Dazzling the Screen Clark Gable

American actor Clark Gable was often referred to as "King of Hollywood." During his film career he appeared in over 60 films across a variety of genres. The American Film Institute ranked Gable as the seventh-greatest male screen legend of classical Hollywood cinema. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal in the film "It Happened One Night." Gable died in 1960 at the age of 59.

Director Victor Fleming directed the 1939 American epic historical romance film “Gone with the Wind." It starred Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, and Olivia de Havilland. It is based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Mitchell. I am sure that no one who has seen this classic film ever looked at the Civil War the same ever again. There can be no question the film depicts slavery, consent, and Civil War myths in a problematic manner. The movie brought Leigh instant fame and attention and the Academy Award for Best Actress.

The story revolves around the strong-willed daughter Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh) of Georgia plantation owner Gerald O’Hara (Thomas Mitchell). The family lives on the plantation named Tara. In 1861, on the eve of the American Civil War, Scarlett is at Tara with her parents, two sisters, and their Black slaves. She is visited by her two beaux, Stuart Tarleton (George Reeves, who later became TV's Superman) and Brent Tarleton (Fred Crane). Scarlett is devastated to learn that at the big BBQ the next day at the plantation Twelve Oaks, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), whom she has taken a fancy to, is going to announce his engagement to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland). At the party she runs into the man who will turn her life around eventually, Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). Scarlett goes on to manipulate and get her way at every turn no matter that the Civil War is in full battle.

Director Frank Capra directed the 1934 American romantic comedy “It Happened One Night." The screenplay by Robert Riskin is based on the August 1933 short story “Night Bus” by Samuel Hopkins Adams. It is considered a pre-Code production and was the first of three films to win the “Big Five” Academy Awards – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It starred Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Gable won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The film stars Claudette Colbert as a pampered socialite who tries to get out from under her father’s thumb. She falls in love with a roguish reporter portrayed by Clark Gable.

Director George Seaton directed the 1958 American romantic comedy "Teacher's Pet." The movie starred Clark Gable, Doris Day, GIg Young, and Mamie Van Doren.

THe storyline revolves around James Gannon (Clark Gable), a newspaper editor who enrolls in a night school class after falling for an attractive teacher, Erica Stone (Doris Day).

Director John Huston directed the 1961 American romantic drama film “The Misfits." The film is based on the 1957 short story of the same name by Arthur Miller. The film starred Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and Montgomery Clift. This film was the last completed film for both Gable (who died three months before the premiere) and Monroe (who died a year after its release).

The storyline revolves around a newly divorced woman, Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe), and her relationships with a friendly landlady, Isabelle Steers (Thelma Ritter); an old-school cowboy, Gaylord Langland (Clark Gable); his tow-truck driving and plane-flying best friend, Guido (Eli Wallach); and their rodeo-riding, bronco busting friend, Perce Howland (Montgomery Clift).

Director John Ford directed the 1953 Technicolor adventure romantic drama "Mogambo." The film starred Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, and Grace Kelly and featured Donald Siriden. It was filmed on location in colonial British East Africa, Tanganyika, the Uganda Protectorate, and French Congo with a musical soundtrack consisting almost entirely of traditional music recorded in Congo. The film was adapted by John Lee Mahin from the 1928 play “Red Dust." It is considered to be the remake of the 1938 film “Red Dust” which was set in Vietnam and also starred Gable in the same role. Grace Kelly received the Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actress.

Set in a remote African outpost, the plot centers on a love triangle between hunter Victor Marswell (Clark Gable), a New York socialite Eloise "Honey Bear" Kelly (Ava Gardner), and a married woman Linda Nordley (Grace Kelly).

Director Frank Lloyd directed the 1935 American historical adventure drama "Mutiny on the Bounty". It was adapted from the novels, one of the same name and the other "Men Against the Sea" by Charles Nourdhoff and James Norman Hall. The film starred Clark Gable, Charles Laughton, and Franchot Tone.

The storyline is based on the real-life 1789 mutiny on the HMS Bounty and follows Lieutenant Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable), a sailor who, tired of Captain William Bligh's (Charles Laughton) cruel ways, leads a revolt that results in Bligh's removal from the ship.

Director Victor Fleming directed the 1932 American pre-Code romantic drama "Red Dust". The film was based on the 1928 play of the same name by Wilson Collison. It was the second of six movies that Gable and Harlow made together. The film starred Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, and Mary Astor.

The storyline is set in a rubber plantation in French Indochina and follows Dennis Carson (Clark Gable), the plantation owner, and his romantic entanglements with prostitute Vantine Jefferson (Jean Harlow) and his adulterous wife Barbara Willis (Mary Astor).

Director W.S. Van Dyke directed the 1936 American musical drama disaster film "San Francisco." It was based on the April 18, 1906, San Francisco earthquake. The film starred Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy.

The storyline revolves around the romance of club owner Blackie Norton (Clark Gable) and a lovely down-on-her-luck singer, Mary Blake (Jeanette MacDonald), in the months leading up to the big earthquake.