"Adventure" is based on a 1937 novel, "The Anointed," by Clyde Brion Davis, an early 20th century American novelist. The story, as told in the movie at least, seems choppy and not well scripted or directed. In addition, Clark Gable's role as Harry Patterson seems way over done. Whether in the novel, or the screenplay, or both, the character played by Gable is way overboard. His constant allusions to his free spirit and roaming the seas gets to be a bore after a while. His bombastic demeanor seems very exaggerated in this film, and not very fitting.
That portrayal of a character so anti-normal life just doesn't settle well for the story. It seems so hard-bitten that when Gable begins to soften toward the end, we don't find it easy to believe.
The rest of the cast are fine in their roles, but again, the plot seems to be choppy in places. Thomas Mitchell is very good as Mudgin. Other crew members and friends are good in their roles. Greer Garson is the romance part of the film, as Emily Sears. Joan Blondell does a good job as her friend and roommate, Helen Melohn. The production quality is just fair.
The story takes place during World War II, but there's very little reference to the war in the film. Harry and his crew work in the Merchant Marine. An early scene has their ship being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The film didn't come out until late December 1945 – well after the war was over. It was Gable's first movie after serving in the Army Air Forces (soon to be reorganized as the U.S. Air Force).
My six stars for this film are mostly for the performances by Garson as Emily, and Mitchell as Mudgin.
The story has an undertone of moral conflict. In one early scene with Gable and Mitchell, the latter's character brings it up. Harry, "Are you washing again?" Mudgin, "Oh, hello, Harry. Kinda covets a man to scoop up some sea water that's full of the sins of the world, and put soap in it." Harry, "You got sin on the brain." Mudgin, "Well, it's be hard to explain to you, Harry, but a man sure feels dirty after he's been in port and done the things I done."
That portrayal of a character so anti-normal life just doesn't settle well for the story. It seems so hard-bitten that when Gable begins to soften toward the end, we don't find it easy to believe.
The rest of the cast are fine in their roles, but again, the plot seems to be choppy in places. Thomas Mitchell is very good as Mudgin. Other crew members and friends are good in their roles. Greer Garson is the romance part of the film, as Emily Sears. Joan Blondell does a good job as her friend and roommate, Helen Melohn. The production quality is just fair.
The story takes place during World War II, but there's very little reference to the war in the film. Harry and his crew work in the Merchant Marine. An early scene has their ship being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The film didn't come out until late December 1945 – well after the war was over. It was Gable's first movie after serving in the Army Air Forces (soon to be reorganized as the U.S. Air Force).
My six stars for this film are mostly for the performances by Garson as Emily, and Mitchell as Mudgin.
The story has an undertone of moral conflict. In one early scene with Gable and Mitchell, the latter's character brings it up. Harry, "Are you washing again?" Mudgin, "Oh, hello, Harry. Kinda covets a man to scoop up some sea water that's full of the sins of the world, and put soap in it." Harry, "You got sin on the brain." Mudgin, "Well, it's be hard to explain to you, Harry, but a man sure feels dirty after he's been in port and done the things I done."