio, dropped onto the “Teacher’s Pet” set to watch Clark and Doris Day emote. “They’ll do a love scene next,” she was told. “That’s part of Clark’s duties,” she laughed.
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Gossip Friday: Not a Knockout
From June 1936: The famous knockout blow that Clark Gable delivered to his skilled opponent in the prizefight scene for “Cain and Mabel” will be retained in the picture, but will not appear as a knockout. Warners wanted to use it as the end of the 15-round bout in the story, in which Clark co-stars with Marion Davies, but the camera caught the “Round 1” marker above the ring, and there is no way to keep this from showing. As a result, the scenes will appear as a knockdown, and another way will be figured for Gable to score a kayo at the finish of the fight.
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Gossip Friday: Don’t Pat Clark Gable on the Back!
From June 1936: Don’t Pat Clark Gable on the Back–He Hates It! Clark Gavle was named recently as one of the three greatest stars of 1936 throughout the world–yet he remains the same Clark Gable. Now he adds to his laurels, with Jean Harlow and Myrna Loy in Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s “Wife Versus Secretary” opening at the Luverne Theatre June 29th. He wears the same hat size that he wore when he was an unknown extra, but there’s a red feather in it today. He still has a passion for turtleneck sweaters, brilliant neckties and old clothes. His favorite relaxation is fooling the willy trout. He can ride a horse…
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Gossip Friday: A Hameroo
From March 1939: Clark Gable’s frequent ribbing of himself has made him just as popular at Selznick as on his home lot, MGM. A good example comes as he makes the scene in “Gone with the Wind” in which he is insulted before a large group of men by Rand Brooks, portraying Charles Hamilton, Scarlett O’Hara’s first husband. “I again must apologize for all my shortcomings.” Then he must turn to Leslie Howard, playing Ashley Wilkes, excuse himself, toss a barbed remark at Brooks and stride from the room. Gable goes through the scenes, struts out and then turns with a laugh and says: “Boy, was that exit a hameroo.…
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Gossip Friday: No Clark, No Ava
From January 1956: A drive-in movie theater in San Fernando Valley marqueed it “Grace Kelly in Mogambo” following her engagement to Prince Rainier. No mention of Clark Gable or Ava Gardner, who never expected the no-billing treatment when they made the picture with a pretty, unknown blonde.
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Gossip Friday: Croonin’ Gable
From January 1, 1936: All the fellows are kidding Clark Gable, the actor, because he does some crooning in his next picture, “Wife vs. Secretary.” Clark can “take it,” though. He just bought a new car for $16,000. Not on time, either.
