One thing about the old Hollywood studios, they never let anything go to waste. Look very carefully and you'll see this is the same set on which Joan Crawford and Walter Huston filmed Rain. And the plot's real similar about some hormone driven men and women in the jungle.
Clark Gable is the manager of a rubber plantation in the Malayan jungle and if the only company you had at the plantation were Tully Marshall, Donald Crisp, and Willie Fung you'd get the itch too. Along comes stranded Jean Harlow and it's hinted at that she's a working girl. Red Dust was pre-code so ladies of easy virtue were permitted.
Then comes newly assigned Gene Raymond and his bride Mary Astor. She's a lady, more unattainable and hard to get. Well maybe not so hard. Testosterone and estrogen take over for Gable and Astor.
Now this plot should sound very familiar and it is the one of the more recently filmed Mogambo. Mogambo in fact is a remake of Red Dust. Of course since it was shot on location in Africa where Gable is a white hunter instead of a plantation manager, it's production values put Red Dust to shame. I like Mogambo better because of that and the story line was more mature. The only flaw with Mogambo was the miscasting of Grace Kelly. Mary Astor is far her superior.
One thing though, I would never want to have to pick and choose between Jean Harlow and Ava Gardner. I don't think anyone else would want to choose either.
Gable is still Gable, but in 20 years time he's moved from the hardnosed cynical plantation manager to the world weary game hunter. But a man's man all the way.
Of course Red Dust became notorious because of the death of Harlow's second husband, producer Paul Bern during the filming. That tragedy turned out to be a box office gold mine for MGM.
Still fans of the stars will like the work they did here.
Clark Gable is the manager of a rubber plantation in the Malayan jungle and if the only company you had at the plantation were Tully Marshall, Donald Crisp, and Willie Fung you'd get the itch too. Along comes stranded Jean Harlow and it's hinted at that she's a working girl. Red Dust was pre-code so ladies of easy virtue were permitted.
Then comes newly assigned Gene Raymond and his bride Mary Astor. She's a lady, more unattainable and hard to get. Well maybe not so hard. Testosterone and estrogen take over for Gable and Astor.
Now this plot should sound very familiar and it is the one of the more recently filmed Mogambo. Mogambo in fact is a remake of Red Dust. Of course since it was shot on location in Africa where Gable is a white hunter instead of a plantation manager, it's production values put Red Dust to shame. I like Mogambo better because of that and the story line was more mature. The only flaw with Mogambo was the miscasting of Grace Kelly. Mary Astor is far her superior.
One thing though, I would never want to have to pick and choose between Jean Harlow and Ava Gardner. I don't think anyone else would want to choose either.
Gable is still Gable, but in 20 years time he's moved from the hardnosed cynical plantation manager to the world weary game hunter. But a man's man all the way.
Of course Red Dust became notorious because of the death of Harlow's second husband, producer Paul Bern during the filming. That tragedy turned out to be a box office gold mine for MGM.
Still fans of the stars will like the work they did here.