Red Dust

Charming film that has 2 of Hollywood's most legendary stars in the lead roles - Clark Gable and the Platinum Jean Harlow. Those expecting a mild 30's comedy may be surprised when presented with this film's in your face bold sexuality. I know I was the first time I saw this and this comedy, along with Harlow's other film "Red Headed Woman", are interesting to watch just to see how different these pre-code films were in comparison to the milder fare that would permeate Hollywood once the strict production code came into effect in the mid 30's. Both Gable and Harlow ooze sex and on screen charisma and when they appear on screen, they command our attention.Harlow plays a lovably hooker, Vantine, who winds up staying at a South-east Asian rubber plantation run by Carson (Gable). Although Carson is not immediately smitten with the platinum cutie, they end up falling for each other and the sexual chemistry here is like nothing I have seen before. Others in the cast are Mary Astor, who plays the annoying other woman, Barbara. A boring society wife who ends up staying at the plantation with her sick husband (Gene Raymond) while he recovers from his ailment. Carson soon falls for Barbara and the sexual tension between the 3 is explosive.There is a lot of comedy, romance, drama and action here so the film moves along at a steady pace. Although there are moments in the film that I always question, for instance, Gable falling head over heels for the cold Barbara, is a bit of a mystery to me, especially when being in the company of another more exiting gal (Harlow) and the characters are sometimes a bit loopy but this film still smoulders and is one that I never get tired of watching. The performances are also solid throughout and seeing Harlow in her earlier roles and comparing them to her performance here, you see how much she evolved as an actress and comedian. No longer wooden on screen (see "The Secret Six" or "The Public Enemy" for some stiff Harlow performances), she delivers her lines with ease and with a comedic flair that would make her one of Hollywood's most enduring stars. Her platinum baby doll look exuded sex and a girlish innocence that was a winning combination for audiences. Gable also heats things up and despite being cast as the stubborn, macho, head strong man's man, he is likeable. And although I have been a little rough on Astor, since I am not a big fan of her character, she plays Barbara well. I especially like her demeanor when she walks out and catches Gable having a few words with the naked Vantine as she takes a bath inside the water barrel (classic scene) and she definitely knows how to kiss her leading man.My only complaints lie with the DVD. There are no extras or exciting bonus features included here other than the trailer. I would have loved to have seen a photo gallery, some production stills, cast biographies and considering this is basically a bare-bones DVD, the price is a bit high. Other than that, the film is a treat. Great stars, great comedy and highly recommended.

There are many today who harbor the misconception that old movies are automatically inferior to today's mega productions just because they're old. Nonsense. RED DUST (MGM, 1932), shows us in wonderful pre-Code style that a film's age is no criterion for its entertainment value. Even after 80 years the magnetism of its two leads is undeniably apparent. There's nothing quaint about it; in fact, it beats out most of today's fodder in terms of its suggestive eroticism, and its ability to put a story and characterizations across convincingly within a modest running time of 83 minutes.Directed by Victor Fleming and set on a rubber plantation in Indochina, RED DUST has Clark Gable as the plantation overseer falling head over heels for the wife of a hired engineer, played respectively by Mary Astor and Gene Raymond. All the while Gable has his hands full trying to keep a stranded prostitute, Jean Harlow, from gumming up his designs on Astor.What may sound as a routine, adultery/quadrangle romance is transformed into a lively, steamy romp that satisfies even after multiple viewings, thanks to the capable guidance of Fleming and the terrific, red-hot chemistry of Gable and Harlow. Of the six films they made together, RED DUST comes out on top. When they're on, our attention is glued to the screen. The production values are also impressive, boasting a huge, man-made jungle set fully equipped with an extensive overhead sprinkler system to provide the incessant rainstorm that serves as a metaphor for the emotional torrent surging within the characters. In watching this movie, one can truly appreciate the creativity of the studio system during this period and its expertise in projecting realism through sheer artifice. We really feel like we're in a humid, insect-infested jungle and not on an MGM soundstage. Contrary to the opinion that early '30's movies suffered for lack of a music score, RED DUST makes us forget the fact that the only music heard is in the opening and closing titles. The performances are rich and the dialog is snappy and forceful, which keeps it all moving at a brisk pace. There's never a dull moment. I've watched it many times and it's always a pure delight.RED DUST was remade in 1953 as MOGAMBO, and was directed by John Ford with Gable repeating his role. This time around he's supported by Ava Gardner in the Harlow role and Grace Kelly in the Astor role. Reset in Africa, the remake benefits by some beautiful Technicolor location photography, but even that can't substitute for the spicier handling of the material in the less-restrained days of 1932. While Gable is still Gable, Gardner and Kelly (early in her career) aren't quite up to par with their original counterparts. Gardner fares better than Kelly, but she just can't replace the potent memory of Harlow.At last available from the Warner Bros. Archive Collection, this DVD-R of RED DUST looks and sounds great, having been transferred off a clean, crisp source print. The only extra is a 1932 Spanish trailer that's interesting because it contains a brief bit of a scene that didn't make the final cut.If you're looking for a film that's representative of the best of pre-Code Hollywood and also features two of its most charismatic stars, RED DUST delivers it in spades.Highly recommended.

