FORSAKING ALL OTHERS (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1934), directed by W. D. Van Dyke, is a light comedy made theatrically popular through the star power casting of Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery. With this being Crawford's fourth movie role opposite Montgomery, and her sixth opposite Gable, which proves with this chemistry, the movie could not fail. Though unknown through the passage of time due to the lack of television revivals in later years, having this later available for viewing on video cassette, DVD and broadcasts on cable television such as Turner Classic Movies simply assures FORSAKING ALL OTHERS being one of the many films from this era to be both revived and rescued from oblivion. Even though it may not have aged well to some, the casting of this product and interest for film historians has not.
The plot begins the day before Mary Clay (Joan Crawford) is to marry her childhood sweetheart, Dill Todd (Robert Montgomery). Also part of their childhood past is good friend, Jeffrey "Jeff" Williams (Clark Gable), who also loves Mary. Returning home from his vacation in Spain, the first thing Jeff wants to do is propose marriage to Mary. Much to his surprise, he learns Mary is set on marrying Dill, but keeps silent about his feelings about it. Later that evening, Connie Barnes (Frances Drake), a casual acquaintance of Dill's, shows up and returns to his life again. On the day of the wedding, a telegram reaches Jeff that Dill has married Connie, leaving him to pass on the news to Mary. She drowns out her sorrows spending time alone in the Adirondack mountains. With the hope of winning Mary, Jeff and Mary get an invitation to a function hosted by Mrs. Todd. Though Mary claims that Dill is out of her system, seeing him in a loveless marriage finds her trying to win him back, much to Jeff's dismay. Featuring Billie Burke (Aunt Paula); Charles Butterworth (Shep); Rosalind Russell (Eleanor); Greta Meyer (Bella) and (uncredited) Arthur Treacher playing Dill's butler, Johnson; along with Harold Huber (Frankenstein); Jan Dugan (Mrs. Coble) and Clarence Wilson in smaller roles.
Joan Crawford gets her abundance of opportunity here with her male co-stars. With Gable being a stronger presence than Montgomery, naturally Gable's scenes come off best. Though Montgomery has done similar chores in other movies since his screen debut in 1929, it would be NIGHT MUST FALL (1937) that not only cast him against type, but the first movie to honor him with a strong and meaningful performance, and an Academy Award nomination as well. With Rosalind Russell, who would later achieve stardom as well, fans of the actress would have to endure her limitations and little else. Comedy types of Charles Butterworth and Billie Burke support for amusement purposes, but it's Arthur Treacher whose final scene gets the last laugh. (***)
The plot begins the day before Mary Clay (Joan Crawford) is to marry her childhood sweetheart, Dill Todd (Robert Montgomery). Also part of their childhood past is good friend, Jeffrey "Jeff" Williams (Clark Gable), who also loves Mary. Returning home from his vacation in Spain, the first thing Jeff wants to do is propose marriage to Mary. Much to his surprise, he learns Mary is set on marrying Dill, but keeps silent about his feelings about it. Later that evening, Connie Barnes (Frances Drake), a casual acquaintance of Dill's, shows up and returns to his life again. On the day of the wedding, a telegram reaches Jeff that Dill has married Connie, leaving him to pass on the news to Mary. She drowns out her sorrows spending time alone in the Adirondack mountains. With the hope of winning Mary, Jeff and Mary get an invitation to a function hosted by Mrs. Todd. Though Mary claims that Dill is out of her system, seeing him in a loveless marriage finds her trying to win him back, much to Jeff's dismay. Featuring Billie Burke (Aunt Paula); Charles Butterworth (Shep); Rosalind Russell (Eleanor); Greta Meyer (Bella) and (uncredited) Arthur Treacher playing Dill's butler, Johnson; along with Harold Huber (Frankenstein); Jan Dugan (Mrs. Coble) and Clarence Wilson in smaller roles.
Joan Crawford gets her abundance of opportunity here with her male co-stars. With Gable being a stronger presence than Montgomery, naturally Gable's scenes come off best. Though Montgomery has done similar chores in other movies since his screen debut in 1929, it would be NIGHT MUST FALL (1937) that not only cast him against type, but the first movie to honor him with a strong and meaningful performance, and an Academy Award nomination as well. With Rosalind Russell, who would later achieve stardom as well, fans of the actress would have to endure her limitations and little else. Comedy types of Charles Butterworth and Billie Burke support for amusement purposes, but it's Arthur Treacher whose final scene gets the last laugh. (***)