BUT NOT FOR ME

US, 1959, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Carroll Baker, Lilli Palmer, Lee J. Cobb, Barry Coe, Thomas Gomez.
Directed by Walter Lang.

But Not For Me was one of Clark Gable's last films. After leaving M.G.M., where he worked for many decades, he appeared in a number of light pleasant romantic comedies with the leading actresses of the day e.g. Teacher's Pet with Doris Day and It Started In Naples with Sophia Loren. Carroll Baker at the beginning of her career is an attractive heroine and was a better actress in her earlier years than later. Lilli Palmer as his wife has a good opportunity for light satirical comedy. Lee J. Cobb appears as an unlikely play writer. The film based on a play by Samuel Raphaelson, was made in the 30s as Accent on Youth and also in 1950 as Mr. Music with Bing Crosby. It treats the old theme of the older man falling in love with the younger woman and the romantic and disillusioning repercussions. Direction is by Walter Lang who made many films of this kind in the 40s and 50s. Pleasing light entertainment.

1. An enjoyable film, the romantic themes, popular cinema material of each decade? The film in its origins as a play, the remakes?

2. The world of New York, theatrical offices? The black and white photography, the score, the Gershwin theme song?

3. The crisp dialogue, the humour, irony, satire? The conventions of this type of satiric romantic comedy?

4. The atmosphere of the theatre., a film about a play commenting on real life? The ironies in this structure? The relationship of dramatics to real life and people's blindness to this? The significance of the title, to whom did it refer, why?

5. The old story of the ageing man falling in love with the young girl? How well did the stars carry this off, the quality of the writing, the dramatics? The irony of the life situation echoing the play and even entering into the play's dialogue?

6. Clark Gable and his perennial popularity, style, age? His portrayal of the theatrical hustler and his success, lavish? His push? His secretary and her being taken for granted? The reason for his marriage to Kathryn and the divorce? His reliance on Mac for a successful play? His putting off of his lawyers? His reliance on his image? Elli and her devotion to him and her romantic scene? His flattery, his using her lines? His involving her in the writing,, the rehearsals? Her being the star and his fostering of her success? The importance of his realisation of what had happened, his lying about his age, his need for decision? His allowing her an option and his dismay at her choosing against him? His having to cope? His bond with Mac, the reconciliation with Kathryn? The happy ending? A Clark Gable type - enjoyably done?

7. Carroll Baker's performance as Elli? The devoted secretary, her acting career, her love for Roger? Her infatuation with her boss, the impassioned speeches, her devoted work, the outburst in the rehearsal and her taking over the performance? Her scruples about pushing herself? The play, the lack of success, her rise to stardom? Her continual proposals? Kathryn and her continued taunts? Roger and his pursuit of her, his plea for her to marry him? Her mixed feelings? The final breaking away from Russell? The wedding and its immediate precariousness? The framing of Russell for a possible divorce? The reconciliation? A credible character contrived for the purposes of the themes?

8. How attractive a personality was Kathryn? The divorced wife, her devotion to her ex-husband,, successful? Her helping out financially, her taunting of Elli in order to win back Russell? Her being in at the end?

9. Mac and his creativity, his drinking, his participation in the writing, rehearsals? His playing matchmaker at the end?

10. Roger, the obtuse young actor, his conditions, the showdown with Russell? The failure of the marriage and his being obtuse? The future of the marriage?

11. The film's satirical touch about the relationship between theatre and drama and real life?

12. A popular treatment of the perennially entertaining themes of career, love and marriage, truth, ageing?