Themes: Riches To Rags, Love Triangles, Fall From Power
Main Cast: Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, Hedy Lamarr, Frank Morgan
Release Year: 1940
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Clark Gable is "Big John" and Spencer Tracy is "Square John"; both "Johns" seek their fortunes in the Texas oil fields. They simultaneously fall in love with Claudette Colbert, but it's "Big John" who wins out. When both Johns grow rich on oil, "Big John" lets money go to his head, and he begins neglecting wife Colbert for Hedy Lamarr, the "been around" companion of businessman Lionel Atwill. "Square John", who still carries a torch for Colbert but doesn't want to see her heart broken, tries to buy off Lamarr; when this fails, he decides to ruin "Big John" financially. But when "Big John" is charged with violating anti-trust rules by the crooked Atwill, "Square John" rushes to the side of his old pal. Both men end up where they started--broke but happy. "Big John" returns to faithful Colbert, while "Square John" stands by with an ear-to-ear grin. Boom Town was the last film to co-star Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy; though Tracy was fond of Gable, he resented playing "eunuch" in their on-screen romantic triangles. Claudette Colbert's scenes with Clark Gable are pleasant enough, but the sparks that had ignited their scenes in It Happened One Night are largely absent here. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Boom Town is an unapologetically conservative adventure, with a final monologue from Spencer Tracy which neatly extols the virtues of capitalism. Its idealistic bent may prove a problem for some, but even those who disagree with it should be entertained by the sheer star power -- and by director Jack Conway's ability to vividly recapture some of the spirit and excitement of the wildcat era. The script is far from problem-free. There are too many reversals, new plot points and contrivances (especially Claudette Colbert's decision to marry Clark Gable without telling him that she is the girl friend of his best friend), but the cast makes it worthwhile. Colbert and Gable lack some of the chemistry of their earlier onscreen pairing, but that eventually works to the film's advantage when Gable's eyes stray toward luscious Hedy Lamarr. Working together for the final time, Spencer Tracy and Gable have chemistry to spare and are believable as pals willing to put up with anything to retain their friendship. Tracy in particular is in top form, using those eyes that speak volumes to convey much more than is in the script. Lamarr is not in the league of these three, but she's acceptable, and Frank Morgan adds a spark to the proceedings. Not a classic, Boom Town is still thoroughly enjoyable. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
"Big John" McMasters (Gable) and "Square John" Sand (Tracy) are two down-on-their-luck oil wildcatters who join forces. Without enough money, they steal drilling equipment from a skeptical Luther Aldrich (Morgan). Their well proves a bust and they have to hastily depart when Aldrich shows up with the sheriff to take back his property. The two oilmen team up and make enough money to partially pay Aldrich. To get him to back them for a second try, they cut him in for a percentage of the well. This time, they strike it rich.
When Elizabeth 'Betsy' Bartlett (Colbert) shows up, McMasters sweeps her off her feet (without knowing that she is Sand's girl) and marries her. Sand accepts the situation, wanting Betsy to be happy. However, on their first anniversary, she catches her husband dancing with a barroom floozy. As a result, Sand quarrels with McMasters and they flip a coin for the entire oilfield. Betsy leaves too, but returns when she learns that her husband has lost almost everything to Sand and needs her.
Each man goes through booms and busts. Building on his renewed success as a wildcatter, McMasters moves to New York to expand into refineries and distribution, competing against former customer Harry Compton (Lionel Atwill).
Seeking inside information about his rivals, he hires Compton's adviser Karen Vanmeer (Lamarr), who uses her social contacts and womanly charms to gather industry gossip. Sand sees that McMasters is getting too close to his employee. Sand tries to buy Vanmeer off, even offering to marry her, but she declines. When a miserable Betsy tries to commit suicide by taking sleeping pills, Sand decides that the only way to help her is to bankrupt McMasters. However, Sand loses his costly battle with his former friend and goes broke. It is only when he asks McMasters to give his wife a divorce that the married man finally comes to his senses.
Later, McMasters is prosecuted by the government for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and loses his business. In the end, poor, but happier, Sand and McMasters reconcile, with the blissful Betsy looking on. Aldrich supplies them with equipment and the whole cycle begins again.
Cast
Clark Gable as Big John McMasters. Gable's father was an oil-well driller and Gable himself worked for him in Oklahoma,[2] so he was familiar with the subject of this film.
It was the first film Colbert and Gable did together since It Happened One Night and also it was their last plus last film Gable and Spencer Tracy did together.
