THEY MET IN BOMBAY
US, 1941, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Rosalind Russell, Peter Lorre, Jessie Ralph, Reginald Owen.
Directed by Clarence Brown.
A pleasantly inconsequential jewel thief story. Clark Gable is quite debonair in the role of the jewel thief who poses as a detective and has to flee Bombay to Hong Kong with Rosalind Russell, posing as English aristocracy, in order to rob a duchess. They encounter a Chinese ship captain who betrays them. Then the screenplay goes patriotic - anticipating Pearl Harbor a little. Gable, impersonating a British officer, is called to heroism against the Japanese in China.
The screenplay is quite improbable, its Asian settings are sets. Clarence Brown directs with finesse and overcomes some of the shortcomings of the morale boosting ending. A pleasant Gable vehicle highlighting his skill and Rosalind Russell's ability to be a vivacious heroine.
1. An entertaining jewel thief story, propaganda film of 1941? How entertaining in later decades?
2. The black and white photography, M.G.M. sets with the evocation of Bombay and Hong Kong, China? The musical score? The special effects, especially for fog, ships, battles?
3. The conventions of the jewel robbery film? Establishing of hero and heroine, the basic situation, the robbery and double-crosses, the escape from the police, car chases, shipboard to Hong Kong, escape in the fog, masquerade as a British officer, war heroics and evacuations, the Victoria Cross and the heroic happy ending?
4. Audience enjoyment of jewel robbery films with the light touch? The amoral attitudes of hero and heroine, their reactions towards one another, combining efforts? Amoral hero and heroine and the romantic overtones? Reform and final heroism? The sentimental ending?
5. Clark Gable as Gerald - explaining his background, his posing as the detective, his selling up Ana? His leading her on, substituting the jewels? The car chase and the escape? The hideout in Hong Kong and the effect on him? Falling in love with Ana? The posing as the British officer and the success of his mission? His being trapped, the devices used to escape? The heroism at the impasse? His being wounded, the award of the Victoria Cross, the fine moral decision at the end? The Hollywood image of the American hero? The British touch for war patriotism?
6. Rosalind Russell's confident style as heroine? her impersonation, friendship with the duchess, ingratiating herself into her presence and manoeuvring situations? The robbery? Being outwitted by Gerald? The escape? her falling in love, participation in the evacuation, her decision at the end?
7. Peter Lorre as the Chinese captain contributing comedy, villainy?
8. The comedy at the hotel in Bombay, the duchess and her drinking, her entourage, the staff at the hotel? The continuation of this atmosphere on shipboard? In Hong Kong?
9. Gerald impersonating the British officer, his commandeering the ship? The military officials? Participation in the mission, the evacuation? Heroics and shooting? Confrontation with the Japanese? The police and his pursuit of Gerald and his being one-upped at the end?
10. The background of World War II, British involvement, the Japanese threat to America? the success of the film as American war morale boost? An engaging comedy thriller?
