You Must Remember This 28: Star Wars Episode II: Carole Lombard and Clark Gable
Jan 13, 2015
A look at Carole Lombard’s rise from a scarred teen to screwball comedy star and her breakthrough films. The story traces her whirlwind relationship and marriage to Clark Gable. It follows her patriotic bond tours, the fateful decision to fly home, and the tragic crash that shattered Hollywood and changed Gable’s life.
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Carol Lombard Reinvented Herself After Tragedy
- Karina Longworth recounts Carol Lombard's rise from child discovery to 1930s screwball queen after a disfiguring car crash and studio setbacks.
- Lombard used makeup, Max Sennett comedies, and savvy publicity to remake her career and persona.
Director Coaching Turned Lombard Into A Screwball Star
- Karina Longworth links Lombard's offscreen personality to her screwball breakthrough when Howard Hawks forced her to act authentically.
- Hawks told her to "kick him in the nuts" on camera, which loosened her performance and launched a new star persona.
My Man Godfrey Cemented Lombard's Legacy
- Karina Longworth describes My Man Godfrey as the screwball exemplar that earned Lombard her sole Oscar nomination.
- The film satirizes the rich and restores order by revealing the 'hobo-butler' is genteel, showcasing Lombard's comic range.