Customer Reviews

Chained

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I canot begin to tell you how happy I am that Joan's entire movie catalog (spanning 7 decades) is finally all starting to come out on DVD, courtesy of Warner Home Video. "Chained" has always been one of my very favirite films because Joan was so fantastic in it and it was made during a wonderful era for her (when she was the reigning queen of MGM during the '30s). It's smack dab between "Sadie McKee" and "Forsaking All Others." What a great place to be and what a great place Joan was at that time in her career. Joan and Clark Gable were together again with all that pent up sexual chemistry and energy. In this movie Joan played Diane Levering Field, a lady who falls in love with a rancher in South America. You must see it!

Diane Lovering (Crawford) is the mistress of Richard Field (Otto Kruger). It is a quiet dignified love Field has for his former secretary; Field's wife won't agree to a divorce because of their children. Field sends Diane on a cruise to Buenos Aires until things "clear up"; while on the cruise, Diane meets Mike Bradley, a rich rancher from Argentina (and he's played by Clark Gable)..................A splendidly written, acted, directed and photographed movie done in MGM's best thirties style. Joan Crawford in the moonlight on the open sea appears quite seductive and Gable seems to agree. In the as the spurned lover, Gable demonstrated a new dimension of his acting skills and the critics were impressed in 1934; Otto Kruger is superb as the New York businessman.

"Chained" is right between "Sadie McKee" and "Forsaking All Others." What a great place to be and what a great place Joan was at that time in her career. Joan and Clark Gable were together again with all that pent up sexual chemistry and energy. In this movie Joan played Diane Levering Field, a lady who falls in love with a rancher in South America.

This enjoyable piece of 1934 fluff directed by Clarence Brown stars Joan Crawford as Diane Lovering, a secretary who has fallen in love with her older boss, Richard Field, played wonderfully by Otto Kruger. Problem is that Richard is married and his wife simply won't grant him a divorce. In order to protect Diane's reputation (this is the 30s, after all), Richard sends her on a cruise to Buenos Aires, while he continues to attempt to talk his wife into a divorce. While on the cruise, Diane meets rancher Mike Bradley, played by none other than Clark Gable. In no time at all, Diane has fallen for Mike and to complicate matters, Richard's wife has finally agreed to a divorce. Feeling guilty, Diane breaks off her relationship with Mike, returns to Richard and marries him.
Fast forward to when Diane and Mike accidentally run in to each other in New York and discover that both still have feelings for one another. The ending is a bit unbelievable, but predictable (what kind of movie would it be if Crawford and Gable did not end up together?), but still satisfying.
While not one of Crawford and Gable's better stories, the chemistry the two have together on screen makes any cinematic venture a visual feast and highly enjoyable. They obviously had a grand time together making the film and director Clarence Brown knew how to get the best out of them. The character of Richard Field allows the story to rise somewhat above the usual sudsy romance - - although an older man and formerly Diane's boss, he doesn't come across as a lecherous married man on the prowl. He seems to geniunely love and care for Diane. It would be a hard choice, even against Gable, for Diane to make.
Also worth watching are Crawford's gorgeous Adrian creations. Despite the flack she has gotten for her acting over the years, she was a beautiful woman and MGM attired her in the grandest style.
All in all, Chained is a lighthearted romantic comedy romp that is enjoyable for any Crawford or Gable fan.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) presents "CHAINED" (1934) (76 min/B&W) -- Starring: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin, Una O'Connor, Marjorie Gateson, Akim Tamiroff

Directed by Clarence Brown

Joan Crawford and Clark Gable always shell out some good entertainment. They have very good chemistry together, The third character in this love triangle is suave Otto Kruger, who has always given a good performance. Then we have Stuart Erwin, with some comic relief, who at one time had a successful television show with his wife in the early days of the media.

Watch for Mickey Rooney very young before the Andy Hardy series.

Romance and comedy is the name of the game in this flick.

The story line and plot, with good performances by the entire cast is very effective and entertaining. Which means good direction, cast and screenplay will hit the target every time.

Crawford is filmed beautifully is an actress who I can't deny has a great flair for acting, with George Folsey at the camera and Clarence Brown at the helm as director, shows her at her best.

Gable has some fast playing dialogue that makes you envious, plus he attracts women like bees to honey.

Well worth viewing for the film lovers in all of us, but a definite must for Crawford and Gable fans. Great to see more of these early releases cropping up now and then.

* Special Footnote: -- Never to see him again Joan Crawford met her biological father only once when he visited her on the set of Chained.

BIOS:
1. Clarence Brown (Director)
Date of Birth: 10 May 1890 - Clinton, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 17 August 1987 - Santa Monica, California

2. Joan Crawford [aka: Lucille Fay LeSueur]
Date of Birth: 23 March 1905 - San Antonio, Texas
Date of Death: 10 May 1977 - New York City, New York

3. Clark Gable
Date of birth: 1 February 1901 - Cadiz, Ohio,
Date of death: 16 November 1960 - Los Angeles, California

4. Otto Kruger
Date of Birth: 6 September 1885 - Toledo, Ohio
Date of Death: 6 September 1974 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

5. Stuart Erwin
Date of Birth: 14 February 1903 - Squaw Valley, California
Date of Death: 21 December 1967 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 76 min on DVD ~ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) ~ (June 22, 2009)

this wasnt what i expected,its pretty boring,and you dont really follow it unless you pay very close attention,some of the typical metro movies in the 30's were a bit boring and hard to follow but since its joan crawford,i enjy it anyway. though this doesnt come close to "Sadie mckee" or even "The last of mrs. Cheyney"

Clark Gable and Joan Crawford, two of Hollywood's greatest legendary stars, star in this shipboard romance. A glamorous film, especially noteworthy for the magical screen chemistry between the two leads. These two legends were stars for a reason! Strongly recommend this to all movie lovers!

This is a DVD-R transfer and a part of the Warner Archive Collection. It is available directly from the Warner Archive site for only $19.95. Why pay more?