NO MAN OF HER OWN

US, 1932, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Carole Lombard.
Directed by Wesley Ruggles.

An entertaining romantic early talkie, rather smoothly done. It is one of many films like this made by Wesley Ruggles. The film is of interest because of its teaming of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. Later they were to meet and eventually marry. A romantic version of this story was made in the seventies, Gable And Lombard, starring James Brolin and Jill Clayburgh. This is a very early role for Clark Gable showing his suave manner. Carole Lombard was at the beginning of her short career as a comedienne. The material is conventional but is quite nicely done according to the conventions of the time.

1. The appeal of the thirties' romantic comedy? The development into the smart and daffy screwball comedy?

2. The film as an example of early sound filmmaking? The smoothness and fluidity of the camera movement? The performances of the cast? Editing? Music?

3. The studio sets for New York and its atmosphere? The world of New York and Glendale? The world of the card sharks, prison?

4. The plausibility of plot for this kind of romantic comedy? The establishing of the hero, the heroine, their meeting, clashes, difficulties, resolution? How satisfying for romantic comedy?

5. Clark Gable's style as Babe? His smooth cheating at cards? His cronies? The use of Kay? Collins and his pursuit? Lying low and the encounter with Connie? The humour of the library sequences? Romantic interludes and gambling for marriage? Honeymoon? Babe continuing his career? Connie's attack? His decision not to go to South America, serving his sentence, the happy return home and being left giving the explanation which Connie would not believe? The suave American hero ? settling down with wife for family?

6. Carole Lombard's style as a comedienne? At home, small town girl, librarian, the encounter with Babe and her longings? Wealth and society in New York9 coping? Suspicions and discovery of the cheating? Pregnancy and preparing to forgive her husband? The American heroine?

7. The humour of the supporting characters ? their role in the card games, following Babe? Their style of life, sleep-ins, international travelling? Kay and her toughness, the explanation to Connie? Their following the cardsharps? Their victims?

8. The humour of the contrived sequences: card games, the library sequence, the proposing to Connie, Connie's mother and her presence, the showdown?

9. The supporting characters - Connie's family, the librarian?

10. The humour of the screen play? The American values presented and presupposed in the audience for this kind of romantic comedy?