Red Dust (1932)

Writers:

Wilson Collison (play)
John Lee Mahin (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 October 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

The owner of a rubber plantation becomes involved with the new wife of one of his employees.

Plot Keywords:

Rubber Plantation | Malaria | Surveyor | Indochina | Prostitute

Awards:

1 win

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Clark Gable	...	Dennis Carson
Jean Harlow	...	Vantine
Gene Raymond	...	Gary Willis
Mary Astor	...	Barbara Willis
Donald Crisp	...	Guidon
Tully Marshall	...	McQuarg
Forrester Harvey	...	Limey
Willie Fung	...	Hoy

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Australia:PG | USA:Passed

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Greta Garbo was originally cast as Vantine. But when the script underwent drastic re-writes, the role was recast with Jean Harlow.

Quotes:

Vantine: What you been eatin', cement?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! (1958)

Soundtrack:

There's No Place Like Home (Home, Sweet Home)

One of My Favorite Pre-Code Films

To me this is one of the films that defined the Pre-Code Era. Complete with prostitution, adultery, sex as a major plot point, partial nudity (well, much more than was allowed during the Code enforcement), drunkenness, and strong women characters, this film has it all. Plus, it has an extremely engaging storyline, interesting setting, and an explanation of how rubber is made. Aside from the racism present, this film is great. One of the most interesting things about this film, which I have studied a great deal as a part of my senior thesis in undergrad film school, is the freshness of the dialogue. Coming only a few years after the addition of sound to films I was shocked to find how fun and refreshing the dialogue was. Whereas lots of films these days disappoint me in that the dialogue is so overly cliched and stale, Red Dust has lines about favorite cheeses and stories read about bunnies-- how fun!

All and all, this movie is terrific. Clark is as virile as anything and Jean Harlow is full of strength and sass and dimensions-- just a great female character. And hell if she isn't going to fight for her man! Mary Astor's character is also very well done as we see and believe that Clark is just so tempted by her and she by him. I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone-- It's a 120 times better than its remake, Mogambo, which despite Gable's presence just totally loses everything that Red Dust had.