-
Gossip Friday: A Fan’s Plea to the Widower
A reader’s letter in a fan magazine, from August 1942: An Open Letter to Clark Gable Dear Clark, First of all, I want to extend to you my deepest sympathy. I can imagine, to some small degree, how much Carole meant to you, how you miss her cheery companionship, her contagious sportsmanship. We’ll all miss her—so please feel that we are eager to share your sorrow. But I want to ask you to think of us—the millions of your friends and hers—and beg you not to make that loss twofold. We can’t bring Carole back, but we can try to persuade you not to leave us. Won’t you please…
-
Remembering Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard Gable died 72 years ago today, in a horrific plane crash. She was 33 years old. It’s always difficult to realize that she died such a long time ago, as she always comes across as so modern. This memorial article from Hollywood magazine sums her up quite nicely. Rather than being sappy about her death, it is rather a tribute to the person that she was. “This Was Carole,” Hollywood magazine, April 1942: Carole Lombard was a great woman. The president of the United States paid tribute to her and the service she gave her country in time of need. International press associations wrote in praise of her and named…
-
Gone with the Wednesday: “I Was Afraid of Rhett Butler!”
One of the things I’ll be doing on “Gone with the Wednesdays” this year is revisiting the Gone with the Wind-themed articles in the archive. There are so many and I know that the archive is so hefty now that it is hard to find what you’re looking for sometimes. This article, “I Was Afraid of Rhett Butler!” appeared in Liberty magazine in February 1940 and is completely written by Clark Gable. It’s not very long so here it is in its entirety: Rhett Butler really put me on a spot, a hot one. Or rather Margaret Mitchell did when she created Rhett. I hope some day to have the privilege of…
-
Gossip Friday: Let’s Save Clark!
Letter to the editor, February 1934: Why will movie producers insist on re-making Clark Gable into a sweet, gentle lover? Every time I see one of his pictures I grow more disappointed. The women fell in love with him because he was a big, capable, protecting he-man. The men fell for him because he’s a man’s man. Then why make the screen’s mostperfect he-man into a sissy? Let’s keep him a caveman! Mary K. Jones 709 St. Claire Ave. Grosse Pointe, Mich.
-
Gossip Friday: Gable for Negri?
From January 1932: We hear–unofficially–that far from deciding on Greta Garbo for “Grand Hotel,” Metro has decided to borrow Pola Negri for the chief female role and has offered, as an inducement to Pathe, to lend Clark Gable in exchange, for one picture! —- Interesting, but we all know Garbo did make “Grand Hotel” and Gable didn’t make another film for Pathe. Quite an idea, though…
-
Introducing…Gone with the Wednesdays!
Happy New Year! 2014 is a special year for classic film fans, as it marks the 75th anniversary of what is considered the greatest year in film: 1939. And of course that means that we will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Gone with the Wind this year! To commemerate, every Wednesday there will be a GWTW item here on the blog–pictures, articles, audio, etc. Everything GWTW related that I have will be shared! Enjoy!
-
2013 Year in Review
The following films were Movie of the Month in 2013: January: Test Pilot (1938) February: Somewhere I’ll Find You (1942) March: After Office Hours (1935) April: Polly of the Circus (1932) May: Boom Town (1940) June: Night Nurse (1931) July: Parnell (1937) August: Forsaking All Others (1934) September: Night Flight (1933) October: Comrade X (1940) November: Love on the Run (1936) December: Any Number Can Play (1949) In News this year: A three-part series on the Brown Derby Restaurant–Part One, Part Two, Part Three This website turned four! We celebrated the 100th birthday of Vivien Leigh. Audrey Totter died. Joan Fontaine died. The following articles were added to The Article Archive this…
-
December Movie of the Month: Any Number Can Play (1949)
This month, Clark Gable is an unhappy gambling man, Alexis Smith his neglected wife, Mary Astor his pleading ex-flame and Wendell Corey is devious brother-in-law in Any Number Can Play. Gable is Charley Kyng, the owner of a gambling house in New York. After learning he has a heart problem, he begins to re-evaluate his life: his relationship with his wife (Smith) and teenage son (Darryl Hickman), his business and his associates. This is one of Clark’s films that I didn’t like very much initially but in subsequent viewings I have become to appreciate it more and more. It’s not a masterpiece but the script is very down to earth…
-
Gossip Friday: 1931–The Fans Have Spoken
Two fan letters from 1931: September: Richard Dix is plenty good, but give Clark Gable a real chance. He’s simply wonderful and no going out of the way to say it either. He has the looks that could steal any poor girl’s heart DeWuse John —– October: I have just seen “A Free Soul,” and is that a picture! It may not be the most wholesome type of picture, but to my mind is one of the best produced in some time, the reason being the splendid, forceful portrayals of Lionel Barrmore and Clark Gable. Miss Shearer was fine, too, as she always is, but special tribute is due Mr.…
-
Audrey Totter 1917-2013
In the midst of the holiday rush, we were all shocked and saddened by several classic Hollywood deaths separated by a mere number of days. One of which was Audrey Totter, who died peacefully on December 12 at the age of 95. Audrey was known for her tough gal roles in the 1940’s and 50’s, in films like The Setup, Lady in the Lake and Under the Gun. In 1949, Audrey starred with Clark Gable in Any Number Can Play. Audrey played Alice Elcott, the sister-in-law of Clark’s gambling kingpin character. Clark was married to Alexis Smith in the film, but blonde Audrey caught his eye. She was only thirty…