Boom Town (1940)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Did you people see the same film I saw?

A Masterpiece!

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

MGM produced a good number of these pictures -- two pals driven apart (for a time) by a woman. In more than one case, Clark Gable was the raffish go-getter and his pal, Spencer Tracy, was the more grounded and less reckless partner.Here, the two are partners in a wildcatting oil drill in Texas in the earlier years of the century. They're both broke and have a lot of fun talking investors into funding their enterprise, stealing equipment, and celebrating when the oil comes in. It's the beginning of the automobile explosion and the oil is black gold. They also use oil in the production of lubrication, WD-40, plastic, cosmetics and ointment.The fly in the ointment is Claudette Colbert. She's a City Mouse whom Tracy deeply loves. But when she comes to Texas for a visit, seeking adventure, she runs into Gable first and the next thing, they're married. Tracy handles the news very well, but it sets up a competitive and unforgiving conflict between the two which is happily resolved at the end, when the principals march, arms linked, across the tawny hills of California's central valley, ready to start again as pals, and somebody mentions the place is called Kettleman Hills. Discovered in 1928, it was one of the biggest oil fields in California, now depleted of all but one half of one percent of its original oil.Well, there's hardly a dull moment in the movie. In fact, there IS no dull moment in the movie. There's always Gable glad-handing everyone, Tracy glowering, Colbert wondering if Gable really loves her, and Hedy Lamarr glowing with her incendiary sensuality. It's hardly worth repeating that Hedy Lamarr was not her real name. It's far to good to be true. Her actual name was Hedy Keester von Rauchen-Verboten. There's a lot of shouting and one good brawl before Gable and Tracy renew their bond. Fist fights are the only way that REAL MEN can resolve their differences. Can you imagine them sitting around and discussing their opposing values? "How do you feel about my stealing your girl, Square John?" "Oh, I don't know. I -- I feel all EMPTY inside. (Sob.)" You'll love it.

This is a mildly entertaining tale though more comedy than anything else. Pure Hollywood slush. Set in the era of boom/bust oil wells we are treated to the saga of various characters who swindle their way to the top. When they lose it all they are more than happy to start all over again.The film preaches that lying, cheating and stealing is just fine as is exploiting others and ruining their businesses by fair means or foul.Mind you that ain't far from the truth as that is how the likes of crooks such as Bernard Madoff and his ilk got rich. And this picture seems to glorify behaving dishonestly to get ahead.In its' favor the movie does have some genuine superstars and I agree that Hedy Lamarr is the most beautiful woman on screen ever; then and now. Clarke Gable looks like the washed out selfish drunk that I am sure he always was. So if you like a half decent older movie with a certain political agenda and some big names in it then this is for you.4/10

This was the biggest film of the year for MGM in 1940. They used four of their biggest stars, any one of whom could have starred in their own films.Clark Gable already had an Oscar for It Happened One Night, another nomination for Mutiny on the Bounty, and was nominated in the 1940 Academy Awards for Gone with the Wind.Spencer Tracy, a nine-time Oscar nominee, already had a nomination for San Francisco, a win for Captains Courageous, and a win the previous year for Boy's Town.Three-time Oscar nominee Claudette Colbert already had a win for It happened One Night, which she did with Gable, and a nomination for Private Worlds.Frank Morgan had gotten one of his two nominations for The Affairs of Cellini.And, our Star of the Month, Hedy Lamarr, was just beginning her career.This was a raucous film with all the excitement that you would expect in one about wildcatters in the oil business and featured barroom fights, streets of mud, and stories ripped from the headlines. It was an amazing love story about two men in love with the same woman. It was pure entertainment.

What I enjoyed most was the chemistry between Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. They exude a sparkle in this movie. I am particularly impressed with Colbert's performance. Is there any way not to fall in love with this lady? She is convincing without being overly sappy. She gives a much better performance than Hedy Lamarr, who is not especially believable in her role. Hedy is a pretty lady; she just seemed stilted in this role; a siren should seem suave but she never quite comes across as the wanton woman she is supposedly portraying.The more Spencer Tracy movies I see, the more I appreciate his acting ability. His subtle facial expressions (and Colbert's too) really make this a fun movie to watch. Gable does not seem to have the ability to be as subtle. Although enjoyable, the 2 stars were Colbert and Tracy, without a doubt. The characters in this movie are all drifters who never really "settle down." They would not be appreciated in polite society without the oil money.My main complaint was that some of the hair and costumes looked like they were straight out of 1930s or 1940 rather than 1918 and early 20's when the story was supposed to take place. It is true that near the end of the movie we are approaching the late 20s, but the costumes did not seem very authentically 20s.