Customer Reviews

Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Clark Gable is my favorite actor of all time, so the DVD boxed set, CLARK GABLE: THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION, from Warner Home Video is destined to be an often-played favorite. Gable made his first movie in 1931 and his last in 1961; this boxed set goes from 1933-1953. Included are six movie treasures: DANCING LADY (1933), CHINA SEAS (1935), WIFE VS. SECRETARY and SAN FRANCISCO (both 1936), BOOM TOWN (1940), and MOGAMBO (1953).

DANCING LADY is a Joan Crawford vehicle, with a young Clark Gable and Franchot Tone as the men she chooses between. We are in the Depression era Manhattan show business world, with Gable as a play director and Tone a millionaire playboy financing the show. Fred Astaire makes his film debut as himself, and Nelson Eddy and The Three Stooges have cameo roles. Bonuses are two Three Stooges shorts and a theatrical trailer.

CHINA SEAS is a "guilty pleasure" for director Tay Garnett. Gable plays a ship captain who does not know that his Hong Kong-to-Singapore voyage includes a gold shipment and Chinese coolies. The dream supporting cast includes Jean Harlow and Wallace Beery (re-united from DINNER AT EIGHT), a young Rosalind Russell, C. Aubrey Smith, and Lewis Stone. Bonuses are a color travelogue, a musical short, and a theatrical trailer.

Clarence Brown's WIFE VS. SECRETARY has Clark Gable married to Myrna Loy and boss to Jean Harlow. In a lovely movie, each woman respects the other. This is at least the fourth movie that Gable and Harlow made together; they were very popular. A young James Stewart plays Harlow's boyfriend and fifty years later still fondly remembered a passionate kiss they shared. Big bonuses here are a musical short, a theatrical trailer, and an Oscar-winning "Crime Does Not Pay" short.

An all-time favorite of mine, SAN FRANCISCO has been remastered to make its incomparable 1906 earthquake climax really something. But even without the bravura climax, we still have Barbary Coast joint owner Gable competing with wealthy uptown Jack Holt for Jeanette MacDonald as a singer. As a generic priest, Spencer Tracy got the Oscar nomination that should have gone to Gable's memorable Blackie Norton. The finale gives me goosebumps; curiously, one of the bonuses is an even more effective alternate ending. Other bonuses on this masterpiece are two Techicolor travelogues of the 1939 Treasure Island World's Fair, and a 45 minute TNT documentary on Gable's career and life. The first night you do this boxed set, start with this documentary as an overview.

Another "guilty pleasure", BOOM TOWN has a cast to die for--Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy again, this time as oil wildcatters, and Claudette Colbert and Hedy Lamarr as their women. The supporting cast of this Jack Conway-directed gem includes Frank Morgan, Lionel Atwill, and Chill Wills. Bonuses are a color cartoon, a B&W documentary short, and a theatrical trailer.

John Lee Mahin was one of Clark Gable's favorite screenwriters. Mahin wrote BOOM TOWN, eight years earlier wrote RED DUST (1932), and in 1953 did MOGAMBO, the Technicolor remake of RED DUST. I like RED DUST more because of Jean Harlow, but Gable is wonderfully cast as a big game hunter in Africa in John Ford's MOGAMBO. Filmed on location with gorgeous color, this is a love triangle between Broadway showgirl Ava Gardner (in the Harlow role) and married Grace Kelly (in the Mary Astor role). Romance and adventure blend superbly in a superbly cast movie. The distinguished cinematographers are Robert Surtees and David Lean's Freddie Young. The sole bonus here is a theatrical trailer.

I know, where are GONE WITH THE WIND and MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY? GWTW is literally its own boxed set now, and I added BOUNTY from old videocassette. It is the greatest sea adventure of all time, impeccable cast, and superbly edited by Margaret Booth; I recommend it highly. As for IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT one year earlier, wrong studio. I don't believe Warner Home Video has access to Columbia releases. But picky, picky! You get six wonderful Clark Gable movie gems with a lot of bonuses, and you still watch more. Then go rent or buy BOUNTY and NIGHT! And THE MISFITS (1961), for that matter. And also buy the new 4-disk GWTW. Warners' CLARK GABLE: THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION is impeccable and gets my highest DVD boxed set rating.

These movies of Clark Gable are a great reminder of how great an actor
this gentleman was. He was an inspiration to every young boy growing
up in the 30's, 40's snd 50's I was fortunate enough to have met him
and can honestly say that he was an extremely kind and sincere person.
There aren't any actors today that can ever match up to his acting or
charisma on the screen.

