What a conundrum regarding John Ford and the writers' portrayal of Ava Gardner's "Kelly." Initially, she naively approaches the leopard and lion's cages with her face and hands planted inches away from them as if the cages were occupied by newborn kittens (before being roared away by their responses) and then does the same to the chimpanzee cage and attempts to give it a piece of gum before being stopped and reprimanded by Gable.
In addition to that idiotic scene, in later conversations she is stumped for pronunciations and meanings of the words "anthropologist" and "marsupial" and mistakes a baby rhinoceros for a baby kangaroo. Considering that she is 30+ years old, has obviously been around the block a few times and has been hanging out with the Maharajah of Bunganor, you would assume she was a little more "educated" than that, if nothing but by her association with royalty!
However, Ford inexplicably switches gears and Kelly is later throwing out references to Vassar, Dr. Livingston (I presume!) and Louisa May Alcott! Not to mention, she uses words such as monastic retreat and palpitating!
On another note, Clark Gable has two particularly cringeworthy so-called "romantic" scenes. The first is when he and Kelly are gazing at the moonlight on their hut's balcony. Kelly is standing in front of him with her back to Gable's Marswell and with all the subtlety and finesse of Harvey Weinstein, leers at her then forcefully grabs her, whirls her around, and plants a big obnoxious, nicotine-laced kiss.
The second romantically intended yet uncomfortable scene has him doing virtually the same move to Grace Kelly's character as they overlook the waterfalls. All I want to say is ooh how disgusting. I also found Grace Kelly's performance (and voice!) particularly annoying and grating!
My recommendation, bypass this and watch Gable, Harlow and Mary Astor in "Red Dust" - its much more worthy and highly rated predecessor.
In addition to that idiotic scene, in later conversations she is stumped for pronunciations and meanings of the words "anthropologist" and "marsupial" and mistakes a baby rhinoceros for a baby kangaroo. Considering that she is 30+ years old, has obviously been around the block a few times and has been hanging out with the Maharajah of Bunganor, you would assume she was a little more "educated" than that, if nothing but by her association with royalty!
However, Ford inexplicably switches gears and Kelly is later throwing out references to Vassar, Dr. Livingston (I presume!) and Louisa May Alcott! Not to mention, she uses words such as monastic retreat and palpitating!
On another note, Clark Gable has two particularly cringeworthy so-called "romantic" scenes. The first is when he and Kelly are gazing at the moonlight on their hut's balcony. Kelly is standing in front of him with her back to Gable's Marswell and with all the subtlety and finesse of Harvey Weinstein, leers at her then forcefully grabs her, whirls her around, and plants a big obnoxious, nicotine-laced kiss.
The second romantically intended yet uncomfortable scene has him doing virtually the same move to Grace Kelly's character as they overlook the waterfalls. All I want to say is ooh how disgusting. I also found Grace Kelly's performance (and voice!) particularly annoying and grating!
My recommendation, bypass this and watch Gable, Harlow and Mary Astor in "Red Dust" - its much more worthy and highly rated predecessor.