Frederic Wakeman’s big, bestselling exposé on changing business-as-usual practices in post-war media, agenting & advertizing was tamed for easy consumption and as a post-WWII reset for Clark Gable after his disappointing return to the screen in ADVENTURE/’45 (https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2018/08/adventure-1945.html). And while Gable’s fine as a cashed out exec, back from the war and now looking to sell himself to Adolph Menjou’s advertizing firm, the impersonal corporate M-G-M style, softens the sharp edges the story needs to take hold. Gable has two problems to work out: grotesque Soap Mogul Sydney Greenstreet, a chain-pulling terror and the ad firm’s biggest client; and Deborah Kerr’s noble war widow, a titled Brit he falls hard for. Will Gable stand on principle or give in to corporate culture? Will he find the key to Kerr’s class dame or settle for the louche appeal of old pal/songtress Ava Gardner? The first is less character building drama than easy set ups; the second a mismatch since the chemistry is all in Gardner’s favor. The missed possibilities are easy to see, Billy Wilder @ Paramount or Joseph Mankiewicz @ 20th/Fox would have been just the ticket, but the film goes flabby under journeyman vet Jack Conway’s styleless megging and heavily massaged script. Worse, you can see what might have been in a neat half-reel that sees Gable & Gardner beating a couple of hot Hollywood agents (Edward Arnold & Frank Albertson as MCA’s Jules Stein & Lew Wasserman) at their own game on the train to L.A.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: To M-G-M’s credit, next time Gardner & Gable met, in John Ford’s MOGAMBO/’53, he quits on inappropriate cool blonde Grace Kelly to pair up for good with Ava’s sexy brunette. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/05/mogambo-1953.html
CONTEST: At one board meeting, Greenstreet coarsely emphasizes his point by taking out his ‘upper’ dentures. Let us know why it’s ironic for Greenstreet to pull out false teeth to win your choice of a streaming film for a MAKSQUIBS Write-Up.
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