MOGAMBO
US, 1953, 115 minutes, Colour.
Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Donald Sinden, Eric Pohlmann, Laurence Naismith, Dennis O’Day?.
Directed by John Ford.
Mogambo is a remake of the 1932 melodrama, Red Dust, starring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow with Mary Astor.
That film was studio-bound but for Mogambo, all went to Africa for on-location filming. It is very attractive to watch, focusing on a big game trapping company in Kenya. Clark Gable, a bit older perhaps than he should be, portrays the manager of the company. When playgirl, played by Ava Gardner, turns up, they are both attracted to each other, Gardner having the Harlow role. However, things are disturbed when a British scientist and his rather icy wife arrive to participate in a safari. They are played by Grace Kelly at her most regal and Donald Sinden as her husband. This was the period in which Grace Kelly made such films as Dial M for Murder, The Bridges at Toko-Ri? and Rear Window.
Emotional complications ensue – with the Clark Gable character having to deal with the two women who are in love with him.
The film is something of a difference for director John Ford, having some time away from his classic westerns. However, the year before he had been on location in Ireland for his very successful The Quiet Man which won him an Oscar for best director.
1. Is it evident why this film was so popular in the fifties? How enjoyable? How relaxing a comedy adventure?
2. The appeal of the stars? The attraction in the fifties? In later decades? The stars in such situations, with such dialogue?
3. The impression of Africa? How beautifully photographed? The use of locations, the jungle, dangers, animals, the natives? How was the African atmospheres captured and indicated? The best illustrations of this?
4. How well presented was the old theme of the eternal triangle? Insight into human relationships? The nature of men and of women? Passion, survival, heroism, nobility, human weaknesses, the importance of decisions? Though on the popular level, how well presented were these themes?
5. How typical a Clark Gable hero was Vic? What constitutes Clark Gable's type of hero? Dialogue and situations illustrating this? American hero, American irony, toughness, yet sentiment underneath? A fear for relationships, a capacity for relationships? Casual acquaintance, a yearning for permeance? Vic as presented with animals, on his job, attracted towards Kelly and the easy way of life, his attention towards Linda and her proper attitudes? Was there much insight into this stereotype character?
6. How attractive and credible was Kelly? The qualities of performance? The type of the American good-time girl? Stranded in the jungle relying on men, their unreliability? Her humour, her capacity for a good time, worldly wisdom, capacity to laugh, sentiment, being hurt, her crying? Her insight into Vic? Her relationship with Browny? Her insight into Linda? The inevitable ending? How appropriate?
7. Was Linda a credible character? Grace Kelly's cool style and type? the reality of her marriage to Donald? Her sharing his work and interest? Her initial hysteria, being slapped by Vic? The awakening to a different kind of relationship? The melodramatics of her love? Her being forced to seeing the truth? How credible was her shooting? The irony of her going off at the end?
8. What did Browny add to the film? Support of Vi? Boltchak and his violence? Father Joseph? (The importance of Kelly's confession and insight into character)?
9. How conventional a character was Donald? The anthropologist? His work? fascination with the gorillas? his
lack of understanding of Linda?
10. The importance of the jungle sequences with the leopards, the animals, the importance of the gorilla sequences? How interesting and exciting?
11. How well did the film blend humour, passion, danger and the conventions of jungle films?
