directed by: Frank Lloyd
written by: Margaret Booth, Jules Furthman, Carey Wilson, Talbot Jennings + Charles Nordhoff, James Norman Hall (book)
starring: Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone
seen on 22nd January, 2020
I wouldn't call the use of title cards between shots as a sign of a clumsy transition between silent and sound film, in fact I'm pretty sure that it's a sign of inexperience and quandary when adapting a literary source into visual language of film. I think it a good thing when dialogue serves mostly as a way to convey the complexities of its speakers' characters, it's not ideal when the talking focuses too much on moving the story forward. A novel has a different structure that a "traditional" film story arc, and I would say I remember commenting dozens (and perhaps hundreds) of times under all sorts of adaptations that only a minority of (Hollywood) screenwriters can masterfully translate (and not simply shorten) a book story, to make it make sense on the big screen as well.
Other than that, it sure is a cool flick. I wonder what it would be like to see it when it was made. Also, could any of the actors pass as capable/make it big in todays cinema? Could any of their performances be called timeless? Even though his character looks the most like a caricature, I bet that Charles Laughton checks all the modern complex actor boxes. The other two guys would look like models struggling to act today.
(I haven't read the book, nor have I seen any other adaptation.)
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