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83-407: In this comedy of errors, three friends of long standing are involved in a love triangle lasting many years. Forsaking All Others is the sixth of eight cinematic collaborations between Crawford and Gable. Ever since Jeff Williams ( Clark Gable ) was a child, he has been in love with Mary Clay ( Joan Crawford ). Returning from Madrid, Spain, he wants to propose to her firsthand. However, he comes to

166-483: A "special assignment" with the First Motion Picture Unit following basic training. The Washington Star reported that Gable took a physical examination at Bolling Field on June 19, preliminary to joining the service. "Mr. Gable, it was learned from a source outside the war department, conferred with Lieutenant General H. H. Arnold, head of the air forces yesterday." The Star continued, "It

249-529: A Catholic priest who knocks Gable down in a boxing ring. The film was a box office hit and remains the third-highest-grossing film of Gable's career. Their next film together was the Academy Award–nominated box office success Test Pilot (1938), with Myrna Loy, who made seven pictures with Gable. He plays Jim Lane, the test pilot of the title; Tracy is his sidekick mechanic, Gunner Morse. For their final film, 1940's Boom Town , Tracy would play

332-642: A Western with Jane Russell and Robert Ryan . Both were profitable, although only modest successes, earning Gable his first profit sharing royalties. In 1955, Gable would be 10th at the box office – the last time he was in the top ten. That same year, Gable married fifth wife Kay Spreckels (née Kathleen Williams). A former fashion model and actress, she had previously been married three times: first to Charles Capps (1937–39), then to Argentinian cattle tycoon Martín de Alzaga (1942–43), and to sugar-refining heir Adolph B. Spreckels Jr. (1945–52). Gable became stepfather to her son Bunker Spreckels , who went on to live

415-417: A clause that his filming and work days ended at 5 p.m. Leading actor A leading actor , leading actress , or leading man or lady or simply lead ( / ˈ l iː d / ), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word lead may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and leading actor may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with

498-412: A co-star from Test Pilot and Idiot's Delight , that newspapers reported might be the next Mrs. Gable. Professionally, Gable's first movie after World War II was Adventure (1946), with Greer Garson , by then the leading female star at MGM. Given the famous teaser tagline "Gable's back, and Garson's got him", the film was a commercial hit, earning over $ 6 million, but a critical failure. Gable

581-613: A copy of the best-seller, which he refused to read. His total salary was $ 117,917 for the film ($ 2,582,890 in 2023 ). Butler's last line in Gone with the Wind , " Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn ", is one of the most famous lines in movie history. Gable was an almost immediate favorite for the role of Rhett with both the public and producer David O. Selznick . Since Selznick had no male stars under long-term contract, he needed to negotiate with another studio to borrow an actor. Gary Cooper

664-420: A couple, but Connie does not buy it. She wants to punish Dill for his perceived unfaithfulness, while Aunt Paula wants to avoid scandal. Connie accepts a lucrative settlement and leaves for Europe , thus leaving Dill free to marry Mary. Right before the ceremony, Jeff proclaims his love for Mary and tells her that he is leaving on a boat back to Spain . When the friend Shep ( Charles Butterworth ), tells her

747-483: A film about an illicit romantic affair, with Joan Crawford (who was then married to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. ). Adela Rogers St. Johns later dubbed Gable and Crawford's real-life relationship as "the affair that nearly burned Hollywood down". Louis B. Mayer threatened to terminate both their contracts, and for a while, they kept apart when Gable shifted his attentions to Marion Davies as he costarred with her in Polly of

830-426: A film career. Gable and Dillon traveled to Hollywood in 1924. Dillon became his manager and also his wife; she was 17 years his senior. He changed his stage name from W. C. Gable to Clark Gable and appeared as an extra in such silent films as Erich von Stroheim 's The Merry Widow (1925), The Plastic Age (1925) starring Clara Bow , and Forbidden Paradise (1924) starring Pola Negri . He appeared in

