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Gossip Friday: Clark Gable to the Rescue
From March 1937: A young lady we know experienced the double thrill of being rescued from a predicament by Clark Gable, and of being mistaken by him for Carol [sic] Lombard, all on the same afternoon. Stranded on the roadside by motor trouble, the attractive blonde girl was just about to go for help when Clark drove up. First he apologized for mistaking her for Carol [sic], and then pushed her ailing car down the street a few blocks to a garage. Prior to that adventure the young lady’s favorite actor was Clark Gable. He’s still her favorite actor.
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Gone with the Wednesday: Clark Gable and the Dreaded Technicolor Tests
Clark Gable hated anything that he felt was frivoulous about film making. He wanted to just show up, read his lines and go home. He didn’t like taking promotional stills or messing with endless wardrobe fittings. It was part of the job, but he didn’t have to like it. The costumes in Gone with the Wind were a sore spot with Clark. When he first showed up to film, despite endless fittings, his costumes didn’t fit right. He already disliked wearing period garb and his long hair was annoying to him as well. I think you can tell from these stills taken from wardrobe and Technicolor tests for that he…
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Nutshell Reviews: Never Let Me Go (1953) and Mogambo (1953)
In a Nutshell: Never Let Me Go (1953) Directed by: Delmer Daves Co-stars: Gene Tierney Synopsis: Gable is Philip Sutherland, an American war correspondent stationed in Moscow. He falls in love with Marya (Tierney), a Russian ballet dancer. After they wed, Philip receives orders to ship back to the United States, but they find that the Russian government will not grant Marya a passport to leave Russia. When Philip is tricked into leaving without her, he sets about forming a plan to smuggle her out of Russia. Best Gable Quote: “When the time comes for me to go, you go with me or I don’t go at all.” Fun Fact:…
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Nutshell Reviews: Across the Wide Missouri (1951) and Lone Star (1952)
In a Nutshell: Across the Wide Missouri (1951) Directed by: William Wellman Co-stars: Ricardo Montalban, Adolphe Menjou Synopsis: Gable is Flint Mitchell, a fur trapper from Kentucky leading a group of French and Scottish trappers through the rugged West in the 1820′s. Battling Blackfoot Indians all the way, especially their chief Ironshirt (Montalban), he finds love with an Indian chief’s granddaughter (portrayed by Mexican actress Maria Elena Marques). Best Gable Quote: “You’re full of magic…the one woman in the world for me and I love you, pigeon. Maybe I didn’t know it when I found you but I know it now. You can’t understand what I’m trying to tell you…
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Gossip Friday: The Answer to All Questions
From December 1938: [Clark Gable’s] favorite ambition is to make enough money to travel three years, then relax. I asked him, how would he relax? Just sit still? He said no. He’d relax with raising animals an’ feeding ’em an’ taking care of ’em and building fences an’ anything outdoors, because even if it was hard work, he’d think it was fun. Me too. Spencer Tracy’s his favorite actor. Looks like pretty near everybody’s favorite acttor’s Spencer Tracy. And, oh, gosh, it was the cutest thing. When I said, “What’s your favorite hobby?” he said, “Carole Lombard.” When I said, “Who’s your favorite actress?” he said, “Carole Lombard.” When I…
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Nutshell Reviews: Key to the City (1950) and To Please a Lady (1950)
In a Nutshell: Key to the City (1950) Directed by: George Sidney Co-stars: Loretta Young, Frank Morgan Synopsis: Gable is Steve Fisk, the boorish mayor of Puget City, who meets Clarissa Standish (Young), the stuffy mayor of Winona, Maine at the annual mayors conference in San Francisco. They fall in love despite their differences but trouble arises as they try to make their relationship work outside the convention. Best Gable Quote: “I don’t start anything I can’t finish. If I tell you I love you, I mean it.” Not-So-Fun Fact: Young and her husband hosted the film’s wrap party at their home on September 18, 1949. It was during the…
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Gone with the Wednesday: Repost–A New Ending for Gone with the Wind
This week, here is an article I posted in 2012 about a contest Screen Guide magazine had to come up with a new ending to Gone with the Wind. The winner is hardly satisfying… http://dearmrgable.com/?p=5740
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Nutshell Reviews: Command Decision (1948) and Any Number Can Play (1949)
In a Nutshell: Command Decision (1948) Directed by: Sam Wood Co-stars: Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy Synopsis: Gable is K.C. Dennis, a and American General in England during World War II. His duty is to plan bombing missions over Germany, at the loss of hundreds of men. Despite objections from fellow soldiers and Congressmen, he continues his mission because he believes it is key to the U.S. victory over Germany. Best Gable Quote: “Someday you’re going to wisecrack yourself right into the infantry, sergeant.” Fun Fact: The only Gable film in which there is no love story. There are no females in the cast. MGM received thousands of letters…
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Nutshell Reviews: Adventure (1945), The Hucksters (1947) and Homecoming (1948)
In a Nutshell: Adventure (1945) Directed by: Victor Fleming Co-stars: Greer Garson, Thomas Mitchell Synopsis: Gable is Harry Patterson, a hard-boiled, womanizing sailor. When his ship is destroyed by a Japanese sub and he and his crew–including best pal Mudgin (Mitchell) –are stuck in San Francisco, he meets a stoic spinster librarian, Emily (Garson) and her bubbly roommate, Helen (Blondell). Despite their differences, Harry and Emily fall in love and impulsively decide to get married. They soon realize they made a mistake and Harry heads back out to sea. But he discovers maybe Emily has changed him and the life of a sailor isn’t as appealing as it was before.…
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Nutshell Reviews: Honky Tonk (1941) and Somewhere I’ll Find You (1942)
In a Nutshell: Honky Tonk (1941) Directed by: Jack Conway Co-stars: Lana Turner, Frank Morgan Synopsis: Gable is fugitive con artist Candy Johnson, who stumbles upon the small town of Yellow Creek while on the run. He quickly takes advantage of the town’s lack of law and order. He also steals the heart of Elizabeth (Turner), a Boston-bred girl with a crooked father (Morgan). Although he insists he can’t be tied down, she manipulates him into marrying her and he becomes the most respected man in Yellow Creek. Her father doesn’t trust him, however, and sets out to destroy his reputation in town. Best Gable Quote: “You’ve got a full set of…