Gossip Friday: A Fitting Tribute

From April 1942:

You remember in January, after Carole Lombard finished the picture TO BE OR NOT TO BE which plays Friday and Saturday, she volunteered to tour the United States for several months to promote the sale of defense stamps and bonds. She completed her first tour in the east and was returning to Hollywood when the plane crashed in Nevada.

There was immediately speculations whether or not the picture would be released. Clark Gable, the husband of Carole Lombard, immediately released a statement saying that he knew it would be Carole’s sincere desire that the picture be shown if it would help people to laugh during these strenuous times. Carole was known among her friends and loved ones for her cheerfulness and friendliness. Her sincere devotion to her Government can never be questioned. The picture is a fitting tribute to her greatness. It combines humor, farce and melodrama in such a way as to make it a most interesting and worthwhile entertainment.