913-432: A halt, as he finds out that she is being married to Dillon 'Dill' Todd ( Robert Montgomery ) the very next day. The three had been friends since childhood, but no one besides the butler realized Jeff's feelings. So instead, he wishes all the best for the couple. However, the next day, Dill doesn't show up to the altar, as it turns out that the night before the wedding, he ran off and married Connie Barnes ( Frances Drake ),

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996-458: A heart attack in 1960 at the age of 59. William Clark Gable was born on February 1, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio , to William Henry "Will" Gable (1870–1948), an oil-well driller, and his wife Adeline ( née Hershelman). His father was a Protestant and his mother a Catholic. Gable was named William after his father, but he was almost always called Clark, and referred to as "the kid" by his father. Gable

1079-459: A larger role, with billing directly under Gable and above Claudette Colbert and Hedy Lamarr . The picture, a lavish epic about two oil wildcatters who become partners then rivals, was a box office success, earning $ 5 million. Gable and Tracy were off-screen friends; Tracy was one of the few Hollywood industry luminaries who attended Lombard's private funeral. After Boom Town no more Gable-Tracy partnerships were possible; Tracy's success led to

1162-626: A leading role to do so. The film cost $ 2 million and grossed $ 4.5 million, making it one of the top moneymakers that decade. It used life-size replicas of the Bounty and Pandora , and was partly filmed in Catalina and French Polynesia . Gable made three pictures with Spencer Tracy , which boosted Tracy's career and permanently cemented them in the public mind as a team. San Francisco (1936), with Jeanette MacDonald , featured Tracy for only 17 minutes in an Oscar -nominated portrayal of

1245-551: A new contract and both stars had conflicting stipulations requiring top billing in MGM movie credits and on promotional posters. Despite his reluctance to play the role, Gable is best known for his Oscar-nominated performance in the Academy Award-winning best picture Gone with the Wind (1939). Carole Lombard may have been the first to suggest that he play Rhett Butler (and she play Scarlett ) when she bought him

1328-419: A newcomer whom MGM saw as a successor for both Crawford and the now-deceased Jean Harlow. Honky Tonk (1941) is a western where Gable's con-man/gambler character romances Turner, a prim, young judge's daughter. , Gable had been reluctant to act opposite the younger Turner in the required romantic scenes. But their chemistry served them well in this and three later films, with Honky Tonk finishing third at

1411-447: A notorious celebrity lifestyle in the late 1960s and early 1970s surfing scene, ultimately leading to his early death in 1977. Gable also formed Russ-Field-Gabco in 1955, a production company with Jane Russell and her husband Bob Waterfield , and they produced The King and Four Queens (1956), a film Gable thought would also star Russell to capitalize on The Tall Men 's moderate success. That role instead went to Jo Van Fleet . It

1494-432: A professional level. We had done it without him weeping several times and then we had one last try. I said, 'You can do it, I know you can do it, and you will be wonderful   ...' Well, by heaven, just before the cameras rolled, you could see the tears come up at his eyes and he played the scene unforgettably well. He put his whole heart into it." The role was one of Gable's most layered performances and partially based on

1577-482: A rather expensive MGM production. According to MGM records, it earned $ 1,399,000 in the US and Canada, a very considerable sum and an indication of the continuing high wide popularity of Joan Crawford with her fans. With foreign revenue of $ 800,000 and a cumulative total profit of $ 2.2 million, MGM earned a profit of $ 1,132,000. Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960)

1660-442: A respected body of work. Some actors are typecast as leads, but most play the lead in some performances and supporting or character roles in others. Sometimes there is more than one significant leading role in a dramatic piece, and the actors are said to play co-leads ; a large supporting role may be considered a secondary lead . Award nominations for acting often reflect such ambiguities. Therefore, sometimes two actors in

1743-457: A romantic day, and they profess their love for each other. Dill calls his butler to tell him to pick them up tomorrow morning, but Connie overhears and sets off for Phoenicia. Aunt Paula also realizes the two are at her house, and goes there with Jeff in order to prevent the scandal from getting worse. In fact, the night previously, Dill accidentally burned himself, and the two did not sleep together. As Connie arrives, Jeff and Mary pretend to be

