wes-connors
Beautiful secretary Joan Crawford (as Diane Lovering) enjoys both working and sleeping with the boss, Otto Kruger (as Richard I. Field). Mr. Kruger wants to marry his willing mistress, but the wife refuses to grant him a divorce. To console a disappointed Ms. Crawford, Kruger sends her on a luxury cruise. On the ship, Crawford spurns "hot and bothered" Stuart Erwin (as John "Johnnie" L. Smith) at the bar, intending to be faithful. Then, she meets sexy rancher businessman Clark Gable (as Michael "Mike" Bradley)...Will Crawford stay "Chained" to Kruger, or fall in love with Gable?This is an MGM box office star power production, with Crawford and Gable doing what they do best. "When she's in his arms, it's the grandest thrill the screen can give!" Not quite, but director Clarence Brown and cameraman George Folsey handle the performers very well; the combination showed Crawford in her best light. Highlights include a fast stroll aboard ship, and a shimmering swimming pool sequence. The later includes young Mickey Rooney and pal Delmar Watson cavorting with Gable and Crawford.****** Chained (8/31/34) Clarence Brown ~ Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin
blanche-2
Joan Crawford is "Chained" in this 1934 film, but alas, it's not to Clark Gable, but to Otto Kruger. Crawford and Gable were a wonderful team, and this is one of the eight films they made together. Crawford plays a young woman, Diana Lovering, whose married boyfriend Richard (Kruger) is unable to get a divorce from his wife. She goes on a long cruise to South America and on the boat meets Mike (Gable), who has a horse ranch in Argentina. And guess what. She feels that she needs to return to tell Richard that she's fallen in love with Mike. When she returns home, however, she finds out that Richard has gotten a divorce from his wife and had to give up seeing his children in order to do so. She then believes she's obligated to marry him and writes a Dear Mike letter. However, she and Mike cross paths again a year later.There isn't anything special about this film, directed by Clarence Brown, except for the chemistry of the two stars. They made better films together - "Possessed" (the '30s one) and "Strange Cargo" being two off the top of my head. But I have to admit that I always love seeing them, and Crawford was so striking in those days, it's worth a look.
nsimcox
I've heard (or read) nothing but bad comments on this movie @ IMDb. But what no one seems to be watching is the acting. The acting & the storyline are so wonderful! Comparisons of the older Mrs. Fielding's divorce request to the younger is so touching & ironic. There are comic moments on the ship between Crawford & Gable. This isn't an epic action type of movie. But it is a very satisfying escape from everyday life. Isn't that what movies are for? Especially the classic's? I challenge any true classic movie lover that if they don't find this movie "satisfying", then they aren't true classic movie lovers. This movie had a twist that I haven't seen in movies in several years. Can someone tell me of a movie with this same type of love triangle? One that shows the wonderful irony also? And the kindness of Mr. Fielding? And the easy lilting voices of that age? These movies didn't need instant gratification to solve problems. Classic's like these are like a comfortable raft on the lake on a great sunny day. They don't need BIG epic action to make you feel good. They just do it with the acting and a good screenplay.
funkyfry
*******SPOILERS********Fairly standard story -- Crawford is a "career gal" in love with her boss -- the exquisitely dapper and gentlemanly Kruger -- or, at least, she thinks she is until a shipboard romance with Argentinian rancher Gable gets in the way. The only gimmick here is the audience's expectation that Kruger will go mad or seek some kind of revenge (you can even imagine Lon Chaney in the role), but he doesn't. The chemistry between Gable and Crawford is the picture of passion, although they are not aided by the tepid dialogue ("the sun of love will always shine on us" and such stuff), and Kruger and Crawford present a believable picture of a marriage based on respect instead of love.
AD