I Love 💞 Old Movies 🎥! This is a Really Great Movie with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow one of their first onestogether. It has a Good Story Line withsome Twists. I Recommend this one!

Always love Harlow and Gable

Harlow and Gable, do you need any other reasons to own this? How about Mary Astor? Is this in your shopping cart yet?Stormy, steamy Pre-Code necessity involving the bad (the 2 leads), the wavering (Astor) and the good (Gene Raymond as Astor's husband out to prove his worthiness while turning a blind eye to any possibility of misdeed by his mentor-to-be Gable).I'm tempted to say that Harlow and Gable were never better, but with every one of their movies I watch/have watched I get pulled in by the magnetism, that which makes everything else around me seem better for having been informed by this entertainment.This one is a prime example of why we still glue ourselves to the screen for these movies. True Stars.What will happen? Whew, if you are asking this, then are you in for a treat. A journey, too, to a faraway land that no longer exists in real life (and perhaps never did), yet awaits you on your screen.Just also want to say that I have never had an issue with "Warner Brothers Archive Collection" DVD-Rs. I watch them on a nothing-fancy DVD player (not a computer).Enjoy!

Two greats, Jean Harlow and Clark Gable paired together for some wild drama.

Sharp picture but poor sound quality and no subtitles.

Not only do they not make movies like this anymore they also closely censor what you write about them.This review has been modified to comply with Amazon Community Standards.

Excellent quality, prompt delivery

Titolo di culto che riunisce due tra i divi più amati, seguiti e paparazzati dell'epoca (la coppia Harlow/Gable, l'equivalente di ciò che nei primi anni 2000 sono stati Pitt e la moglie Angelina Jolie, tanto per capirsi) Lo schiaffo è stato uno dei più grandi successi degli anni '30 del secolo scorso, tanto da meritare due remake (uno inedito in Italia e l'altro, Mogambo, che rivede ancora Gable nello stesso ruolo ma stavolta affiancato da Ava Gardner e Grace Kelly). Buona la resa video, appena sgranata in alcuni punti, ma niente che ne comprometta la visione; bene anche l'audio, privo di fruscii. Sembra definitivamente da sfatare il mito secondo cui una scena che mostrava la Harlow a seno nudo sia stata censurata e poi perduta: notizie dettagliate in rete sulla realizzazione del film riportano l'aneddoto secondo cui fu la stessa attrice a "provocare" il regista Victor Fleming durante una ripresa e che lo stesso regista abbia prontamente voltato la macchina da presa per evitare di filmare il nudo dell'attrice. Altamente consigliato agli appassionati dell'epoca d'oro dello star system.

The on screen chemistry between Harlow and Gable is quite infectious. Set on a rubber plantation the sparks fly when the sophisticated Mary Astor arrives with her husband in tow and come up against Harlow. There's lots of sexy innuendo and state of undress (daring for the time). The classic scene in which Harlow takes a shower in a barrel is great fun - according to many books on the subject she went topless all of a sudden while filming and said to the director Victor Fleming - 'this one's for the boys in the lab! 'Needless to say it was cut. The remake by John Ford with Gable called Mogambo was vastly inferior. If you liked their performances in China Seas and Wife versus Secretary - you will enjoy this immensely.

VERSIONE PRECEDENTE DI MOGAMBO , ANCHE SE AMBIENTATO IN LUOGHI DIVERSILA TRAMA E' IDENTICA.LO SCHIAFFO E' QUELLO DATO DALLA SIGNORA RAFFINATA ALLA RUDEINTERPRETAZIONE DI CLARK GABLE.CONVINCENTE, SPLENDIDA E FRIZZANTE JEAN HARLOW FINALMENTE IN DVD

This is enjoyable.