Ava Gardner Movie:

		List Price: $59.98		Label: Warner Home Video Salesrank: 33262 Released: June 20, 2006
		Our Price: $39.96
		Used Price: $29.90
		MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Named as the seventh greatest actor on AFI's List of "50 Greatest Screen Legends," Clark Gable reigned supreme as a screen icon during the 1930's and 40's. Six of Gables 75 feature films are remastered and now available on DVD in the new Clark Gable: The Signature Collection.

Description of Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo):
Clark Gable was "The King" of Hollywood in his heyday, and why not? He carried himself in his movies as though entitled by royal birthright, erect and cocky, not especially curious about the rest of the world because he already owned it. Sure, Gable's characters frequently had to be humbled, but that's not what you remember about him; what you remember is the utter self-confidence, the brash American energy, and--sure--the jug ears. Clark Gable: The Signature Collection is not just a topnotch collection of the King in his court, it's also a look at just how good the Hollywood studio system (in this case, MGM) was in its glory years.

Except for late entry Mogambo from 1953, these titles are from Gable's peak run--1933 to 1940. First up chronologically is Dancing Lady, which pairs Gable with Joan Crawford; he's a gruff Broadway director, she's a plucky young dancer who moves up from burlesque to the legit theater thanks to wealthy suitor Franchot Tone. It's not a great movie, but the formula is pleasing, and there's a young fellow named Fred Astaire (his film debut) in a couple of scenes. Some surreal comedy is provided by Ted Healy and His Stooges (whose names happen to be Moe, Larry and Curly).

Tay Garnett's China Seas, from 1935, was a reunion with Jean Harlow, with whom Gable had struck gold in Red Dust. The script by James Kevin McGuinness and the gifted Jules Furthman might have a preposterous plot--cribbed from Red Dust--but the dialogue is deliciously vulgar and the actors perfectly cast. Gable is the captain of a boat on the Hong Kong-Singapore run, carrying secret gold and fending off pirates and a typhoon. His real problem, however is that the classy woman (Rosalind Russell) he has long pined for has come aboard at the exact moment his bawdy mistress (Harlow) has also tagged along. Clarence Brown's Wife vs. Secretary (1936) brings Harlow back, this time as the executive assistant to Gable's wealthy tycoon. Their relationship is strictly professional, although wife Myrna Loy eventually has suspicions. Gable and Loy are cute together, and the film is a reminder of how playful he could be outside the manly-man world of many of his films.

The blockbuster San Francisco, also 1936, gives a pretty good blueprint of what audiences craved at the time. Gable is the rakish owner of a wild Barbary Coast club, Jeannette MacDonald the opera-ready songbird who performs for him, Spencer Tracy the no-nonsense priest and childhood friend who would love to reform Gable. Director W.S. Van Dyke keeps it all cracking along (well, except when MacDonald sings and Cultcha comes in) and the special effects for the San Francisco earthquake are really rather awesome. Boom Town (1940) was another box-office smash, with Gable and Tracy as Texas oil wildcatters who team up, split, team up, split, etc. Claudette Colbert is the woman loved by both, although the male bonding is the most engaging thing about this entertaining spectacle.

Mogambo is an official remake of Red Dust, with Gable returning, this time as an African safari leader. Even with gray hair, his masculinity is enough to entice good-time girl Ava Gardner and ladylike Grace Kelly. John Ford directed, which means the location exteriors and studio interiors alike are alive with Ford's expressive compositional eye. Included on the San Francisco disc is a TNT documentary profile of Gable. But these titles give a pretty good profile all by themselves. --Robert Horton

Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo) Reviews:
A Clark Gable set NOT to be missed!
2008-12-27 - Clark Gable at his best! There is such a wide variety of supporting casts that you will never get tired or bored with any of the movies. A MUST have for any Clark Gable fan. There is drama, music, comedy and action everywhere. A great collection for any mood; just sit back, relax and enjoy. You have it all here. If the studios produce other box collections half as good as this one then my wife and I will own them all.

Could have had a better selection.
2008-10-02 - The best DVD in this boxset is "San Francisco", an incredible movie with great DVD special features. The chemistry between Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald is pure magic.

My 3 star rating of this set is due to the selection of films contained in it. Boomtown wasn't bad, but it's kinda hokey. Wife VS secretary wasn't Gable's best either. This set would have been phenomenal if it included "Red Dust", "Mutiny on the bounty", and Gables final film "The misfits". While the selection of films aren't my favorite, I do appreciate the great special features in each of the DVD's.

Nice Collection of Gable Movies
2008-07-05 - Well-chosen selection of movies mostly from earlier in Gable's illustrious career (exception Mogambo, but that's quite a good exception). Highly recommended for fans of this Hollywood icon.

Love them all!
2008-01-07 - They are all great classics. I'm reminded how far film making has come while watching these. But, love the honesty and fun in all these films.

The King
2007-11-06 - These movies of Clark Gable are a great reminder of how great an actor
this gentleman was. He was an inspiration to every young boy growing
up in the 30's, 40's snd 50's I was fortunate enough to have met him
and can honestly say that he was an extremely kind and sincere person.
There aren't any actors today that can ever match up to his acting or
charisma on the screen.