Main Cast: Clark Gable, Carroll Baker, Lilli Palmer, Lee J. Cobb, Barry Coe
Release Year: 1959
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
Plot
Clark Gable stars in this standard romantic comedy, one of his last films before his death in 1960. Based on the play Accent on Youth, this adaption of the love affair between an older man and his 22-year-old secretary ends differently. Russ Ward (Gable) has been producing for thirty years, and when he decides to call it quits, his secretary Ellie (Carroll Baker) writes him a love note with her resignation. Russ opts for turning this intriguing situation into a hit play -- starring Ellie in the title role. At the same time, he romances Ellie and starts an internal struggle over his May-December affair. The title song, But Not for Me went on to become a popular hit. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
The last few films that Clark Gable made -- of which But Not for Me is one -- all acknowledged to one degree or another that the former lion of the silver screen had aged. But Not for Me not only acknowledges it, it makes his age -- and the discrepancy with the age of his presumed love interest -- the very subject of the film. That in itself gives the film a somewhat interesting and unusual tone. It's a shame that this aspect wasn't really gone into in greater depth, rather than given the amusing but superficial treatment it received. Certainly, a film such as this is meant to be breezy, but some depth could have been added without sacrificing the essential lightheartedness of the piece. That also might have given Gable a bit more to play; his work here is good, clean and professional -- but it's lacking the spark that could have supplied magic. Much the same could be said of his co-star, Carroll Baker. To find sparks, one must instead look to second leads Lee J. Cobb and Lilli Palmer. Cobb is a treat as the seen-it-all playwright, and Palmer is simply sensational as the ex-wife who knows Gable better than he knows herself. Palmer's manner of getting in a catty dig or two at Baker in the most gracious and kindhearted way is especially delicious. Walter Lang's direction is efficient, wrapping the film up as a moderately pleasing little bauble -- not great, but a pleasant enough diversion. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