Clark Gable is maybe the best example of that hard-to-define star quality being the premier requirement for stardom on the screen. He had screen magnetism in spades. This collection of films is a very good sample of his work at MGM, the studio who groomed him to stardom and helped him sustain it for more than 20 years. Gable was also a star who was always paired with a female of equal status and the set also showcases these woman. Here is what you get -

- the earliest film in the set is the 1933 Joan Crawford musical "Dancing Lady", MGM's answer to Warner Bothers smash "42nd Street". Gable costars as the stage director. This was not a part he wanted to do and he is sullen but the chemistry with Crawford is palpable. As a musical, the film is better than average but not as good as the Warner's equivalents, if only because Crawford makes a dubious musical comedy actress.
- In 1935, with MGM at the height of its star power, "Wife Versus Secretary" gives Gable 2 leading ladies, Myrna Loy, the screen's perfect wife, and sexy Jean Harlow, miscast as an indispensible secretary. This is the weakest film in the set, a typical Mills and Boons glamorous and completely artificial story with Gable overacting with a vengeance.
- also in 1935, MGM released the blockbuster "China Seas", a high adventure melodrama set in the Orient. This one has the lot. It is funny (Jean Harlow at her raunchy best), corny (Rosalind Russell overdoing her English Milady)and exciting (a storm at sea). Gable is perfectly cast as the macho hero, trading insults with Harlow while tangling with crook Wallace Beery.
- In 1936, Gable, against his will, supported musical Jeanette MacDonald in another large scale blockbuster, the superb "San Francisco". Gable's chemistry with MacDonald, whom he reportedly did not like, is shaky but the special effects and sheer entertainment on view make this a memorable film.
- By 1940, Gable had been paired with Spencer Tracy a number of times in "buddy" movies. Tracy was a better actor but he brought the best out in Gable and they are both superb as oilmen, sparring and making up as they develop their business. This one has charming Claudette Colbert as Gable's wife and the unusual and modern Hedy Lamarr as his temporary mistress. The film is overlong but great entertainment.
- The last film in the set, the technicolour adventure "Mogambo", was released in 1953. Gable has obviously aged as an African hunter on safari but he is paired well with Ava Gardner, though Grace Kelly is hopeless as the third side of the triangle.

The prints of all the films are good with the exception of "Wife Versus Secretary" which is very poor. All the theatrical trailers are included and there are some variable extras including a couple of 3 Stooges shorts. By far, the best extra is the documentary "Tall Dark and Handsome", a TCM doco on Gable's life with some important participants, including his daughter Judy, born out of wedlock to Loretta Young.

The DVD is good value.

All good films, some new to DVD ("San Francisco", "Wife Vs. Secretary", etc.), from Warner's MGM library. They all feature the usual great film transfers we've all come to expect from Warner Bros. However, "Wife Vs. Secretary" was transferred from a very poor print which was unfortunate because I found the film has an unusually good performance from Jean Harlow and has a great little story. The release of "San Francisco" is timely because of the 100th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake and fire. This has always been a favorite of mine. This collection is a good cross section of Gable's work and definitely deserves a first or second look!

The best DVD in this boxset is "San Francisco", an incredible movie with great DVD special features. The chemistry between Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald is pure magic.

My 3 star rating of this set is due to the selection of films contained in it. Boomtown wasn't bad, but it's kinda hokey. Wife VS secretary wasn't Gable's best either. This set would have been phenomenal if it included "Red Dust", "Mutiny on the bounty", and Gables final film "The misfits". While the selection of films aren't my favorite, I do appreciate the great special features in each of the DVD's.

For fans of 'The King of Hollywood' this set will no doubt seem way overdue. The titles chosen for this collection vary in appropriateness for inclusion, the comedy 'Wife Vs. Secretary' is only a so-so film that is made worthwhile only by the quality of the cast ie Gable, Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow. Also with the long-lost Harlow, Gable stars in the sillier than silly 'China Seas' in which he plays a ship's captain.
Mogambo is a universally appreciated 1953 remake of an earlier Gable film (this time with Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly) in which he reprises his original role. A vast improvement of the original.
Dancing Lady is an underrated 1933 comedy classic with Joan Crawford in a change of pace comedic turn that she pulls off marvellously. When Gable slaps her butt after granting her a favour and she wistfully thanks him; priceless!
All in all this a set of classics that should please Gable's fans and those who just enjoy great vintage entertainment alike.

If you like Clark Gable, this collection is most worth getting. He has great company in these movies, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, Jean Harlow and so many more. Definitely a must have.

Being a big movie buff and having very little Clark Gable I thought the best way to catch up was a boxed set - I thought this was the best set, and I still think it is.

I wanted "Dancing Lady" because of Joan Crawford, but it's in this Gable box set. I wanted "China Seas" because of Jean Harlow, but it's in this Gable box set. I wanted "Mogambo" for Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly, but it's part of this Gable box set. But when I try to choose one of these films to watch, it's Gable I consider!

Very happy with this purchase! Buy it now!

Each of these movies were all great especially San Francico.I had never seen the Dancing Lady before, I had received this set of movies.I was most impressed as to the quality of the disk and off course the chemistry of Clark Gable and Joan crawford.I thorougly reccomend this set.I am indeed looking forward to another Clark Gable set .

Clark Gable at his best! There is such a wide variety of supporting casts that you will never get tired or bored with any of the movies. A MUST have for any Clark Gable fan. There is drama, music, comedy and action everywhere. A great collection for any mood; just sit back, relax and enjoy. You have it all here. If the studios produce other box collections half as good as this one then my wife and I will own them all.