Customer Reviews

Forsaking All Others

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This 1934 romantic comedy is a delight. With its trio of star performers, Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, and Robert Montgomery, it does not miss. Its success is also fueled by the comedic talents of the stellar supporting cast led by Charles Buttersworth, Billie Burke, Francis Drake, and a very young Rosalind Russell.

Three childhood friends, Mary Clay (Joan Crawford), Dil Todd (Robert Montgomery), and Jeff Williams (Clark Gable), form the nucleus of the film. Jeff has just returned from Spain where, after a two year stint, he has made his fortune and is on his way to propose marraige to Mary Clay, the girl he has loved ever since he was a boy. Unfortunately, he arrives on the eve of her wedding to Dil Todd, their other childhood friend, the three of them having grown up together.

Jeff, stunned by the news, puts on his best face and congratulates the two. Fortune smiles upon him, however, when the foolish Dil jilts Mary, leaving her on the altar, and marries a former flame. Too late, Dil realizes that he has made a mistake, as he still loves Mary. This leads to a series of screwball, madcap situations, in which Jeff comes to the rescue. The path of true love does not run smoothly in this drawing room style comedy.

Joan Crawford and Clark Gable fans will enjoy this film, as will all those who love classic films.

Jeff (Clark Gable), returns home from Europe intending to propose to Mary (Joan Crawford), who he's loved all his life, but finds she's about to marry Dil (Dil, what kind of name is Dil? Robert Montgomery). Then Dil jilts her the night before their wedding and marries a former love. "You never got to give me away" Mary tells Jeff "That's all right with me" he says, but she still doesn't get it. She starts seeing Dil again on the sly, much to Jeff's disgust, but after a lot of misunderstandings and mishaps she finally realises that she really loves - well, I don't suppose it will come as a surprise to you. This could have been a melodrama, but instead is a very funny comedy, the stars banter cheerfully among themselves even in the midst of passion. Charles Butterworth is utterly delightful as Jeff's bemused friend Shep, and Bille Burke is her usual delicious dithery character as Mary's long-suffering friend. A joy to watch.

This is one of those movies I really wish they would restore (the picture quality is not the best) and release on DVD. I've seen it many times and never get tired of it.

Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery are all delightful in a love triangle that leads Crawford from Montgomery (who leaves her at the altar, then tries to get her back) to Gable, with many laughs along the way. Billie Burke, Charles Butterworth, and Rosalind Russell also contribute to the hilarity with their share of zingers in smaller roles.

Rarely does Ms. Crawford make a bad picture in the 30's and this movie is no exception. In fact, "Forsaking All Others" was made during Joan's reign as box-office queen at MGM. This is one of the best films she ever made because her true abilities really shine. She plays a very beautiful socialite that falls for a man only to find out that he's really a cad. By the end of this classic "talkie" she finds out that the man of her dreams was always in her life. I love watching this movie because I like to pretend that the real world is really like this. If you're new to Joan Crawford films I strongly recommend this movie, as well as "Sadie McKee" another movie she made in 1934.

This glossy M-G-M comedy from 1934 should please fans of both Crawford and Gable. Friends since childhood, Mary Clay & Dillon Todd (the two above stars respectively, young, beautiful and intensely vibrant) are about to be married when another childhood companion - Jeff Williams (Robert Montgomery) - comes in on the scene. Jeff has just returned from a long business trip in Spain and plans to tell Mary of his long kept-to-himself intentions towards her....This star trio combination is a winner and the film is as fun as it sounds. The reviewers of the day were semi-shocked to find shower & underwear scenes in the film, and words such as "tramp" "sex appeal" and "nudist camp" had to be clipped in order to please the pious 1934 censors. Both Miriam Hopkins and Loretta Young were originally considered for the part of Mary Clay, the role of which was portrayed in the stage play by Tallulah Bankhead. In 1938, Bette Davis played the role of Mary for the LUX RADIO THEATRE.

