I prefer this film over Mogambo

I agree with you, heyouactor! This film is far superior to the remake. No one sizzled quite like Gable & Harlow (and I love Ava Gardner, but she's a pale shadow in "Mogambo" compared to Jean Harlow in this film). Clark Gable was so virile in this film, and then of course there is the great Mary Astor, one of the finest actresses of her generation in my opinion. "Mogambo" is saddled with the attractive-but-dull-and-talentless Grace Kelly.

Yes, "Red Dust" is much the superior film!

I prefer just about anything to a John Ford movie. I don't think I've been able to make it through any of his films (I fell asleep several times in Mogambo).

Gable was really only good in the 30s. I was first exposed to his later stuff, and couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. 30s films are often passed over for their production values, but so many of the best Hollywood actors were doing their best work then.

I just watched both recently. Although Gardner is far more dynamic, interesting, and beautiful than Harlow, Harlow plays the uncouth girl better. In the remake, it didn't make all that much sense that Gable's character would go for the somewhat dull Grace Kelley instead of the electrically elegant and fun-loving Gardner. In "Red Dust," however, Mary Astor was a definite upgrade over Harlow.

On the other hand, Gable by the time of the remake, had become a much better and more nuanced actor than the one we see in "Red Dust" who can only bark his lines. Still, the dynamism of this younger Gable makes up for that somewhat. The older Gable was obviously a little used up by his real-world hard-living lifestyle.

Both are good films. Although the first was apparently filmed all in-studio, the sets are terrific and the black-and-white adds to the mystique.

I like Mogambo better. Better story and cinematography imho. I also thought Grace did more with her role than Mary. Gable seemed more believable to me in the role in Mogambo. Fun to see Harlow in Dust but Ava was gorgeous and just as sassy.