Polly of the Circus * (1932, Marion Davies, Clark Gable, C Aubrey Smith) – Classic Movie Review 10,139

MGM’s 1932 romantic comedy drama film Polly of the Circus pairs Marion Davies with Clark Gable as a young priest in one of his few real turkeys.

Director Alfred Santell’s 1932 MGM romantic comedy drama Polly of the Circus is based on a play by Margaret Mayo, and pairs Marion Davies with Clark Gable (looking very young but weird without his moustache).

The unlikely casting of Gable as a young priest, the Reverend John Hartley, does nothing to improve a tottering, unpersuasive, ancient story about a churchman risking the wrath of public and church opinion by marrying Polly, the circus trapezist (Davies) he takes in and falls for after she is hurt while performing.

Polly of the Circus is one of Gable’s few real turkeys, with the star unable to show his value, and easily outpaced by Davies, who is rather good.

It is a remake of a silent movie – Polly of the Circus (1917) – and it shows. The 1917 original is the first film by Goldwyn Pictures, and was shot at Universal Studios pre-Hollywood in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Also in the cast are C Aubrey Smith, Raymond Hatton, David Landau, Maude Eburne, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams, Ray Milland, Ruth Selwyn, ‘Little Billy’ Rhodes, Clark Marshall, Lillian Elliott and Phillip Crane.

The story started as a short novel by Margaret Mayo which she adapted for her 1907 play Polly of the Circus, written for the entertainment magnate Frederic Thompson. The play was staged with a live circus and was a hit on Broadway and led to several productions in cities round the US.

The cast are Marion Davies as Polly Fisher, Clark Gable as the Reverend John Hartley, C Aubrey Smith as Bishop James Northcott, Raymond Hatton as Hartley’s servant Downey, David Landau as the circus manager Beef, Ruth Selwyn as Mitzi, Maude Eburne as Mrs. Jennings, ‘Little Billy’ Rhodes as Half-Pint, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams as Eric Alvarez, Clark Marshall as Don Alvarez, Lillian Elliott as Mrs McNamara, Ray Milland as Church Usher, Ruth Selwyn,  Clark Marshall, Lillian Elliott and Phillip Crane.

The stars paired again for Cain and Mabel (1936).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,139

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