This is a Warner Archive product. It is a simple DVD-R with no chapter stops and no extras. You can go backwards and forwards in ten minute increments only. The case is sturdy and the artwork passable. I am not debating the wisdom of paying this particular price for the product.

This is one of the several movies that Joan Crawford made with Clark Gable, and fortunately quite a few of them (maybe all) have made it to at least DVD-R via the Warner Archive. This is one of the best the two did together. It's a romantic comedy in which Joan plays socialite Mary Clay, who is about to marry lifelong acquaintance Dillon Todd (Robert Montgomery). Clark Gable plays another of Mary's lifelong friends, Jeff Williams. Jeff has been long away from home and decides to come back just to ask Mary to marry him, unaware that Mary is about to marry Dillon. When he learns about their upcoming marriage he decides to keep his feelings to himself. Robert Montgomery is playing the usual harmless playboy character here that he did so much of in the early 1930's. It looks like Mary and Dillon's marriage is about to go off without a hitch when one of Dillon's old girlfriends appears on the scene.

This film was released about six months after the precode era ended, so there is nothing really racey going on here. About the most extreme thing you will see is Robert Montgomery in a dress. However, W.S. Van Dyke is the director of this film, and he knew how to combine sexual tension and comedy in an age of aggressive censorship, and this is a fine example of his work. I highly recommend it to fans of films of the 1930's.

As for the audio and video quality, the film looks and sounds quite good. There has been no restoration done for this specific release, so you'll see a few specks here and there in the video, but overall I was quite satisfied.

This is a great DVD with better than expected quality. A romantic comedy that has many laughs. Clark Gable is in fine form and who could help but fall in love with this gorgeous man. Robert Montgomery is great too but to me Clark Gable is just the best! Joan Crawford shines. Highly Recommend.

All of the Archive Collection DVDs are available from the Turner website for 17.99. Please support Turner with getting more classic movies onto DVD.

In 1934 the year this film came out Joan was in 2 other pictures, "Sadie McKee" and "Chained", all with similar plots. And all are fantastic movies. I would love it if Warner Bros. released a special boxed set with these 3 movies and added some special features.

In "Forsaking All Others" Joan doesn't play the little shop girl; instead she's '30s high-society, with maids and butlers and living in the lap of luxury. Yet even though she is the reining den mother of Park Ave, we also get to see Mary's (Joan's character) softer side as she is jilted at the alter!

There's a lot of comedy, humor and subtle repertoire in the picture, as well which makes it even more enjoyable to watch because as any fan of Joan's films knows not all of her movies have this characteristic.

"Forsaking All Others" has always been one of my very favorite pictures with Joan. Because it is the perfect movie and love story with a strong cast who all gave exceptional performances. Besides Joan's out-of-this-world performance, the movie also includes these very talented stars: Clark Gable (as Mary's old friend, Jeffy), Billie Burke (as Mary's aunt), Robert Montgomery (as Dillon who left Mary for another woman), Frances Drake (as Dillon's new wife, Connie) and Rosalind Russell (as Eleanor).

This movie will remind you that sometimes love is where you least expect it and sometimes we need to stop worrying so much about the little things. Because as Rosalind Russell says: You worry more about something to worry about than you worry about an actual worry.


Nearly every single feature film that Joan has appeared in has been released on DVD and/or VHS. Below is a list of her movies that have still not been released yet:
Lady of the Night (uncredited/silent) (1925) *
Proud Flesh (uncredited/silent) (1925) *
Pretty Ladies (silent) (1925) *
The Merry Widow (uncredited/silent) (1925) *
The Circle (silent) (1925) *
The Midshipman (uncredited/silent) (1925) *
Old Clothes (silent) (1925) *
Sally, Irene, and Mary (silent) (1925) *
The Boob (silent) (1926) *
Winners of the Wilderness (silent) (1927) *
The Taxi Dancer (silent) (1927) *
The Understanding Heart (silent) (1927) *
Twelve Miles Out (silent) (1927) *
The Law of the Range (silent) (1928) *
Rose-Marie (silent) (1928) *
Four Walls (silent) (1928) *
Dream of Love (silent) (1928) *
The Duke Steps Out (silent) (1929) *
Tide of Empire (silent) (1929) * (note: Joan's performance was deleted)
West Point (1928) (silent) *
Across To Singapore (1928) (silent) *
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929) * (note: this was released on laser disc, more than 10 years ago)
Untamed (1929) *
Great Day (1930) (note: film was never finished)
Montana Moon (1930) *
Our Blushing Brides (1930) *
Paid (1930) *
This Modern Age (1931) *
Letty Lynton (1932)
No More Ladies (1935) *
Female on the Beach (1955)

