Appropriate that they had him basically dressed and acting as a *beep* Nazi.
God, he was awful, him and his wooden teeth, or was that George Washington.
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I never was a child.
--Ethel Waters
You're kidding, right?
Clark Gable is sex on wheels in this movie. Especially the first scene when he brutishly swaggers in his fancy polka dot pajamas and embroidered silk robe. I could do without him bopping Night Nurse Hart but it comes with the territory, I suppose.
No two persons ever watch the same movie.share
I'm not crazy about Clark Gable either, but you should see him in It Happened One Night. He's fantastic.
shareWhat are all of you talking about?
Gable was one of the coolest actors - EVER!
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.
According to Robert Osborne, the role originally belonged to James Cagney but he'd become a star because of Public Enemy. Gable was on loan from MGM and in my opinion, despite playing a brute, was sex on a stick.
shareWin-win either way. Cagney was also fantastic, but...would he have been super-believable as Nick? He wasn't known for the sort of demeanor possessed by Nick, so it would have been a hell of a departure. Interesting to see what sort of performance this would have yielded, but, fortunately, we ended up with
"Rhett as a Rhatt".
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.
Hi brendanchenowith,
Cagney played heavies in his early Warner's career. The murderous chauffeur wouldn't have been much of a stretch.
Gable had something Cagney could only dream about. Height. Cagney could play threatening and scary very well, but Gable actually looked threatening and scary without saying a word. I say Gable was an inspired choice to play the thuggish Nick.
Jesus is coming. Look busy.
Hi FilioScotia,
While I agree, Gable had height on Cagney, both men could place menace equally well. Cagney could be quite scary without dialogue. I must admit though, I loved looking at Gable in that snazzy chauffeur's uniform.
Gable looked like a big thuggish brute and played one very well in Night Nurse.
Cagney could play psychotic, sadistic, vicious and mean as a snake better than anybody, but he never looked like a big thuggish brute the way Gable could.
The IMDb link function is broken again.
Jesus is coming. Look busy.
Hi FilioScotia,
Sorry but I disagree with you. Gable could look elegant, like a gangster or an average joe because like all good actors he inhabited the roles he was given. Though Gable did play a couple of gangsters in a couple of pre-codes, he went on to play leading man roles and romantic leads. While Cagney didn't have Gables height, he continued playing thugs throughout the 30s.
I think at this point, we'll have to agree to disagree.
We don't disagree. It is true that when Gable's star started rising, he started playing a variety of roles and characters. Dressed up in a tux or a formal top hat and tails, he was one of the most elegant looking actors in the business.
I was just saying Gable was right for the supporting role as the heavy in Night Nurse because he was tall and broad shouldered, and with help from that chauffeur uniform and knee high boots, his appearance was fearsome and threatening. That's why I don't think the much shorter Cagney could have carried off that role the way Gable did.
You are also right in remembering that Cagney played a lot of thugs in the 30s, but he got tired of it early on and lobbied constantly for different kinds of roles. The studio let him play a few "good guys" in the 30s, but he didn't get away from the gangster personna until the 40s.
And wouldn't you know that one of his most amazing and memorable gangster roles was the psycho Cody Jarrett in White Heat in 1949. I think that was his last gangster film.
Jesus is coming. Look busy.
Hi FilioScotia,
I loved Cagney in White Heat, one of my personal favorites and I agree with you, Gable had a more commanding presence because of his height and dark looks. He also had a deeper, more resonate voice that Cagney.
You are right diva. The most fascinating thing I observed about Gable in Night Nurse was his "presence" and "screen power". You could see his "star quality". It practically oozed out of the screen.
I think he brought those strengths and attributes to his starring roles. He played strong men -- men who could lead others and take care of themselves in any situation.
Jesus is coming. Look busy.
~ I just wish Gable had more dialogs & scenes.
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