Across the Wide Missouri,  Films,  Photos

{Photos} 1951: Clark Gable Takes His Lady on Location

April 10, 2013 /

clark gable sylvia ashley

 

In 1951, Clark Gable and his new wife, Sylvia Ashley, headed into the Colorado wilderness to film Across the Wide Missouri. This pictorial was in LOOK magazine:

 clark gable sylvia ashley

Along with 325 actors and technicians, the Clark Gables lived and worked for six weeks in a little movie boom-town especially built in the Colorado Rockies for Across the Wide Missouri. As newlyweds, the Gables were given a secluded two-room log cabin. At first Mrs. Gable, the former Lady Sylvia Ashley, set out to do all the cooking–but finally settled for a lone coffee-maker. The Gables, like the rest of the crew, in a mammoth tent dining hall accomadating the entire company at one sitting. On their first day off, Clark and Sylvia went by auto to nearby Durango to comb the local Woolworth’s for curtains, rugs, brooms to make their cabin “a home in the wilderness.” For recreation, Mrs. Gable was taught to fish. She was good enough at it to become a regular contributor to the commissary kitchen.

clark gable sylvia ashley
Gable shows Sylvia his respectable catch of brook trout. Under Clark’s tutelage,Mrs. Gable learned to fish–and claimed proudly, “I catch my share.”
clark gable sylvia ashley adolphe menjou
In tent dining hall, which seats 350 people, bearded Adolph Menjou cuts up with Maria Elena Marques, Gable’s “Indian Interest” in movie.

 

sylvia ashley clark gable
Sylvia Gable, a competent amateur painter, puts finishing touches on a honeymoon scene of herself and husband. A “critic” appears, hovers over.
clark gable sylvia ashley
Like any artist, Sylvia is filled with self-doubts, would love to have a little word of encouragement. The critic studies her work dubiously.

 

clark gable sylvia ashley
As she poises herself for what may come, her self-appointed critic has his say: something about the horse looking more natural than the people.
sylvia ashley clark gable
The painter indignantly applies a slap on the critic. (Note: LOOK’s art director says, “Mrs. Gable shouldn’t be discouraged. She has talent.”)

 

clark gable across the wide missouri
Gable laughs uproariously at a mystery joke on the walkie talkie
Gable stands out in the rain, waiting for a take, while others take shelter in a tent. The rain is atmosphere for a burial scene.
Gable stands out in the rain, waiting for a take, while others take shelter in a tent. The rain is atmosphere for a burial scene.
clark gable across the wide missouri
The King takes a smoke break. He wears no make-up in the picture–just suntan.
clark gable across the wide missouri
Steele, the horse Gable rides in the film, demands some attention. Steele came from Hollywood like the rest of the crew.

Despite how cozy Clark and Sylvia look here, this trip was where the cracks in their new marriage began to show. Sylvia was the one who wanted to make their cabin “homey” with frilly curtains and carpets; Clark would have just as well stayed in a tent. She did hang with the crew and tried her best at fishing, but always seemed out of place with all her jewelry on and carrying  her little dog with the diamond collar. Clark received a lot of flak from the crew about her–they dubbed her “Her Highness.” He was beginning to realize that they were perhaps just too different. Well, at least Clark didn’t dislike Sylvia’s painting of them too much…it was used as their Christmas card that year!