Mogambo is director John Ford's answer to The African Queen. Like John Huston two years earlier, Ford shot most of his movie on location in Africa. Instead of Bogart he hired Gable as his leading man. And Gable being Gable he had to bring two female costars along, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly. Both movies make good use of the beauty and ruggedness of the African landscape, both movies have a central love story within a larger adventure, and both movies have lots of shots of wild animals. As with most movies from that era it is obvious which scenes were shot on location and which ones on a set. And in one particular scene in Mogambo it is clear that the director mixed footage of gorillas living in the wild with shots of trained gorillas on a set. Still the overall effect works if only because these larger than life movie stars cause you to accept the reality of their world.

Mogambo, a remake of Gable's 1932 classic Red Dust, has a great set-up. First Gable's tough old hunter meets Ava's brash show girl taking an outdoor shower in the backyard of his bungalow. She isn't the least bit embarrassed or shy about being caught stark-naked by a strange man with only some strategically placed bamboo between them. There is an instant attraction between the two and they have several flirtatious moments during the next few scenes. Then the other woman enters the picture. She is the polar opposite of Gardner. And though she is married (to a stuffed shirt anthropologist) Gable is immediately smitten by her prim, ladylike demeanor and helplessness. In fact he has to rescue her from the elements within 24 hours of her arrival. Both women are soon in love with the handsome rugged hunter, but will he choose the good girl or the girl with the reputation?

Some of the movie's best moments occur between the two women. Physically Grace Kelly was a petite, rail-thin blonde. All of these traits seem exaggerated when she shares the screen with the statuesque, full-figured, raven haired Gardner. When they head out on safari Grace Kelly keeps saying things like. 'Look at the lovely animals. Aren't they exquisite?' While Ava Gardner rolls her eyes in disgust. Another time Ava refers to Grace as 'Miss Louisa May Alcott'.

The second half of the movie is bogged down a bit by a few too many shots of wild gorillas. And in the action/adventure category Mogambo is not in the same league as African Queen. When the shift is away from the love triangle, the movie suffers. Still there is more than enough star power on display to make up for this.

Mogambo is probably Gable's most entertaining movie of the period. And though he was on the far side of fifty, his looks and charm are still intact and it is easy to see why these two beautiful women want him. But to find out which one he ends up with you'll have to watch the movie for yourself.

Did you enjoy Patrick's review? +4 -0

Actually Patrick, Ava Gardner is just as thin as Grace Kelly. Gardner plays her role big and brassy and thus appears to be larger than she is. Gardner steals the movie from both Clark Gable and Grace Kelly. She has most of the great lines. In one scene she tells Gable that Kelly's husband has the right to shoot him and put his head above his mantel. "Your big ears stuck out like an elephant about to charge." She jokes, referencing Gables most famous feature.

Mogambo is a star driven movie. However, Gable and Kelly generate zero chemistry. He and Gardner on the other hand are perfect together. In the 1930's, Gable was paired more than once with Jean Harlow. Harlow usually played a girl of questionable morality. Just the kind of woman Gable's cocky charm works so well with. Here, Gardner and Gable work very well together for the same reason. One of the final scenes has Gable, Gardner and Kelly sharing the screen. This scene best demonstrates that Grace Kelly was, at least in this movie, way out of her league. She is both dull and out of place. The love scenes she shares with Gable are unconvincing. Gardner, on the other hand, seems a natural fit for Gable.

Although not as exciting as The African Queen, Mogambo is still worth watching for it's equaly famous cast doing, then, rare on location filming.

Did you enjoy Eric's review? +4 -0