Mogambo
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Movie Reviews of Mogambo
Movie Review: Mogambo
Summary: 4 Stars
Frankly, I have not watched this DVD version yet as I have it on Laser Disc.Movie Review: Not Quite What I Expected
Summary: 3 Stars
I stumbled across Mogamabo at the library before I got a chance to see Red Dust, which I had heard was excellent. The cover art riveted me, and I looked forward to seeing Ava Gardner as the smoldering temptress. Unfortunately, Gardner's character came across as sniveling and whiney. She appears to be immediately attracted to Clark Gable's character, but when he doesn't return her interest she becomes pouty and sullen. At least twice she ran away to cry, which would have been more understandable if she and Gable's character had ever communicated interest. I just wanted to shake her and say, "You're a beautiful woman. Tons of men would want you. Move on!" Her catty comments and continual attempts to get attention made her character reek of desperation and was quite unbecoming. She was not the strong female character that I am used to seeing in other classic movies. On top of that, I finally saw Red Dust, and there is just no comparison. Gardner does not hold a candle to Jean Harlow in this movie.
Then there is Grace Kelly's character. She is plain, and her waffling is annoying. She is just... boring. She even looked boring. In her other movies, I've found her quite beautiful, but in this movie she looked a little washed-out. Overall, I couldn't really tell why Gable's character would want either of these women.
On a more positive note, I enjoyed Gable's performance. It was interesting to compare to his earlier work in Red Dust. He had a youthful attractiveness in Red Dust that made it easy to see how he would be able to win over the women, and in Mogambo he seems to bring a sense of maturity to the role that changes the tone somewhat. Both performances were good. Additionally, the African scenery was beautiful.
All in all, I would recommend seeing Red Dust above Mogambo, but this is not the review of a Red Dust fanatic poo-pooing the remake; these were the impressions I had before seeing Red Dust, and seeing that movie only confirmed it. Mogambo is alright, but don't expect the best performances from Gardner and Kelly.
Movie Review: 50s melodramatic cheese
Summary: 3 Stars
Having rented this movie only for Ava Gardner and not for the plot, I knew it was going to be cheesy from the beginning. It's a non-musical produced by MGM, what can one expect? This is one of those old kinds of movies where the character development takes a backseat to the *breathtaking* scenery and atmosphere. Actually the scenery isn't so breathtaking (maybe in 1953 this would have blown your socks off, but come on, those of us in 2007 are much more world weary now). As usual, Ava and Grace flounce around the jungle in well decked out outfits and perfectly applied lipstick. This kind of reminded me a bit of 1954's "Elephant Walk" with Elizabeth Taylor: both movies are over the top melodramatic with special effects that are extremely lame by today's standards. The focus on scenery, costumes, shooting on location, and special effects causes the character development to suffer. Honestly, "Mogambo" gets a bit boring at times with all of its scenery shots. I think "Elephant Walk" had more of an interesting story, and that's not saying much. I'm puzzled as to why Ava and Grace were nominated Oscars for this movie. I love these two actresses, but "Mogambo" is a throw away filler movie Ava made (sadly like much of her career) and for Grace is was just something she needed to allow her new film career to take flight. Oh and Clark Gable in this? He seems tired, bored, and worn out. Not to mention he's way too old! The studio's decision to recast him in the same beefcake role 21 years later (which would never have happened for a woman) just highlights the strong double standards that existed in old Hollywood for men and women.Movie Review: Technicolour macho adventure
Summary: 3 Stars
After the 2nd World War, Clark Gable was rarely able to recreate the excitement of so many of his thirties films. Not only was he ageing, of course, but his biographers record that he never got over the loss of wife Carole Lombard in 1942. He was letting himself go. MGM, his home studio, clearly recognised the change and many of his postwar films are a trial. "Mogambo", released in 1953, is a notable exception. John Ford filmed this action adventure and it is minor work in his canon, simply because the filming is straightforward and expert but with no particular Ford imprint.
A remake of a previous success, the raunchy and funny "Red Dust" from 1932, Gable stars as an African game hunter on safari with 2 worthwhile leading ladies, the sensuous, amusing playgirl, Ava Gardner, and the icy, married Gracy Kelly. The plot is simple. Both woman fall for Gable and the melodrama revolves around how this plays out amongst lots of location shots of the scenary, native tribesmen and animals. Gable is perfectly cast as the macho hero and Gardner hits the right notes to make believable that she, 20 years his junior, would be his sort of woman. Kelly is less successful and inferior to Mary Astor in the same role in the original film. Being an MGM star production, the ladies look ludicrously immaculate even on safari.
The print is excellent preserving the glorious technicolour but there are no extras except the original trailer. The film is best value if purchased as part of the Gable Signature Collection.
Movie Review: A PALE INFERIOR REMAKE OF RED DUST
Summary: 3 Stars
.....Gable had been playing this type role for so long that had become a caricture of himself. He was far too old to be believable as a love interest for two women young enough to be his daughters.
.....The electricity between Gable and Harlow was not there with Gardener, who played her typical MGM glamor girl role and was a far cry from her excellent performance in "On the Beach"
.....If the movie was meant as a vehicle to introduce the cool beauty of Grace Kelly to American audiences then it was a sucess but Kelly's acting ability suffered in comparison to Mary Astor. Astor gave a dynamite performance in "Red Dust". Kelly was better suited to movies like "To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant.
.....The color and action scenes were good and I guess that Ford can take credit for that but this was far from his best effort.
.....Compared to the original "Red Dust" on a scale of one to ten with "Red Dust being a ten ...I give this movie a three. If you throw out the acting performances of Gable. Gardener and Kelly and just judge the photography and color then I would give it a six.