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1826-589: A rubber plantation in Indochina . Gable portrayed a plantation manager involved with Harlow's wisecracking prostitute; however, upon her arrival, Gable's character started to pursue Mary Astor's prim, classy newlywed. While some critics thought Harlow stole the show, many agreed that Gable was a natural screen partner. Gable's "unshaven love-making" with braless Jean Harlow in Red Dust made him MGM's most important romantic leading man. With Gable established as

1909-468: A sensitive issue and new image for Gable. Gable and Harlow were then teamed in Hold Your Man (1933), China Seas (1935), in which the pair were billed above Wallace Beery, and Wife vs. Secretary (1936) with Myrna Loy costarring and supported by newcomer James Stewart . A popular combination on-screen and off, Gable and Harlow made six films together in five years. Their final film together

1992-536: A series of two-reel comedies called The Pacemakers and in Fox's The Johnstown Flood (1926). He also appeared as a bit player in a series of shorts. However, he was not offered any major film roles, so he returned to the stage in What Price Glory? (1925). He became lifelong friends with Lionel Barrymore , who initially scolded Gable for what he deemed amateurish acting but nevertheless urged him to pursue

2075-763: A stage career. During the 1927–28 theater season, he acted with the Laskin Brothers Stock Company in Houston , Texas; while there, he played many roles, gained considerable experience, and became a local matinee idol. He then moved to New York City, where Dillon sought work for him on Broadway. He received good reviews in Machinal (1928), with one critic describing him as "young, vigorous, and brutally masculine". Gable and Dillon separated, filing for divorce in March 1929, while he began working on

2158-565: A star, MGM positioned him in the same manner as Harlow for Myrna Loy, a previously lesser billed actor in Night Flight , moving Loy to a costar role in Men in White , a movie filmed in 1933, though delayed in release due to pre-Code Legion of Decency cuts until 1934. The relationship of a doctor (Gable) and nurse ( Elizabeth Allan ) implied intimacy with a resulting complication of pregnancy,

2241-605: A start in acting until he turned 21 and received his $ 300 inheritance (equivalent to $ 5,461 in 2023 ) from a Hershelman trust. After his stepmother died in 1920, his father moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma , going back into the oil business. He worked with his father for some time wildcatting and sludge removing in the oil fields of Oklahoma before traveling to the Pacific Northwest. Gable toured in second-class stock companies, finding work with traveling tent shows , lumber mills, and other odd jobs. He made his way across

2324-583: A supporting role again. He received extensive fan mail as a result of his performance; the studio took notice. The Hollywood Reporter wrote "A star in the making has been made, one that, to our reckoning, will outdraw every other star ... Never have we seen audiences work themselves into such enthusiasm as when Clark Gable walks on the screen." Gable co-starred in Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) with Greta Garbo , and in Possessed (1931),

2407-499: A three-cornered hat", one he had to be talked into by friend and producer Irving Thalberg , and of which Gable said "I stink in it" after filming. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) was a critical and commercial success, receiving eight Academy Award nominations. There were three Best Actor nominations for stars Gable, Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone , and the film won Best Picture , the second of three films in which Gable played

2490-417: A total of nine films together. He evidently understood the secret of Crawford's appeal: working-class women identified with her. Variety called it "Clever and smart, packing a lot of comedy in action, situation, and dialogue...." and commented, "On the performance end, it is one of Miss Crawford's best." The film was released on December 23, 1934 nationwide. A budget of $ 392,000 made Forsaking All Others

2573-668: A unit commander. (Prior to this, he and McIntyre were both first lieutenants.) Gable spent most of 1943 in England at RAF Polebrook with the 351st Bomb Group. Gable flew five combat missions, including one to Germany, as an observer-gunner in B-17 Flying Fortresses between May 4 and September 23, 1943, earning the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts. During one of

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2656-418: A villainous chauffeur who knocked Barbara Stanwyck 's character unconscious for trying to save two children whom he was methodically starving to death. The supporting role was originally slated for James Cagney until the release of The Public Enemy catapulted him to star status. "His ears are too big and he looks like an ape", said Warner Bros. executive Darryl F. Zanuck about Gable, after testing him for

