Gossip
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Gossip Friday: Rhett Butler–A Menace to a Career?
From April 1940: I asked Clark Gable if he felt it dangerous to work so long in a single film such as “Gone with the Wind.” Fans forget easily. Will the role of Rhett Butler, no matter how colorful, be strong enough to hold Clark at the top, to overcome the long months of getting him on celluloid? Gable writes thus: “Rather than being too dangerous to work too long in one picture, I can say from experience that it is of definite value to an actor and makes for a superior film. There is no substitute for adequate and careful preparation. ‘Gone with the Wind’ proves this. From an…
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Gossip Friday: Star Studded Premiere
From 1948: I am sure that no imperial gala ever ordered by the Emperor Franz Josef himself ever surpassed the splendor of the party in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel, following the premiere of “The Emperor Waltz.” The first showing of the film, which was a formal, international affair, drew a record throng of celebrities to the Hollywood Paramount Theatre where they ran the gauntlet of cheers and shouts from thousands of admiring fans… The “cinema-soxers” roared their delight when Clark Gable and Bing Crosby swapped jokes right in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard where their cars were held up by the traffic jam. Incidentally Clark garnered…
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Gossip Friday: The Great Mouse Detective
From 1946: It happened at a beach resort up the coast, where Clark Gable was spending his holiday. In the middle of the night he beard a strange noise in his room. It stopped, then grew even louder. Clark finally called down to the desk and asked them to send up the house detective. They did. And what they found was a mouse caught in a trap that had been hidden under what-a-man Gable;s bed!
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Gossip Friday: Beginner’s Luck
From 1947: While Clark Gable, Cesar Romero, Diana Lewis and the Walter Langs stood speechless, Brian Donlevy brought a 27-pound halibut to gaff aboard a chartered boat. Because Brian insisted he had never fished on the ocean before, Clark took pity on him and arranged the outing. Beginner’s luck, Brian declared. Clark, whose catch weighed only 13 pounds, wasn’t so sure. Amongst all the fisherman, Brian’s catch was pronounced the record of the day. Clark still believes he fell for a “fish” story.
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Gossip Friday: A Tracy Never Forgets
From 1948: A Tracy never forgets! Not when he hears that Clark Gable has to smoke a big fat cigar in “Command Decision.” Spencer remembered how Clark hated the last one he smoked four years ago in a picture. So, the day they shot the scene, Mr. T. sent cigars to everyone on the set, with instructions to light up and “help” Gable give a good performance! Clark’s already planning his revenge.
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Gossip Friday: A Plea for Clark
Fan letter from 1946: I have been an ardent Clark Gable fan for many years (especially since seeing “Gone with the Wind”), so naturally I was eagerly looking forward to Clark’s return to the screen, Well, I have seen “Adventure” and what a disappointment! The dialogue and situations were either hackneyed or ridiculous, and the picture would have been ruined had it not been for Clark’s durable charm and unbeatable personality. With the possible exception of “Boom Town,” Clark hasn’t had one really good role since “Gone with the Wind.” Clark Gable has given many years of acting services to the screen; his pictures have brought in millions of dollars…
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Gossip Friday: Mistaken Conceit
From October 1934: It remained for Clark Gable to give a sensible explanation of “mistaken conceit.” “Many screen stars are so described,” Gable said, “Because people are looking for reasons to apply the high-hat phrase. For instance, suppose A and B, two friends, pass on the street, and A fails to see B. Later, B says, ‘I saw A on the street today and he didn’t see me,’ and that ends the matter. “But let A become a movie star, and then let them pass on the street, and let A again fail to see N. At once B hastens around town crying, “A has gone hi-hat. He passed me…
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Gossip Friday: Shave and a Haircut
From October 1950: King Clark Gable was sans shave-and-a-haircut for quite a spell before “Across the Wide Missouri” started filming in the wilds of Montana. You’ll see that man with a nature-boy hairdo and beard in the first scenes and you’ll also hear him sing. But Mr. G. doesn’t wear the hair mattress all through the picture. He polishes himself up when he meets the Indian maiden with whom he falls in love.
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Gossip Friday: No Lucky Baldwin
From 1946: Clark Gable got his fill of flying during the war. He doesn’t even want to do a flying picture. His next will be “Lucky Baldwin,” and Angela Lansbury (MGM’s next big star, according to L.B. Mayer) plays the gal who wins, loses and recaptures the colorful gambler. In his spare time Clark’s been hunting in Utah and Arizona. He came to Hollywood with the limit of doves and pheasant. On the subject of “wife hunting,” Clark still isn’t interested in even taking out a license! ___ That Angela Lansbury picture didn’t happen, although from the description it sounds like it might have been a pre-production title for Any…
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Gossip Friday: Up For Sale
From September 1941: The beautiful ranch home of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard is for sale. The asking price is to be $130,000. The reason? The Gables have bought a ranch in Ventura county. They plan to build there and raise about 1200 head of cattle. They’d like to make only one picture a year, preferably both at the same time. During that period they’d rent an apartment in Beverly Hills. And once upon a time Carole was known as a party girl! ___ The ranch was on and off the market in 1941. After Carole’s death, Clark put it back up for sale, but could never bring himself to…