Normally at this point, I'd publish another photograph of lovely Katie Award nominee Anita Page, you know, to fill out another entry and, well, because I can. But faithful reader "lupner" has been complaining (silently, in her head) that there hasn't been enough beefcake exhibited (Douglas Fairbanks notwithstanding).
Since she's already rejected Silent Era male pin-ups Rudolph Valentino and John Gilbert, I offer up for her viewing pleasure this photo of a young actor named Clark Gable who has been working as an uncredited extra since 1923. He's still a couple of years away from breakthrough performances in Dance, Fools, Dance (Joan Crawford) and A Free Soul (Norma Shearer), but he's working in Hollywood at this time so he qualifies for a mention.
Here he's paired with one of my favorite actresses, Mary Astor, in the classic 1932 film, Red Dust.
True story -- when my valedictorian father was a sixteen-yr.-old senior, he went to a state "Play" competition/festival.
ReplyDeleteHe starred in the play "Swamp Fever" [my musical friends may remember the title, one of my "virtual" songs], which I assume was written by someone in his school.
The plays were being judged by Clark Gable's acting teacher/coach [Dylan? Dilbert?], who offered my dad work as an actor after he graduated -- she said if he'd get his high school diploma, she would represent and work with him.
My dad weighed it; he had a scholarship from a college, but he wanted to act too.
He ended up doing neither, foregoing his scholarship to go work for Augie Busch and send money back so that his sisters [they were orphaned his senior year] could all live together back near his hometown.
I always think o' my pops when I see C. Gable.
Unless he's answering Don Rickles's questions in a submarine; then he's just C. Gable. . . .
Wow.
ReplyDeleteSo what you're telling me is that if your dad had played his cards right, Mary Astor would be your mother.
I'll never see The Maltese Falcon the same way again ...
Mister M., I did not know your father was also an actor. That story is worthy of its own screenplay. Another 'Wow' from me. !
ReplyDeleteMister P., I thank you for thinking of me, and your efforts to provide beefcake upon my behalf. But I've truly not been silently complaining. As for previous presentations -- Rudy was definitely not my cuppa tea, J. Gilbert better, and Ronald Colman was very fine indeed. As for Doug -- have to say I preferred his son, with no disrespect intended to the father. I just adored Jr.
Clark Gable was fabulous, such a manly man (sigh). I've pretty much liked him in everything I've seen. Especially enjoyed him in comedies -- 'It Happened One Night' being the favorite, unsurprisingly. And the song-and-dance number from 'Idiot's Delight' is a treat, though I've never seen the film itself.
Also thought Mary Astor was wonderful. But in a different way.
Incidentally, I'm of the opinion that George Clooney was imitating a Clark Gable-like comedy performance in 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. Perhaps it was subconscious, would be interested to know.
ReplyDeleteActually, I guess one wouldn't imitate a '___-like' performance; he was either imitating him or presenting/attempting a Clark G.-like performance.
ReplyDeleteThis tendency to edit myself after writing something is one of the reasons I don't contribute more . . .
Dear lupner --
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Clark Gable makes you swoon because I envision at least another half-dozen entries where he will figure prominently -- Red Dust, It Happened One Night and Gone With The Wind in particular.
I've been watching a lot of early sound movies which is when Gable emerged -- Dance Fools Dance, A Free Soul and Night Nurse. He started out very much as a heavy, albeit one with a dangerous, roguish charm that commands the screen. It's probably lucky he was at MGM instead of Warner Brothers -- the latter would no doubt have turned him into a James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart style gangster.
He really had an amazing run in the 1930s -- Red Dust, It Happened One Night, Men In White, Manhattan Melodrama, Mutiny On The Bounty, San Francisco, Saratoga, Too Hot To Handle, Idiot's Delight and Gone With The Wind ... not to mention several other movies with Jean Harlow and eight or nine with Joan Crawford.
There were other great actors during the decade, but Gable was the greatest star and I think even despite an Oscar and two other nominations, underrated ...
As for the idea that Clooney was channeling Gable in O Brother Where Art Thou, that makes so much sense I'll do some research and write about it some day ...
ReplyDeleteI would think it would be impossible for Clooney (who is a student of film history) to do a 1930s-style comedy and be unaware of how Gable would have played it -- I mean even right down to the pencil-thin moustache!
I agree that Gable was underrated as an actor. Perhaps overshadowed by the star factor . . . ?
ReplyDeleteOh goody, I'd love to read your findings and/or thoughts about my theory one day. That film was the first time I really liked George Clooney. Have been impressed with much of what he's done since as a filmmaker (and an actor). Quality stuff.
Hey Lupner --
ReplyDeleteEff you.
My son couldn't act his way out of a paper bag, and he couldn't buckle a swash if you gave him a week and full instructions.
How dare you? I mean, how dare you.
I don't mind you swooning over gable; he was gayer than a sack full of kittens, and thus not a threat.
But Oedipus has pointed out to me that drowning my son would have been a good idea. So don't go comparing us again, hear?
As for the Monkey -- Red Dust. *sigh* Red Dust.
You know, with regards to Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., in the Joan Crawford/Anita Page movie, Our Modern Maidens, he does imitations of three actors from the Silent Era -- John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," John Gilbert in a typical love scene, and then an unnamed actor playing Robin Hood, who was of course his father.
ReplyDeleteJunior had dad nailed.
The movie is floating around YouTube in its entirety. The imitations start at the 7:10 mark of Part 2 (of 9) ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_pTCb6e3q4&feature=PlayList&p=C9E8BCEAB85CC9A3&index=60
thanks, Jawn!
ReplyDeleteWhy, you're welcome, Dug ...
ReplyDeleteMy pref for Jr. had nothing to do with his acting ability, about which I can hardly comment -- think the only films I've seen have been 'Gunga Din' and 'Ghost Story'. He was simply better looking -- in my finely-honed opinion -- and was the definition of debonair, classy, all that good stuff. Plus, he had much better manners.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison, Doug, Sr. comes off rather like a thug. See above . . .
Just for you, lupner, I'm holding in reserve a photograph of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. that will absolutely knock your socks off, provided of course you are wearing socks when you see it.
ReplyDeleteI will try to give you advance notice so you can dress appropriately.
Oh boy. I'm going to start wearing socks every day just in case . . .
ReplyDelete