Sunday, April 19, 2009

Clark Gable: The Punishment That Backfired


In 1933, Columbia Pictures was considered a "Poverty Row" studio in Hollywood, relegated to low budgets and B pictures. Not being able to afford a host of contract stars, Columbia would borrow from other studios when the need arose. So when director Frank Capra bought the rights for a magazine story called Night Bus, Columbia boss Harry Cohn tried to borrow MGM star Robert Montgomery for the male lead and change the name to It Happened One Night. Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, refused (MGM turned down the rights to the Night Bus, having lost money on a "bus picture" called Fugitive Lovers, which, ironically, had starred Montgomery). Instead he offered the services of up and comer Clark Gable, as punishment to the rising star for demanding a higher salary. Mayer wanted to humble Gable by showing him the comparison of working at the lowly Columbia as opposed to the pristine Metro Goldwyn Mayer where there were "more stars than there are in Heaven".


Gable was not happy about the arrangement arriving on his first day drunk and angry. He also had doubts about his ability to play a light, comedic role, as he had spent his early years at MGM playing heavy handed thugs and he-men. Capra was also wary on this point. Gable would play Peter Warne, a hard boiled, down t0 earth newspaperman who meets runaway heiress Claudette Colbert. The story follows their misadventures and eventual romance on board a New York bound bus in Florida. After a shaky start with Capra, Gable read the script, relaxed and settled into the part, actually enjoying his time on the set.


It Happened One Night became a sleeper hit and one of the classic screwball comedies. The success of the film actually raised the status and financial viability of Columbia Pictures. When Oscar night rolled around in February 1935 all the headaches paid off. The film was not only a success with the public, it became the first in history to win all 5 major prized: Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actress (Colbert) and as Best Actor, Clark Gable.

7 comments:

  1. Great movie and one of my favorite comedies of the era. Thanks for the background.

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  2. as much as I love Robert Montgomery - thank God they decided upon Mr. Gable - still my favorite Gable performance.

    good one Rupert..thanks..!!

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  3. I love this part of Gable's life, it never gets old :)

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  4. Strange just how fate can throw that hard point winner... Gable was forced to develop a key aspect of his screen persona - that happy-go-lucky wisecracker that was an operator/puppetmaster caught in his own strings. He used it deftly throughout his storied career, particularly in GWTW. Colbert was never better as well, performing with an endearing vulnerability that was extremely appealing. Go Capra as well, setting a superb pace, and taking the proper time with the romantic revelation scene.

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  5. Gable should have had more faith in himself, I love his sort of comedic roles, Gone With The Wind in particular. Not that it's all comedic, but parts of it are. And I love It Happened One Night.

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  6. My favorite Colbert film. I didn't know any of the background info, thanks again for the insight, Rupert--another job well done!

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  7. I love Gable in this movie. The film’s popularity went as far as to cause men’s undershirt sales to significantly drop due to the film’s sequence of a barechested Gable sans undershirt.What a he-man!!! LOL. Rupert, I am sure you already knew about this.

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