Sun 16 May 2021
An Archived Movie Review: FORSAKING ALL OTHERS (1934).
Posted by Steve under Films: Comedy/Musicals , Reviews[3] Comments
FORSAKING ALL OTHERS. MGM, 1934. Robert Montgomery, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Charles Butterworth, Billie Burke, Rosalind Russell. Director: W.S. Van Dyke.
I taped this by mistake. It was supposed to be some other Joan Crawford movie, but I watched it anyway. I’m not really a Joan Crawford fan, but this early in her career, I find her on-screen image much more pleasing than the hard-boiled one I picture her as in many of her later films. (In the early 30s she’s also lovelier to look at, if I might be permitted a small sexist remark.)
I’m not usually a Clark Gable fan, either. He always seems a little slick for me. I wonder how women today feel about him, watching his old movies now. Ladies, tell me: Is he still the “dreamboat†he was back then?
At any rate, this moderately entertaining love triangle amongst members of the champagne set – and note that Robert Montgomery makes up the third party in this regard – must have been the height of sophistication in its day. It still has its moments, but when it comes down to it, the immorality that’s briefly suggested stays firmly under the leash.
Did I mention that this was a comedy? And as such, Charles Butterworth – totally forgotten today – seems to have gotten all of the funniest lines.
May 16th, 2021 at 7:03 pm
Sort of a second rate DESIGN FOR LIVING, but as romantic comedy goes it has its moments and Van Dyke is never less than capable as a director, interesting always to see Gable as second lead in anything. In just a few years he would be headling with Crawford and Franchot Tone in the secoond lead role.
I find Crawford in this early stage much easier to take. While I admire MILDRED PIERCE and a few of her later Warner’s era films she is much easier to take in her MGM years.
I suspect Gable’s charm still works, it was based on the love affair between the camera and his face, and his persona of a sort of big handsome lovable lug still works. Until masculinity goes completely out of style I suspect his charm will still linger.
May 16th, 2021 at 9:37 pm
I’m with David about Gable. He is forever, and in this film, even with his name third, he is the star. Or as Frank Sinatra commented with regard to his second billing in Pal Joey: ‘Anyone who sees the picture will know who the star is.’
May 16th, 2021 at 10:40 pm
Correction: Gable’s name comes second, Montgomery is billed third. In their final film paring Crawford’s name still appeared first and Gable spoke to Mayer about this, and L.B. agreed with him, but as Joan had been declared box office poison, it was done to show confidence to the exhibitors in her continuing appeal, but that he, L. B. Mayer would make it up to Clark, and boy did he. In the trailer, you would think the film’s title is Clark Gable and not Strange Cargo.