CAIN AND MABEL
US, 1936, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Marion Davies, Clark Gable, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Chatterton, Roscoe Karns, Walter Catlett.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.
Cain and Mabel is an amusing 1930s-style battle of the sexes. Marion Davies, who had appeared in a number of frothy MGM comedies, is a waitress who gets the opportunity to become a lead dancer. Clark Gable plays a mechanic who has become a rather unwilling boxing champion. When their careers need a boost, Roscoe Karns as a PR expert, fabricates all kinds of stories about their relationship when they can’t stand each other. However, ultimately, they naturally fall in love. The group surrounding each of them then manoeuvres to break them apart – also for box-office success.
Clark Gable had won an Oscar for It Happened One Night by this stage and was a leading man at MGM. The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon, director of many light comedies and musicals, especially at Warner Bros.
1. The title? Expectation of a battle? The battle of the sexes? Screwball comedy 1930s style?
2. MGM production values, the cast, black and white photography, New York settings? Musicals? Boxing? The musical score, songs?
3. The song-and-dance routines, the boxing bouts? The juxtaposition of the two?
4. Mabel’s story, as a waitress, two years, encountering Riley (**?IMDB: Reilly), giving him the breakfast, getting the sack? Her telling him that he should be a PR man? His going to Sherman’s office, mistaking the actor for Sherman, getting the promise of the audition? His bold attack on Sherman at the theatre? But Mabel getting the job? Or at least the opportunity? The exasperation of the dancing trainer? The humour of her practice in the hotel, banging on Clark Gable’s ceiling? His confrontation? Her telling him off? The bad blood between the two?
5. Mabel’s career and success? Nevertheless the fall-off in her box-office? Jack and his winning the bouts? But his lacking a charismatic personality? The need for publicity?
6. Riley going to Mabel’s family, going to Jack’s minders? The agreement about the stories in the press? The reaction of each? Telling the others off, the slap, pouring water over Jack? The meetings, their having to be good sports? His going to the theatre, the flowers? Her resenting him? The socialising?
7. Mabel, the musical, the attentions of the singer? Possible rivalry for the boxer?
8. The humour of the battle of the sexes? Her going home, leaving Jack stranded, his going to the apartment, staying for the meal? Finding out the truth? Falling in love?
9. Success? The difficulty of Jack not wanting to go for the championship? Mabel wanting to give up the musical? Riley and his contriving with all the parties to plant more stories? The resentment of each? Mabel and her being forced to dance – but then getting the plane to Philadelphia after her aunt told her the truth? Jack, the bout, Mabel turning up? His being hit, his trainer exasperatedly throwing in the towel – and his losing? The bets and the money?
10. The future – and an amusing old-fashioned comedy?