2739-487: A woman with whom he had had an affair in Europe some months before. Mary quickly gets out of her wedding dress and projects strength instead of fainting. Although what Dill did to Mary was terrible, she still has a soft spot for him. Jeff and Mary are invited to a party at Dill and Connie's house, and the two decide to attend in order to cause some havoc and shock the newlywed couple. While the tension between Mary and Connie

2822-561: Is a movie so bad that it must be seen to be disbelieved." Next, he paired with Doris Day in Teacher's Pet (1958), shot in black and white at Paramount. He did Run Silent, Run Deep (also 1958), with co-star and producer Burt Lancaster , which featured his first on-screen death since 1937, and which garnered good reviews. Gable started to receive television offers, but rejected them outright. At 57, Gable finally acknowledged, "Now it's time I acted my age". His contracts began including

2905-411: Is on Gable and French Devil's Islands convicts in an escape from the penal colony, who on the way pick up a local entertainer (Crawford) whom Gable had met earlier in the movie. In their eighth and last film together, Gable and Crawford "again demonstrated their on-screen magic" and the film was among the top ten grossing films for the year. Gable then made his first film with 20-year old Lana Turner,

2988-465: Is palpable, Dill is shocked to see Mary. Dill and Mary share a romantic moment outside, and Connie awkwardly walks in on them. Jeff tries to smooth the situation over, but Connie remains furious. Later, Dill calls Mary and Jeff finds out they intend to see each other. Mary knows she should not go, but the two go up to Aunt Paula's ( Billie Burke ) country house in Phoenicia, New York . The two share

3071-406: The 351st Bomb Group to England as head of a six-man motion picture unit. In addition to McIntyre, he recruited the screenwriter John Lee Mahin , camera operators Sgts. Mario Toti and Robert Boles, and the sound man Lt. Howard Voss, to complete his crew. Gable was promoted to captain while he was with the 351st Bomb Group at Pueblo Army Air Base , Colorado, a rank commensurate with his position as

3154-463: The 45th Academy Awards ceremony since he was insulted at being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor award; he noted that he had more screen time than his co-star and Best Actor winner Marlon Brando and so he should have received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. A title role is often but not necessarily the lead. A lead role must also be differentiated from

3237-442: The Distinguished Flying Cross , Air Medal , American Campaign Medal , European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal , and World War II Victory Medal . He was a qualified aerial gunner having received his wings upon completion of flexible gunnery school at Tyndall field. Immediately after his discharge from the service, Gable returned to his ranch and rested. Personally, he resumed a pre-war relationship with Virginia Grey ,

3320-625: The Gone with the Wind premiere in segregated Atlanta , because African American actors Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen were not permitted to attend. He reportedly only went after McDaniel pleaded with him to go. They appeared in several more films, remaining life-long friends and he always attended her Hollywood parties. Gable did not want to shed tears for the scene after Rhett inadvertently causes Scarlett to miscarry their second child. Olivia de Havilland made him cry, later commenting, "Oh, he would not do it. He would not! Victor (Fleming) tried everything with him. He tried to attack him on

3403-539: The cornflowers sent to her last wedding were from Jeff and not Dill, Mary realizes she loves Jeff instead. She breaks off her marriage with Dill and joins Jeff on the boat—when Dill arrives at the wharf , the ship has already sailed. Forsaking All Others was adapted from a successful Broadway play starring Tallulah Bankhead . The original play opened in New York City, New York, USA on March 1, 1933 and had 110 performances. Tallulah Bankhead played Mary Clay and

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3486-532: The sonnets . His father had financial difficulties in 1917 and decided to try his hand at farming, and moved the family to Palmyra Township , near Akron, Ohio . His father insisted that he work the farm, but Gable soon left to work in Akron for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company . Gable was inspired to become an actor after seeing the play The Bird of Paradise at age 17, but he was unable to make

