Never Let Me Go ** (1953, Clark Gable, Gene Tierney, Richard Haydn, Belita, Bernard Miles, Kenneth More, Karel Stepanek, Theodore Bikel) – Classic Movie Review 7789

Director Delmer Daves’s 1953 Never Let Me Go is a humdrum romantic adventure from Clark Gable, the erstwhile king of Hollywood, playing Philip Sutherland, a US newsman stationed in Moscow who falls for and marries Russian dancer Marya Lamarkina (Gene Tierney).

On honeymoon, they are befriended by a pompous Brit, Christopher Wellington St John Denny (Richard Haydn), and his recent Russian wife (Belita). But, when both Denny (Haydn) and Sutherland (Gable) are deported by the Soviets, with Sutherland forced to leave without Marya, the expected tale of rescue and chase follow, as Sutherland determines to get Marya back.

This British-made MGM drama has an interesting Cold War premise, but it is developed into a rather lacklustre outing that was a sign that Gable was past his prime, and even the normally reliable Brits like Bernard Miles and Kenneth More seem uncomfortable in this company. But Gable and Tierney are good together, and Delmer Daves handles it capably and briskly in 94 minutes.

Also in the cast are Karel Stepanek, Theodore Bikel, Anna Valentina, Frederick Valk, Anton Dolin, Peter Illing, Robert Henderson, Stanlet Maxted, Meinhart Maur, Alexis Chesnakov and Anton Diffring, with an appearance by the London Festival Ballet.

The screenplay by Ronald Millar and George Froeschel is based on the novel Come the Dawn by Roger Bax [aka Paul Winterton].

It is shot at MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

It is More’s last supporting role before his success in Genevieve turned him into a star and is Gable’s last romantic movie.

Gene Tierney is best remembered for Laura (1944), Leave Her To Heaven (1945), Dragonwyck (1946), The Ghost and Mrs Muir (1947) and China Girl (1942).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7789

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