Strange Cargo (1940) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature film starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a story about a group of fugitive prisoners from a French penal colony. The screenplay by Lawrence Hazard was based upon the 1936 novel Not Too Narrow, Not Too Deep by Richard Sale. The film was directed by Frank Borzage and produced by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The film is the eighth and last cinematic collaboration between Crawford and Gable.
Plot and cast
Julie (Crawford), a cafe entertainer in a town near a French penal colony, meets Verne (Gable), a prisoner on wharf duty. Verne escapes and goes to Julie's room but is apprehended and returned to prison. Julie is fired for consorting with a prisoner. At the prison, Moll (Albert Dekker) has masterminded a jailbreak and takes with him the gentle Cambreau (Ian Hunter), Telez (Eduardo Ciannelli), Hessler (Paul Lukas), Flaubert (J. Edward Bromberg), Dufond (John Arledge), and Mi'sieu Pig (Peter Lorre). Verne joins the escapees, taking Julie with him. The Christ-like Cambreau exerts a spiritual influence over the others. As they trek through the jungle, most die with only Verne, Julie, Hessler, and Cambreau surviving the ordeal (Hessler--a devil figure--disdains Cambreau's salvation and is last seen slinking off into the jungle, to find another female prey). Verne scoffs at Cambreau's spirituality, but saves him from drowning, and decides to return to the prison to finish his sentence. Julie has grown to love Verne and promises to wait for him. Cast includes Frederick Worlock as Grideau, Bernard Nedell as Marfeu, and Victor Varconi as Fisherman.
Reception
Film Daily noted, "Here is a good, raw, stark melodrama which holds suspense from the start. Frank Borzage has given it expert directorial attention...Clark Gable fits his role admirably...The acting is high-grade with Joan Crawford giving her best performance to date."
Variety commented, "Although the picture has its many deficiencies, the Crawford characterization will give studio execs idea of proper casting of her talents for the future. Direction by Frank Borzage fails to hit the dramatic punches...He has not clearly defined the spiritual redemption angle, which also adds to the audience confusion. The screenplay does not help Borzage out of his predicament."[1]
See also
References
- ^ Quirk, Lawrence J.. The Films of Joan Crawford. The Citadel Press, 1968.
External links
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The films of Frank Borzage |
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| 1910s |
The Pride and the Man • Dollars of Dross • Land o' Lizards • Immediate Lee • Flying Colors • Until They Get Me • The Gun Woman • The Curse of Iku • The Shoes That Danced • Innocent's Progress • Society for Sale • An Honest Man • Who Is to Blame? • The Ghost Flower • The Atom • Toton the Apache • Whom the Gods Would Destroy • Prudence on Broadway
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| 1920s |
Humoresque • The Duke of Chimney Butte • Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford • Back Pay • Billy Jim • The Good Provider • The Valley of Silent Men • The Pride of Palomar • The Nth Commandment • Children of the Dust • The Age of Desire • Secrets • The Lady • Daddy's Gone A-Hunting • The Circle • Lazybones • Wages for Wives • The First Year • The Dixie Merchant • Early to Wed • Marriage License? • Seventh Heaven • Street Angel • Lucky Star • They Had to See Paris • The River
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| 1930s |
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| 1940s |
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| 1950s |
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| Television |
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