utgard14
This is one of my favorite movies from the '40s. It's such a strange film for the time. Clark Gable and some other convicts escape from a Devil's Island-type penal colony. They are joined by a convict (Ian Hunter) none of them seem to know but who has a strange way about him. Gable also brings along a prostitute (Joan Crawford) who turned him in on his last escape attempt. The convicts and Joan embark on a dangerous journey to escape the island. Along the way they begin to suspect there is something almost supernatural about Hunter's character. As a matter of fact, he is heavily implied to be Jesus Christ! This sounds like something prime for mockery but it actually works really well.Clark Gable is just great in this, from a pure entertainment perspective. He spends the whole movie barking at people and being a tough guy. I especially love all of his scenes with Joan Crawford, saying things like "come here baby" and planting one on her. It's a macho cheesy role for Gable but I loved every minute of it. Crawford turns in an underrated performance and looks absolutely stunning. I don't think Joan would ever look this pretty on screen again. The best thing about it is she looks relatively plain here. No shoulder pads, no Groucho Marx eyebrows, no heavy makeup or matronly hairstyles. She's positively radiant.The cast is amazing. In addition to Gable and Crawford, there's Ian Hunter's brilliantly enigmatic turn as Cambreau. Paul Lukas and Albert Dekker turn in two of the best performances of their careers. Peter Lorre plays the creepy Pig who has eyes on Joan. John Arledge is nicely sympathetic as Dekker's "friend." There's certainly some room for interpretation with that part of the movie. It's a good-looking film. Director Frank Borzage never made an ugly movie that I'm aware of. He epitomized MGM glamour. Great Franx Waxman score, too. Just a phenomenal movie. Deserves much wider recognition than it has received.
lugonian
STRANGE CARGO (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1940), directed by Frank Borzage, teams the romantic pair of Joan Crawford and Clark Gable for the eighth and final time. For their last union together, it became not only one of their finer performances, but an opportunity for something completely different. Gable, who retains his he-man disposition, appears sweaty and unshaven much of the time while Crawford, the tough girl reminiscent to her Sadie Thompson portrayal from RAIN (United Artists, 1932), abandons her glamorous style for second hand dresses to wearing little to no make-up whatsoever, adding touches of realism to their characters. Based on the story, "Not Too Narrow, Not Too Deep" by Richard Sale, the opening title, which reads, "Deep in the Culands ... a penal colony for men set aside to the forgotten by the world they live in ... for men to whom the present, the future and the past are one ... for men without hope," offers some indication to what's to be presented on screen.The plot revolves around a tough but likable convict named Andre Verne (Clark Gable), a thief by profession with three more years on his prison term. Coming out of his thirty days in solitary confinement, he's given the opportunity to work outside the prison walls by Griderv (Frederick Worlock), a good-natured warden. While on wharf duty on the pear near a French colony, Verne encounters Julie (Joan Crawford), a tough girl accompanied by Suzanne (played by uncredited Betty Compson). Having met his match, Verne breaks away from his returning line of 36 convicts to keep his "appointment" with Julie at Renard's Cafe where she works, while Cambreau (Ian Hunter), a mysterious figure who comes out of nowhere, steps in for the missing Verne. M'Sieu Pig (Peter Lorre), a "dirty rotten stool pigeon" with a passion for Julie who despises him, notifies the authorities after witnessing Verne sneaking into her dressing room from the outside window. After Verne makes a pass on her, Julie breaks away and turns him over to the law. Losing her job for harboring a wanted fugitive, Julie is given 12 hours to leave the colony. Back in prison, Verne assumes partnership with Moll (Albert Dekker), his arch rival, planning a carefully planned escape through the jungle leading them towards a boat that awaits him. To accompany him are fellow prisoners: Telez (Eduardo Cianelli), a religious fanatic; Hessler (Paul Lukas), a killer; DuFond (John Arledge), a former medical student; Flaubert (J. Edward Bromberg), a coward, and the mysterious Christ-like figure, Cambreau. Verne, who has picked up Julie along the way, comes along for the ride on the boat. While drifting along for days in the hot sun with no food and water, they all find themselves facing uncertainties ahead, their destinies known only by Cambreau.What makes STRANGE CARGO so fascinating is how the premise somewhat pre-dates the 1977 comedy, OH, GOD, starring George Burns in the title role. STRANGE CARGO might have been just another prison break related theme had it not been for a religious angle added to it. Had it not been regarded controversial, reportedly being given a "C" rating for condemned by the censors at the time of its release, Ian Hunter, in possibly the most significant role in his entire career as "the man who played God," might have been awarded an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actor. Interestingly, for a performance that nearly outshines the leading players of Crawford and Gable, whose chemistry is still strong since their initial union on screen in 1931, this might have paved the way for Hunter in leading roles, but regardless of his long resume as a movie actor, he hardly achieved any such stature.Also noteworthy is Albert Dekker, sporting a British accent (isn't he supposed to be French?), who makes a fine leader of the pack and threat to Gable's character. Their differences are brought out on the beach where two toughs fight it out. As for Peter Lorre playing the informer whom Juliue "could never get low enough to touch," is given little to do and plenty of time to do it.At 114 minutes, STRANGE CARGO tends to drag with some drawn-out sequences and limited underscoring, but film overall tends to be one of those that appears to get better with the passage of time. Distributed on video and later DVD, STRANGE CARGO can be found as a regular broadcast on Turner Classic Movies. (**1/2 Bibles)
blanche-2
"Strange Cargo" is a 1940 film starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable that leaves the usual story lines behind - romantic comedy, kept woman, rags to riches - as it weaves an allegorical tale of escaping prisoners and a Christ-like figure who accompanies them. Gable is Andre Verne, a prisoner on Devil's Island who escapes with several other prisoners (Paul Lukas, Albert Dekker, Eduardo Ciannelli, J. Edward Bromberg and John Arledge). During the evening count, he's almost found missing but another man, Cambreau (Ian Hunter) replaces him in line. He then boards the boat to the mainland with them and Julie (Crawford), probably a prostitute, who is escaping also from a lecherous bounty hunter (Peter Lorre).The prisoners fall on hard times as they escape through the woods and also while at sea when their water becomes tainted. Cambreau gives each prisoner comfort and helps them to confront the evil that brought them to Devil's Island, helping to bring them peace at last. This is not lost on Julie who sees a chance for redemption. Verne, however, isn't interested.This is a very simple story beautifully directed by Borzage. The atmosphere of the film is dark and haunting. There is no preachiness. The sheer power of Cambreau and his sense of faith is what brings the prisoners solace. Hunter is majestic in the role. Gable is appropriately tough, and Crawford brings depth to Julie, who thought she knew what she wanted. The rest of the cast is top-notch."Strange Cargo" seems like a film that was made in the early '30s with its Christian parable. This was the last film that Crawford and Gable made together. Its powerful message makes this a fitting ending for a fine MGM team.
