Watch: The Hucksters
The Hucksters
Drama • Romance • Comedy
Theatrical (limited) Release (US)
~ Gable's New Star is Deborah Kerr (rhymes with star) ~
Overview:
A World War II veteran wants to return to advertising on his own terms, but finds it difficult to be successful and maintain his integrity.
Director:
Jack Conway
Status:
Released
Language:
English
Buget:
$0.00
Revenue:
Key words:
Cast
Clark Gable
~ as ~
Victor Albee Norman
Deborah Kerr
Kay Dorrance
Sydney Greenstreet
Evan Llewellyn Evans
Adolphe Menjou
Mr. Kimberly
Ava Gardner
Jean Ogilvie
Keenan Wynn
Buddy Hare
Edward Arnold
David 'Dave' Lash
Aubrey Mather
Mr. Glass, Valet
Richard Gaines
Cooke
Frank Albertson
Max Herman
CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
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Clark Gable ("Victor Norman") returns from WWII to rekindle his career in advertising. His cunning plan involves the glamorous war widow Deborah Kerr ("Kay"), nervous old ad agency boss "Mr. Kimberly" (Adoplhe Menjou), some considerable perspicacity and a whole load of soap. The latter element is provided by the wonderfully odious "Evan Llewellyn Evans" (Sydney Greenstreet,) the shrewd, but ghastly, owner of the most popular brand of beauty soap for whom Gable engages Kerr to star in an advertisement. Much to everyone's surprise, the entrepreneur rather likes the end product and "Norman" looks like his new, highly paid, career is set fair. Meantime, he has completely fallen for "Kay", but his methods of courtship lack, shall we say, finesse or style! Will he get the big job and/or the girl? Does he even want the big job an/or the girl? Wakeman's novel sets up the shallowness of the advertising industry for a good kicking: it's manipulation of those it considers the "sheep" (i.e us) to buy whatever rehashed nonsense they choose to offer us, is presented in a frequently quite comical - certainly quite cynical - fashion, with Greenstreet superb as the thoroughly unpleasant boss surrounded by his band of acolytes calling out "check" when he seeks their nominal agreement for his decisions. Jack Conway let's the star own the film - the dialogue is quickly delivered; and there is the merest hint of chemistry between him and his new to Hollywood co-star, who could have been doing with a little more substance to her part. Edward Arnold chips in well too, and there is an early outing for keenan Wynn as "Buddy Hare"- the kind of comic that has me reaching for my shotgun! It's a bit on the long side, the story runs out of steam a bit - but its still well worth watching.