* Warner Bros. plans to release these films over the next couple of years under their Archive Collection branding on DVD.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) presents "FORSAKING ALL OTHERS" (1934) (84 min/B&W) -- Starring: Robert Montgomery, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Charles Butterworth, Billie Burke, Frances Drake, Rosalind Russell

Directed by W.S. Van Dyke

The plot is as follows: -- Dillion (Robert Montgomery) leaves Mary (Joan Crawford) standing at the altar in order to marry his old flame, Connie (Frances Drake), instead. Knowing that Mary still has feelings for Dillion, Jeff (Clark Gable) keeps quiet about his own love for her.

The screenplay is a pretty good one, mainly because the cast of players make the story work in a light yet believable way even when the story becomes somewhat silly and even predictable.

Also of note is an early appearance by Rosalind Russell in a short role later in the film.

Robert Montgomery in a dress is really funny, Good performances by Crawford opening shot with cream on her face is in contrast to other stars who preferred glamorous introductions, Clark Gable as usual is great, Billie Burke who can do "flustered" any better, Rosalind Russell does well in one of her early films and a very droll Charles Butterworth. Frances Drake was believable as the lower class wife.

Montgomery was one of the first to have a dramatic television series, "Robert Montgomery Presents" (1950), won the Emmy as the Best Dramatic Program of 1953.

W.S. Van Dyke is the director of this film, and he knew how to combine sexual tension and comedy in an age of aggressive censorship, and this is a fine example of his work, which should get more attention than it has.

Special footnote: -- The original play opened in New York City, New York, USA on 1 March 1933 and had 110 performance. Tallulah Bankhead played Mary Clay and the cast included Ilka Chase, Barbara O'Neil, Cora Witherspoon, Fred Keating, Anderson Lawler, Harlan Briggs and George Lessey.

BIOS:
1. W.S. Van Dyke [aka: Woodbridge Strong Van Dyke II] (Director)
Date of Birth: 21 March 1889 - San Diego, California
Date of Death: 5 February 1943 - Brentwood, California

2. Robert Montgomery [aka: Henry Montgomery Jr.]
Date of Birth: 21 May 1904 - Beacon, New York
Date of Death: 27 September 1981 - New York City, New York

3. 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

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

5. Charles Butterworth
Date of Birth: 26 July 1896 - South Bend, Indiana
Date of Death: 14 June 1946 - Los Angeles, California

6. Billie Burke [aka: Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke
Date of Birth: 7 August 1884 - Washington, District of Columbia
Date of Death: 14 May 1970 - Los Angeles, California

7. Frances Drake [aka: Frances Dean]
Date of Birth: 22 October 1912 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 18 January 2000 - Irvine, California

8. Rosalind Russell
Date of Birth: 4 June 1907 - Waterbury, Connecticut
Date of Death: 28 November 1976 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

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

Total Time: 84 min on DVD ~ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) ~ (June 22, 2009)

this is a great film and well worth seeing. A perfect example from the clasic era of movies. Joan Crawford is courted by Robert Montgomery and Clark Gable. Gable plays the self-sacrificing lover, who is more out for Joan's happiness then for his, but she eventually comes around and picks the better lover in the end Clark Gable. It's one of the best films I've seen.