TO PLEASE A LADY
US., 1950, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou, Will Geer, Roland Winters.
Directed by Clarence Brown.
To Please a Lady is a film about motor racing, an unlikely subject for Clarence Brown, director of many Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford vehicles in the '30s, of such films as The Human Comedy and National Velvet in the '40s.
The film would be a mere programmer of 1950 were it not for the main stars, working on their popularity even though past their prime. Clark Cable is persuasive enough as the seemingly ruthless driver. Barbara Stanwyck is effective as the seemingly ruthless newspaper and gossip reporter. Adolphe Menjou does his typical adisory role - with the touch of the sinister. A young Will Geer appears appears as a carparker. The film has a brief running time, establishes the two characters and pits them against one another - and then with a sudden kiss they are seemingly allies. The film makes some points about ruthlessness and winning in one's profession. There are quite a number of racing sequences, 1950s style. This theme was taken up much more readily in the '60s and '70s with such films as Grand Prix, Winning, Le Mans
1. An enjoyable '50s film? The appeal of the subject? The stars?
2. MGM production values: director, stars, black and white photography, atmosphere, locations?
3. The title and the focus on Regina? Mike and his final gesture for her? For himself? The title indicating the theme?
4. The appeal of motor racing? 1950 and the speedways? Cars, speeds, tracks, dangers, accidents? The commentators? The capturing the atmosphere of Indianapolis and other speedways?
5. Clark Gable as Mike: his skill as a driver, his reputation as a Marine, his association with the deaths of two drivers, his relentlessness, sense of responsibility? The antagonism of the crowd? Regina choosing to attack himi? Her judgment on his arrogance? The effect of her column? His clash with her? His kissing her? His working as a daredevil after selling his car? His encounter with Mackay and their going into partnership? His comeback? Coming second? The friendship with Regina? Her continued questions about the deaths? His final success - and each of them keeping their career plus a happy ending?
6. Barbara Stanwyck as Regina - the self-assured and ruthless columnist, her attendants. her briefings? Her being used to power and wielding it? Her attack on the politician - and his trial, his appeal to her, condemnation, flamboyant suicide? The effect of this death on her and her judgment on Mike? Her advice from Gregg? Going to the speedway, the interview with Mike and the clash with him, her reaction, the column, her ruthlessness? Her being pleased with his failure? Going to see him as a stunt man? His kiss and her change? Her relenting about the column Gregg wrote? Her seeing hirri, outings, discussions about responsibility, the final success and the happy ending? Her performance matching that of Clark Gable?
7. The role of newspapers, their influence, damage to people's careers? Gregg and his impersonal attitudes towards drivers, towards politicians? His cynicism. at the speedway, about Mike and accidents and killing, about Regina's romance?
8. Mackay as a decent man, partnership with Mike?
9. Themes of relationships, careers and success?