3569-671: The Circus (1932). Gable was considered for the role of Tarzan in Tarzan the Ape Man , but lost out to Johnny Weissmuller 's more imposing physique and superior swimming prowess. Gable then starred as the romantic lead in Strange Interlude (1932), again teaming with Shearer, the second of three films they would make together for MGM. Next, Gable starred with Jean Harlow in the romantic comedy-drama Red Dust (1932) set on

3652-614: The Los Angeles stage production of The Last Mile , Gable was offered a contract with Pathe Pictures . His only film for them and first role in a sound picture was as the unshaven villain in their low-budget William Boyd Western , The Painted Desert (1931). The studio experienced financial problems after the film's delayed release, so Gable left for work at Warner Bros . The same year in Night Nurse , Gable played

3735-608: The Midwest to Portland, Oregon , where he worked as a necktie salesman in the Meier & Frank department store. Also working there was local stage actor Earle Larimore , (the nephew of Laura Hope Crews who portrayed Aunt Pittypat alongside Gable in Gone with the Wind ) who encouraged Gable to return to acting. Though Larimore didn't invite him to join his theater group The Red Lantern Players, he did introduce Gable to one of its members, Franz Dorfler, and they started dating. After

3818-579: The Wind "hardly befitted a national idol" and began a career decline for Gable. On August 12, 1942, following Lombard's death and his completion of the film Somewhere I'll Find You , Gable joined the United States Army , under the Army Air Forces . Lombard had suggested that Gable enlist as part of the war effort, but MGM was reluctant to let him go. Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces Henry H. "Hap" Arnold offered Gable

3901-643: The World War II romantic intrigue film, Idiot's Delight (1939). He plays a nightclub singer that doesn't recognize former love (Shearer) while Nazis are closing in on guests at a hotel on the brink of war. The film is memorable for Gable's song and dance routine, "Puttin' on the Ritz" and an alternative ending. Gable also starred in Strange Cargo (1940), a romantic drama with Joan Crawford , costarring Peter Lorre and Ian Hunter . The film's focus

3984-451: The age difference". The publicity only helped ticket sales as the film finished No. 7 at the box office, grossing 8.2 million for the year, easily his most popular hit since he returned to MGM after the war. Despite the positive critical and public response to Mogambo , Gable became increasingly unhappy with what he considered mediocre roles offered by MGM, while the studio regarded his salary as excessive. Studio head Louis B. Mayer

4067-515: The box office that year. Since the couple had been popular with the public, Gable and Turner were quickly paired again in Somewhere I'll Find You (1941) as war correspondents who travel to the Pacific theatre and get caught up in a Japanese attack. The movie was another hit finishing No. 8 at the box office for 1942. Film historian David Thomson wrote the quality of his movies after Gone With

4150-576: The cadets with their commissions. Arnold then informed Gable of his special assignment: to make a recruiting film in combat with the Eighth Air Force to recruit aerial gunners. Gable and McIntyre were immediately sent to Flexible Gunnery School at Tyndall Field, Florida , followed by a photography course at Fort George Wright , Washington State and promoted to first lieutenants upon its completion. On January 27, 1943, Gable reported to Biggs Army Airfield , Texas to train with and accompany

4233-408: The cast included Ilka Chase , Barbara O'Neil , Cora Witherspoon , and Fred Keating . This film was Crawford's first collaboration with screenwriter Joseph L. Mankiewicz . According to TCM, the script originally was intended for Loretta Young , George Brent , and Joel McCrea , but MGM decided to turn it into a Joan Crawford vehicle. Crawford reacted favorably to the script, and the two worked on

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4316-429: The couple's audition for The Astoria Players, Gable's lack of training was evident, but the theater group accepted him after cajoling from Larimore. Gable and Dorfler moved to Astoria, Oregon , touring with the group until its bankruptcy, and then moved back to Portland where Gable obtained a day job with Pacific Telephone and started receiving dramatic lessons in the evening. Gable's acting coach, Josephine Dillon ,

4399-413: The director Frank Capra , Gable's character in the film closely resembled his real personality. Gable returned to MGM a bigger star than ever. From 1934 until 1942, when World War II interrupted his movie career, he was near the top of the box office money-makers lists. Gable's first movie role back at MGM was to portray reluctant leader of mutineers Fletcher Christian , an "Englishman in knickers and

