THE HUCKSTERS
US, 1947, 115 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner, Sidney Greenstreet, Adolphe Menjou, Keenan Wynn, Edward Arnold.
Directed by Jack Conway.
The Hucksters is an enjoyable soap opera from the immediate post-war period. One of Clark Gable's earliest films after his military service, it also introduced Deborah Kerr to American films. The film has a strong cast, is directed by veteran Jack Conway. The original novel (more like later Peyton Place, Madison Avenue exposes) has been refined for Gable and Kerr. The film has become a satire on radio rather than advertising agencies. The heroine has become a dignified widow. On its level of popular romance and satire, the film works well as an undemanding entertainment. There is a particularly good performance by Sidney Greenstreet. The film is interesting historically as showing how clean-cut was the Dallas and Dynasty material in the '40s.
1. Popular entertainment? A piece of Americana? Clark Gable vehicle? The strong cast. M.G.M. treatment? The refining of a popular novel?
2. How well did the film work as romance, presentation of the business world, satire? Soap opera contents? The dignified M.G.M. 40s treatment? (In comparison with later soap operas and television series?)
3. The title and Vic's explanation of it? The world of advertising, selling? The capitalist values - and the satire and critique? The world of the huckster, the promoter, the travelling salesman?
4. Clark Gable as Vic - his war service. resuming life? The issues of the period as the returned soldiers looked for work in a new world? Deborah Kerr as a widow - her concern about surviving in the post-war world. advertising. money? The changed advertising world? New opportunities? Pretentiousness? The repercussions of the new era?
5. The character of Vic and Clark Gable's style? His background in advertising and radio. his war experience? His putting himself on the market? His buying the tie? His push in the office and persuasiveness? His interviewing Kimberley and pushing her into the advertising? His push with Evans? Persuading Kimberley? Kaye and the photo and his changing the image for the advertising,, his criticisms of the jingle etc.? His ability and push, diplomatic skill?
6. The advertising world: Kimberley and his anxiety,, his being a yes-man? Evans and the symbolic actions? Background., the pretentiousness of his style and everybody agreeing? Audience reaction to this advertising world - especially reaction to Evans?
7. Beautee Soap and the jingles? Vic's ad. and the response? Understanding advertising, the way it works, popular psychology? Selling processes?
8. Vic and his success. the dinner, the Kimberleys? Taking out Kaye? The proposal? The possibility of settling down? The fight with the firm? His going to California? Kaye's journey to California? Having to make decisions?
9. Kaye as the Deborah Kerr type? War experience? The children? Her being ahead of Vic as regards the money and the advertising? Her demure image in the advertising? The dinner? The new experience with that of the Kimberleys? The proposition? The clash? Her visiting California and the reconciliation? Soap opera material - but well-acted?
10. Jean and her work, song, flirting, the new job, friendship with Vic? Ava Gardner's style?
11. Kimberley and his nervousness. drinking, background in advertising? His forgetting about the dinner arrangement? His wife's comments on the situation? The dinner and his sad story? His wanting to assert himself before it was too late?
12. Evans and his Board. the meeting. his demonstrations and actions. his final teasing of Vic and Vic's response, abusing him? The audience agreeing with Vic?
13. The final assessment of his situation by Vic,, his future in the business world? Relationship with Kaye?
14. An entertaining adaptation of a big novel to the screen? The watering down of the tougher original novel?
