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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…
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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!
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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Clark Gable Wants YOU to Buy Christmas Seals!
It is not often that you find Clark Gable pleading for your money for a cause or product. But in 1958, Clark appeared in a short advertisement urging moviegoers to purchase Christmas seals to support the Tuberculosis Association. This rare gem is now on YouTube! Watch it here: Merry Christmas!
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Holiday Wishes from Clark Gable and Carole Lombard
Happy Holidays to all!
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Gossip Friday: Santa Checks Up on Good Boys and Girls
In the January 1935 issue of Hollywood magazine, they printed “Santa’s book” of good and bad points for film stars. So who’s getting what they wanted for Christmas and who is getting coal? CLARK GABLE Good Points: For giving is It Happened One Night. Being always thoughtful of others. When a friend had no place to keep her dog, he gave it a home on his ranch. Bad Points: Balks at picture assignments with women stars. Drives studio frantic by disappearing between pictures, when he is wanted for story conferences. Gifts: More dogs to take care of CAROLE LOMBARD Good Points: Proved she could act in Twentieth Century. Came…
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Gossip Friday: Nuts About Gable
Letter to the editor, from December 1931: I think Clark Gable is taking the movie world by storm! He’s marvelous! Handsome and everything a movie fan wants! But–why on earth can’t he ever have a likable part in a picture? He was miscast in “Laughing Sinners;” imagine Gable in a Salvation Army garb!!! He was great in the “Secret Six” but he had a dislikable role. He was marvelous as the polished gambler in “A Free Soul” but imagine how the feminine hearts sank when he was shot after doing all that marvelous acting. In the future let us see Clark taking the male lead. Then watch his rise to…