4482-546: The film Combat America in September 1944, giving the narration himself and making use of numerous interviews with enlisted gunners as focus of the film. Because his motion picture production schedule made it impossible for him to fulfill reserve officer duties, he resigned his commission on September 26, 1947, a week after the Air Force became an independent service branch. Gable was awarded military honors for service:

4565-462: The high cost of the all-star cast. Variety said, "[Gable's] is a believable delivery, interpreting the brigadier-general who must send his men out to almost certain death with an understanding that bespeaks his sympathy with the soldier... ". A very public and brief romance with Paulette Goddard occurred after that. In 1949, Gable married Sylvia Ashley , a British model and actress previously married to Douglas Fairbanks Sr . The relationship

4648-513: The lower-rank Columbia studio, for one film It Happened One Night , to teach Gable a lesson, but Columbia wanted him and had paid handsomely for it. The result was that Gable won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his 1934 performance in the film. "Critics praised the fast-paced farce that would enter in a whole new romantic genre: the screwball comedy." Gable's career was revitalized by his whimsical, good-natured performance and to

4731-516: The men he served with, such as former Tech. Sgt. Ralph Cowley, said Gable actually unofficially joined other missions and the above five were only a fraction of the total. Adolf Hitler favored Gable above all other actors. During World War II, Hitler offered a sizable reward to anyone who could capture and bring Gable to him unscathed. In November 1943, Gable returned to the United States to edit his film, on an old Warner's lot donated to

4814-502: The missions, Gable's aircraft was damaged by flak and attacked by fighters, which knocked out one of the engines and shot up the stabilizer. In the raid on Germany, one crewman was killed and two others were wounded, and flak went through Gable's boot and narrowly missed his head. When word of this reached MGM, studio executives began to badger the Army Air Forces to reassign its most valuable screen actor to noncombat duty. Many of

4897-437: The pair was recognized by studio executive Louis B. Mayer , who would not only put them in seven more films but also began reshooting Complete Surrender , replacing John Mack Brown as Crawford's leading man and retitling the film Laughing Sinners (1931). His fame and public visibility after A Free Soul (1931), in which he played a gangster who shoved the character played by Norma Shearer, ensured that Gable never played

4980-484: The part. He later conceded, "I think I know now how a fly must react after being caught in a spider's web." According to Lennie Bluett, an extra in the film, Gable almost walked off the set when he discovered the studio facilities were segregated and signage posted "White" and "Colored". Gable phoned the film's director Victor Fleming and told him, "If you don't get those signs down, you won't get your Rhett Butler." The signs were then taken down. Gable tried to boycott

5063-425: The personality of director and friend Fleming. Years later, Gable said that whenever his career would start to fade, a re-release of Gone with the Wind would soon revive his popularity, and he continued as a top leading actor for the rest of his life. One reissue publicized "Clark Gable never tires of holding Vivien Leigh". Between his marriage to Lombard and her death, Gable again costarred with Norma Shearer in

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5146-566: The play Hawk Island in New York which ran for 24 performances. In April 1930, Gable's divorce became final, and a few days later he married Texas socialite Maria Franklin Prentiss Lucas Langham, nicknamed "Ria". After moving to California, they were married again in 1931, possibly due to differences in state legal requirements. In 1930, after his impressive appearance as the seething and desperate character Killer Mears in

5229-433: The role. Gable followed this up with Homecoming (1948), where he played a married doctor enlisting in World War II and meeting Lana Turner's army surgical nurse character with a romance unfolding in flashbacks. After that he made the war film Command Decision (1948), a psychological drama with Walter Pidgeon , Van Johnson , Brian Donlevy , and John Hodiak . It was a hit with audiences, but it lost MGM money due to

5312-662: The same performance piece are nominated Oscars for Best Actor or Best Actress —categories traditionally reserved for leads. For example, in 1935 Clark Gable , Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone were each nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award for Mutiny on the Bounty . There can even be controversy over whether a particular performance should be nominated in the Best Actor/Actress or Best Supporting Actor/Best Supporting Actress category; for instance, The Godfather 's Al Pacino boycotted

