Post by davidmorrocco on Mar 25, 2021 13:15:15 GMT -6
Crawford & Gable are fantastic together. Joan Crawford and Clark Gable starred in eight films together. This is their 4th film. Gable’s first role at MGM was a small part as a villain in Crawford’s Dance, Fools, Dance. During the filming of their first movie they fell in love. Crawford and Gable were involved in a steamy affair. However, Crawford was married to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. at the time and Gable was married to Maria Langham. Because of morality standards of the time, it was important that Crawford and Gable kept their relationship secret. Despite Crawford and Gable’s attempts at discretion, their affair was a well known secret around the studio. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Gable’s wife at the time, Ria Langham, both approached MGM head, Louis B. Mayer for help regarding the Clark Gable and Joan Crawford’s affair. As a result, Mayer told Joan and Clark to stop the affair at once or their careers in Hollywood would be finished. Crawford divorced Fairbanks Jr. in 1933. She remarried to Franchot Tone in 1935. Gable remained married to Langham until 1939 That’s when Gable fell in love with Carole Lombard. Sadly, in 1942 Carole Lombard was tragically killed in a plane crash. After her passing, his relationship with Joan Crawford carried on. They carried on until Gable’s death in 1960. I love seeing them interact with each other in this film. It shows Crawford is really in love with Gable. Franchot Tone, who was her husband for almost 4 full years remained part of her life until his death from cancer at the age of 63. They shared a love for continuing their theatre education. Tone had a great speaking voice and studied classical singing. They studied Shakespeare together. Joan put a theater house in her backyard for him. Tone came from a wealthy, cultured background. His family roots were from New England, he attended prep school and Cornell University. At the time Dancing Lady came about she was dating Franchot Tone who would become her next husband. Dancing Lady is the first time Tone plays a romantic role opposite Joan. They would eventually star in seven movies together. In Dancing Lady, Crawford rallied for both Tone and Gable to get the leading male parts in the film. MGM complied. In Dancing Lady, Crawford was at her height as a top box-office star; Tone was being cast as a second lead.
Some movie trivia: The blonde wig Crawford wears during the finale of the film is the exact same wig Bette Davis wore in whatever happened to baby Jane. Joan Crawford was Fred Astaire's first on-screen dance partner. Crawford would pass away on Astaire's 78th birthday. This was the first time Astaire wore his signature top hat and tails. Eve Arden has a small part in the film, she plays an actress faking a Southern accent. Twelve years later she and Joan Crawford teamed for Mildred Pierce 1945. The Three Stooges are also in this film which is a surprise because they really act like “The Three Stooges.” Some scenes from the dance finale were used for rotoscope animation effects in the Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds song in The Beatles' Yellow Submarine. How I wish the finally was in color. Heigh, Ho! The Gang's All Here" was recorded live as the number was being filmed. The original film, Larry Fine completes his jigsaw puzzle only to discover to his disgust that it's a picture of Hitler. The scene was restored to the TV release but not to the video release. I personally love this movie. It’s because of knowing that behind the scenes of watching this movie Joan and Clark are sleeping together thinking that they are fooling everyone, but everyone already knows. I wonder if that’s when Joan had her Malibu hideout? Then when I see Franchot, I think how Joan’s character “Janie” sees him as a person who is trying to upgrade her style. Not someone she’s in love with. Life imitating art or the other way around?
Some movie trivia: The blonde wig Crawford wears during the finale of the film is the exact same wig Bette Davis wore in whatever happened to baby Jane. Joan Crawford was Fred Astaire's first on-screen dance partner. Crawford would pass away on Astaire's 78th birthday. This was the first time Astaire wore his signature top hat and tails. Eve Arden has a small part in the film, she plays an actress faking a Southern accent. Twelve years later she and Joan Crawford teamed for Mildred Pierce 1945. The Three Stooges are also in this film which is a surprise because they really act like “The Three Stooges.” Some scenes from the dance finale were used for rotoscope animation effects in the Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds song in The Beatles' Yellow Submarine. How I wish the finally was in color. Heigh, Ho! The Gang's All Here" was recorded live as the number was being filmed. The original film, Larry Fine completes his jigsaw puzzle only to discover to his disgust that it's a picture of Hitler. The scene was restored to the TV release but not to the video release. I personally love this movie. It’s because of knowing that behind the scenes of watching this movie Joan and Clark are sleeping together thinking that they are fooling everyone, but everyone already knows. I wonder if that’s when Joan had her Malibu hideout? Then when I see Franchot, I think how Joan’s character “Janie” sees him as a person who is trying to upgrade her style. Not someone she’s in love with. Life imitating art or the other way around?
