A few legendary stories about both Gable And Lombard, a juxtaposing of facts and we get a film like this one about the marriage of two Hollywood legends. Real life isn't as neatly dramatic as when we fictionalize it to make dramatic sense.
The biggest error in Gable And Lombard is the notion they hadn't met before and when they did meet Gable was not quite a big star yet. Not only had they met but had done a film together. MGM loaned Gable out to Paramount to film No Man Of Her Own and the film is all right, but in and of itself not the best film in either star's list of credit. But because it is with those star crossed lovers Gable And Lombard it now has a bit of cult status.
When they made No Man Of Her Own Carole Lombard was married to William Powell, but they divorced soon after and she was involved with both Russ Columbo and George Raft for a bit. The Columbo story is one that ought to be told on film.
Gable had been married twice before to women older than he and Ria Langham was a Texas oil heiress. She did not need Gable's income by any means, but she did not like betrayal. She's played here with proper bitterness by Joanne Linville. Gable met her at a Hollywood party in the late 30s and the two started dating. The rest is history.
James Brolin looks like Clark Gable and sounds like Rich Little doing an impression of Gable. Jill Clayburgh does capture some of the zaniness and free spirit nature of Carole Lombard. She was the least pretentious of female stars in her era to the extent of not even having her own private dressing room. Meal times were always with crew on any picture of her's.
Best role in the film is Allen Garfield as Louis B. Mayer. He was every bit of unctuous in real life as you see Garfield play him on the screen.
Gable And Lombard ain't history, but it's as good as you will get when Hollywood portrays its own.
The biggest error in Gable And Lombard is the notion they hadn't met before and when they did meet Gable was not quite a big star yet. Not only had they met but had done a film together. MGM loaned Gable out to Paramount to film No Man Of Her Own and the film is all right, but in and of itself not the best film in either star's list of credit. But because it is with those star crossed lovers Gable And Lombard it now has a bit of cult status.
When they made No Man Of Her Own Carole Lombard was married to William Powell, but they divorced soon after and she was involved with both Russ Columbo and George Raft for a bit. The Columbo story is one that ought to be told on film.
Gable had been married twice before to women older than he and Ria Langham was a Texas oil heiress. She did not need Gable's income by any means, but she did not like betrayal. She's played here with proper bitterness by Joanne Linville. Gable met her at a Hollywood party in the late 30s and the two started dating. The rest is history.
James Brolin looks like Clark Gable and sounds like Rich Little doing an impression of Gable. Jill Clayburgh does capture some of the zaniness and free spirit nature of Carole Lombard. She was the least pretentious of female stars in her era to the extent of not even having her own private dressing room. Meal times were always with crew on any picture of her's.
Best role in the film is Allen Garfield as Louis B. Mayer. He was every bit of unctuous in real life as you see Garfield play him on the screen.
Gable And Lombard ain't history, but it's as good as you will get when Hollywood portrays its own.