5395-522: The second male lead in the studio's gangster drama Little Caesar (1931). After his failed screen test for Zanuck, Gable was signed in 1930 by MGM's Irving Thalberg for $ 650 per week (equivalent to approximately $ 13,023 in 2023 ). He hired the well-connected Minna Wallis, a sister of producer Hal Wallis , as his agent, whose clients included actresses Claudette Colbert , Myrna Loy and Norma Shearer . Gable's arrival in Hollywood occurred when MGM

5478-550: The tall, shy child with a loud voice to be well-dressed and well-groomed. She played the piano and gave him lessons at home. He later took up brass instruments, becoming the only boy in the Hopedale Men's town band at age 13. Gable was mechanically inclined and loved to repair cars with his father, who insisted that he engage in masculine activities such as hunting and hard physical work. Gable also loved literature; he would recite Shakespeare among trusted company, particularly

5561-440: The war effort, assigned to the 18th AAF Base Unit (Motion Picture Unit) at Culver City, California , where other stars contributed with any film equipment they had as well. In June 1944, Gable was promoted to major . While he hoped for another combat assignment, he had been placed on inactive duty and on June 12, 1944, his discharge papers were signed by Captain (later U.S. president) Ronald Reagan . Gable completed editing of

5644-524: Was Betrayed (1954), an espionage wartime drama with Turner and Victor Mature . Critic Paul Mavis wrote, "Gable and Turner just don't click the way they should here...poor plots and lines never stopped these two pros from turning in good performances in other films." In March 1954, Gable left MGM. His next two films were made for 20th Century Fox : Soldier of Fortune , an adventure story in Hong Kong with Susan Hayward , and The Tall Men (1955),

5727-416: Was Saratoga (1937), a bigger hit than their previous collaborations. Harlow died during its production. The film was ninety percent completed, and the remaining scenes were filmed with long shots or the use of doubles like Mary Dees ; Gable said he felt as if he were "in the arms of a ghost". When MGM head Louis B. Mayer decided that Gable was getting difficult and ungrateful, he loaned Gable out to

5810-621: Was Gable's only time as producer. He found producing and acting to be too much work and this Raoul Walsh western was the only film made. After turning down the lead role in Universal-International's Away All Boats , his next project was the Warner Bros. production Band of Angels (1957), co-starring Yvonne De Carlo and featuring relative newcomer Sidney Poitier ; it was not well received, despite Gable's role's similarities to Rhett Butler. Newsweek said, "Here

5893-551: Was Kelly in Astor's role, with both receiving Academy Award nominations, Gardner for Lead Actress and Kelly for Supporting Actress. While on location in Africa, reports of an affair between Gable and Kelly began to surface (the result of private dinners the stars were having), but their relationship was an intense friendship according to costar Gardner, with Kelly herself later commenting on the lack of any sexual aspect, "maybe because of

5976-454: Was Selznick's first choice. When Cooper turned down the role of Butler, he was quoted as saying, " Gone With the Wind is going to be the biggest flop in Hollywood history. I'm glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling flat on his nose, not me." By then, Selznick had become determined to hire Gable, and set about finding a way to borrow him from MGM. Gable was wary of potentially disappointing an audience that had decided that no one else could play

6059-539: Was a favorite of Gable's, and he was very disappointed when her mental health problems caused her to be replaced in Mogambo by Grace Kelly . Mogambo (1953), directed by John Ford , was a somewhat sanitized and more action-oriented remake of Gable's hit pre-Code film Red Dust , with Jean Harlow and Mary Astor. Ava Gardner, in her third and final pairing with Gable, was well received in Harlow's leading lady role, as

6142-489: Was a theater manager in Portland. She paid to have his teeth fixed and his hair styled. She guided him in building up his chronically undernourished body, and taught him better body control and posture. He slowly managed to lower his naturally high-pitched voice, his speech habits improved, and his facial expressions became more natural and convincing. After a long period of her training, Dillon considered Gable ready to attempt

