I'm a big fan of older movies, esp. the so-called "pre-codes", and so I was really looking forward to seeing this classic. Was I ever disappointed!
On the plus side: Jean Harlow. Great, as always! She played her character with lots of wit and intelligence. The only time this movie was enjoyable was when Jean Harlow was on screen. She had lots of great lines and delivered them with her usual, natural humor.
The negatives: Clark Gable and Mary Astor and the whole entire dumb story! I assume we are supposed to like Clark's character (Denny, the man who runs the rubber plantation), but I found nothing about him to like or root for or sympathize with. First of all, Denny is a DOLT for initially turning down Jean Harlow ... I mean, c'mon, she's gorgeous and smart and funny! Then he uses her for sex (which Jean is OK with), but when it comes time for them to part several weeks later, Jean is looking for a little affection, maybe a hug or kiss goodbye, and Clark stuffs some money down her cleavage. Niiiiiiiiice - what a jerk! Then married, goody-two-shoes Mary Astor comes on the scene (accompanying her husband who has been recently hired as a surveyor for the rubber plantation), and Clark goes ga-ga over her. Give me a break! Mary Astor is decent enough looking, but her character was a complete and total simpering wussy! I found it very unbelievable that a rough and tumble free-spirited guy like Denny would prefer the Mary Astor character over the Jean Harlow character.
Trying not to ruin the plot too much, but when Denny turns all "noble" and gives up Mary Astor (who was going to run away with Denny after Denny told her hubby about the two of them - Mary Astor's character didn't even have the guts to tell her own husband she was leaving him, she was such a wimp!) just because Mary's husband told Denny about how much he (hubby) loved his wife and he would be nothing without her .... well, it seems very unlikely that a cad like Denny would all of a sudden turn noble. So, exit Mary Astor and hubby, leaving Denny and Jean Harlow behind on the plantation. Denny "returns" to Harlow (she being the only available woman left to him). Harlow's character deserved much better than gratefully accepting Denny's "settling" for what was in his mind second best.
This movie left me mad and sad for Jean Harlow's character, and very disappointed at this famous classic pre-code that was supposed to be so great. I love me my down-n-dirty pre-codes, but I just didn't "get" this one. Very disappointing. Jean Harlow, though, was her usual fantastic self. 3 stars for her, -7 for the dreck she was surrounded by!
On the plus side: Jean Harlow. Great, as always! She played her character with lots of wit and intelligence. The only time this movie was enjoyable was when Jean Harlow was on screen. She had lots of great lines and delivered them with her usual, natural humor.
The negatives: Clark Gable and Mary Astor and the whole entire dumb story! I assume we are supposed to like Clark's character (Denny, the man who runs the rubber plantation), but I found nothing about him to like or root for or sympathize with. First of all, Denny is a DOLT for initially turning down Jean Harlow ... I mean, c'mon, she's gorgeous and smart and funny! Then he uses her for sex (which Jean is OK with), but when it comes time for them to part several weeks later, Jean is looking for a little affection, maybe a hug or kiss goodbye, and Clark stuffs some money down her cleavage. Niiiiiiiiice - what a jerk! Then married, goody-two-shoes Mary Astor comes on the scene (accompanying her husband who has been recently hired as a surveyor for the rubber plantation), and Clark goes ga-ga over her. Give me a break! Mary Astor is decent enough looking, but her character was a complete and total simpering wussy! I found it very unbelievable that a rough and tumble free-spirited guy like Denny would prefer the Mary Astor character over the Jean Harlow character.
Trying not to ruin the plot too much, but when Denny turns all "noble" and gives up Mary Astor (who was going to run away with Denny after Denny told her hubby about the two of them - Mary Astor's character didn't even have the guts to tell her own husband she was leaving him, she was such a wimp!) just because Mary's husband told Denny about how much he (hubby) loved his wife and he would be nothing without her .... well, it seems very unlikely that a cad like Denny would all of a sudden turn noble. So, exit Mary Astor and hubby, leaving Denny and Jean Harlow behind on the plantation. Denny "returns" to Harlow (she being the only available woman left to him). Harlow's character deserved much better than gratefully accepting Denny's "settling" for what was in his mind second best.
This movie left me mad and sad for Jean Harlow's character, and very disappointed at this famous classic pre-code that was supposed to be so great. I love me my down-n-dirty pre-codes, but I just didn't "get" this one. Very disappointing. Jean Harlow, though, was her usual fantastic self. 3 stars for her, -7 for the dreck she was surrounded by!