Films
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Carole Lombard Top 5
Of course an interest in Clark Gable and his films often comes hand in hand with an interest in Carole Lombard and then her films. I am asked sometimes to recommend Carole Lombard books and films. As far as books go, the definitive Carole Lombard biography has yet to be written. “Gable and Lombard” by Warren Harris is good on both of them (just avoid the horrible film of the same name). “Screwball” by Larry Swindell isn’t horrible but is not very appealing to Gable fans as Swindell does not bother to hide his personal dislike of Clark, for whatever reason. Also there is a lot missing, probably because it…
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Gone with the Wednesday: Rhett Said It (Part 2)
Quotes from Rhett Butler, Part 2: “Would you satisfy my curiosity on a point which has bothered me for some time?….Tell me, Scarlett, do you never shrink from marrying men you don’t love?” “And to think you could have had my millions if you’d just waited a bit longer. How fickle is woman.” “What a woman!” “You’re like the thief who isn’t the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly, terribly sorry he’s going to jail.” “You’ve been married to a boy and an old man. Why not marry one the right age, with a way with women?” “Forgive me for startling you with the impetuosity of my sentiments,…
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Gone with the Wednesday: Rhett Said It (Part 1)
Over the years, I’ve chatted with Gone with the Wind fans about their favorite quotes. Many of them come from the spirited and somewhat heartless Scarlett, many from hilarious Mammy, even some from Melanie and Ashley. But, hands down, more people say that Rhett has all the best lines. All year long, I have been posting some of them on the website’s Facebook page. And here are some highlights (Part 1): “I think it’s hard winning a war with words, gentlemen.” “Whewww…Has the war started?” “And you miss, are no lady…I consider it a compliment. Ladies have never held any stole with me.” “I believe in Rhett Butler; he’s the…
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September Movie of the Month: Lone Star (1952)
This month, Clark is a tough cattle baron and Ava Gardner is a sassy newspaperwoman in 1800’s Texas in Lone Star (1952). In this semi-factual historical western, Gable is Devereaux Burke, a cattle baron enlisted by President Andrew Jackson (Barrymore) in 1845 to help convince Texas to become part of the United States. Gable encounters newspaperwoman Martha Ronda (Gardner) and her beau, Senator Thomas Craden (Crawford) who want Texas to become its own republic. Devereaux and Martha soon fall in love despite their differing opinions and he prepares for a final showdown with Craden. This is definitely not Clark’s best Western….by a long shot. I daresay it’s his worst one.…
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Gone with the Wednesday: Cut Out of The Barbecue
There are several stories that have floated around over the years of Clark Gable being at the outdoor barbecue scene set in Busch Gardens in Pasadena. Well, in the final film Clark isn’t in any of the outdoor barbecue scenes. Inside, yes, gazing up the stairs at future wives and having things thrown at him. But not outside. So what is he doing there, in full costume? Filming a scene that ending up on the cutting room floor, that’s what. There was a scene shot for the film, called “A Young Man Talks to Rhett,” in which Rhett converses with a heavily-whiskered man (listed in studio records as being played…
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Gone with the Wednesday: Celebrate the 75th Anniversary in Ohio with The Clark Gable Foundation!
Clark Gable’s home state of Ohio will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Gone with the Wind this October! Patrick Curtis and Mickey Kuhn (toddler Beau and child Beau in the film) will be in attendance! Friday, October 3 at the Cadiz Country Club in Cadiz, Ohio: 5:30pm–Dinner, Play and Open Forum with Patrick and Mickey Saturday, October 4 at the Tuscarawas County Branch of Kent University Performing Arts Center in New Philadelphia, Ohio: 11:00am–Exhibits and Sales Tables 1:00pm–Forum with Patrick and Mickey 2:00pm–Auction of Memorabilia 4:30pm–Screening of Gone with the Wind For further information and to obtain tickets, contact the Clark Gable Foundation at (614) 942-4989.…
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Gone with the Wednesday: Vivien Leigh, Rhett Butler and I
Here is an article from Photoplay magazine in February 1940 in which Clark dispels some rumors about Vivien Leigh, his feelings toward playing Rhett Butler, and his marriage to Carole Lombard. Some quotes: On the challenge of playing Rhett Butler: “…my mind was preoccupied with Rhett Butler. He had me plenty worried, so worried that I didn’t want to play him. Don’t think that was because I didn’t realize what a fat part he was. Rhett is one of the greatest male characters ever created. I knew that. I’d read the entire book through six times, trying to get his moods. I’ve still got a copy in my dressing…
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August Movie of the Month: San Francisco (1936)
This month, Clark is a hard gamblin’ hard drinkin’ woman chasin’ shyster, Spencer Tracy is his best friend the priest and Jeanette MacDonald is the saintly opera singer who steals his heart in San Francisco. Gable is Blackie Norton, a ruthless saloon-keeper in 1906 San Francisco, proud of his gambling ways. Despite their differences, he falls in love with Mary Blake (MacDonald), an aspiring opera singer who he hires to sing in his revue. His childhood pal, priest Tim Mullin (Tracy), objects to him putting Mary on display and stopping her from her opera aspirations. Realizing that Tim is right and that she should pursue her dreams instead of letting…
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Gone with the Wednesday: Clark Gable, George Cukor and the Rumor Mill
Ever heard the rumor that Clark Gable got George Cukor fired as the director of Gone with the Wind because George was gay and Clark had such an inflated ego he wanted his own friend Vic Fleming to diret him instead? I hash out the rumor in this post from 2012: Rumor Mill: Clark Gable, George Cukor and Gone with the Wind
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Gone with the Wednesday: The Stars Before “the Wind”
Let’s take a look at the stars of Gone with the Wind before they starred in their iconic roles 75 years ago… Vivien Leigh (Scarlett O’Hara) Olivia de Havilland (Melanie Wilkes) Ann Rutherford (Carreen O’Hara) Evelyn Keyes (Suellen O’Hara) Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes) Barbara O’Neill (Ellen O’Hara) Thomas Mitchell (Gerald O’Hara) and…a young Clark Gable (Rhett Butler)