6225-472: Was acclaimed for his performance in The Hucksters (1947), a satire of post-war Madison Avenue corruption and immorality, which co-starred Deborah Kerr and Ava Gardner . The film was popular with audiences, placing 11th at the box office, but both Variety and The New York Times reviewed it as a sanitized version of the novel with script issues, that was heavy on Gable screentime, who struggled in

6308-529: Was an American film actor. Often referred to as the "King of Hollywood", he had roles in more than 60 films in a variety of genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades of which was as a leading man . He was named the seventh greatest male movie star of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute . Gable won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the romantic comedy , It Happened One Night (1934). He

6391-497: Was as an aging cowboy in The Misfits (1961). Gable was one of the most consistent box-office performers in the history of Hollywood, appearing on Quigley Publishing's annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll sixteen times. He appeared opposite many of the most popular actresses of their time. He frequently acted alongside Joan Crawford , Myrna Loy , Jean Harlow , Lana Turner , Norma Shearer and Ava Gardner . Gable died of

6474-425: Was fired in 1951, amid slumping revenue and increased Hollywood production costs, due in large part to the rising popularity of television. The new studio head, former production chief Dore Schary , struggled to maintain profits for the studio. Many long-time MGM stars were fired, or their contracts were not renewed, including Greer Garson and Judy Garland . Gable refused to renew his contract. His last film at MGM

6557-596: Was further Oscar-nominated for his roles as Fletcher Christian in the drama Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), and Rhett Butler in the historical romance drama Gone with the Wind (1939). He received Golden Globe Award nominations for his comedic roles in Teacher's Pet (1958), and But Not for Me (1959). He also starred in Call of the Wild (1935), Key to the City (1950), and Mogambo (1953). His final on-screen role

6640-862: Was looking to expand its stable of male stars, and he fit the bill. He made two pictures in 1931 with Wallace Beery . In the first, he had a seventh-billed support role in The Secret Six , although his role was much larger than the billing would indicate, then he achieved second billing in a part almost as large as the film's star Beery in the naval aviation film Hell Divers . MGM's publicity manager Howard Strickling started developing Gable's studio image with Screenland magazine playing up his "lumberjack-in-evening-clothes" persona. To increasing popularity, MGM frequently paired him with well-established female stars. Joan Crawford asked for him to appear with her in Dance, Fools, Dance (1931). The electricity of

6723-533: Was profoundly unsuccessful; they divorced in 1952. Gable did a series of films with female co-stars: Any Number Can Play (1950) with Alexis Smith , Key to the City (1950) with Loretta Young , and To Please a Lady (1950) with Barbara Stanwyck . They were reasonably popular, but he had more success with two Westerns: Across the Wide Missouri (1951), and Lone Star (1952). He then made Never Let Me Go (1953) opposite Gene Tierney . Tierney

6806-914: Was six months old when he was baptized at a Roman Catholic church in Dennison, Ohio . When he was ten months old, his mother died. His father refused to raise him in the Catholic faith, which provoked criticism from the Hershelman family. Gable and his father were active in the Methodist church where his father was a Sunday School teacher. The dispute was resolved when his father agreed to allow him to spend time with his maternal uncle Charles Hershelman and his wife on their farm in Vernon Township, Pennsylvania . In April 1903, Gable's father married Jennie Dunlap (1874–1920). Gable's stepmother raised

6889-834: Was understood that Mr. Gable, if he is commissioned, will make movies for the air forces. Lieutenant Jimmy Stewart , another actor in uniform, has been doing this." Gable had expressed an earlier interest in officer candidate school , with the intention of becoming an aerial gunner upon enlisting in bomber training school. MGM arranged for his studio friend, the cinematographer Andrew McIntyre, to enlist with him and accompany him through training. On August 17, 1942, shortly after his enlistment, he and McIntyre were sent to Miami Beach, Florida , where they entered USAAF OCS Class 42-E. Both completed training on October 28, 1942, and were commissioned as second lieutenants . His class of about 2,600 students (of which he ranked about 700th) selected Gable as its graduation speaker. General Arnold presented

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