Clark Gable's only foray into producing (along with Jane Russell and her hubby, Bob Waterfield) is pretty disappointing, especially for a Raoul Walsh western. There are several reasons for this. Certainly an uncompelling story and characters must figure prominently into the overall sense of dismay. And the notable lack of fast paced, tense action, a Walsh staple, certainly helps to drag things down. For me, though, it's the plain and simple truth that it's extremely hard for a fifty six year old leading man, even the great Gable, who looks more like sixty five to be credible as a chick magnet, especially when said chicks are all at least twenty years his junior, and look it, that is the main reason this movie fizzles out. Indeed, the only things that linger in the mind are Jo Van Fleet's fine portrayal of a tired, bitter mom, Jean Willes' doing a good Mercedes McCambridge imitation and that totally weird, Aaron Copeland-like squaredance /ballet, sans piano. Walsh meets David Lynch? Kind of. Give it a C.
Review of The King and Four Queens
