Chained (1934)

A mistress of one man has a shipboard romance with another and is torn between both men.

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

John Lee Mahin, Edgar Selwyn (story),

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Otto Kruger

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Diane Lovering
Clark Gable	...	Michael 'Mike' Bradley
Otto Kruger	...	Richard I. Field
Stuart Erwin	...	John L. 'Johnnie' Smith
Una O'Connor	...	Amy, Diane's Maid
Marjorie Gateson	...	Mrs. Louise Fields
Akim Tamiroff	...	Pablo, the Ranch Chef

Storyline

Richard Field is a successful businessman who has become romantically involved with younger employee Diane Lovering, but he is unable to persuade his grasping wife to grant him a divorce out of his dysfunctional marriage. Diane meets dashing rancher Mike Bradley through his wise-cracking pal Johnnie on a South American ocean voyage, and they begin a shipboard romance that carries over to his Argentinian ranch. When Diane gets a letter from Field saying that he has finally obtained his divorce, she makes a calculated mercenary decision that she prefers the position and financial status that Field's can offer her the love that Mike can. She writes him a "Dear John letter" and leaves to become the new "Mrs. Field" but before long begins to regret her choice.

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Plot Keywords:

shipboard romance | traveling shot | bar | gun shop | new york harbor | 

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Taglines:

When she's in his arms, it's the grandest thrill the screen can give!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

La passagère

Filming Locations:

New York Harbor, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joan Crawford met her biological father only once when he visited her on the set of Chained. She would never see him again.

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Goofs

In the opening scene, Joan Crawford's character, Diane Lovering, is shown sitting in the back of an open-cockpit racing boat, racing across New York harbor for an extended period. We see her get splashed and sprayed on from all different directions. Yet a moment later when the boat docks and Diane steps out, she is completely dry - not a drop of water anywhere on her, and her hair and clothing are perfectly neat.

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Quotes

Diane Lovering: [after being kissed passionately] No, Mike, not that way!
Michael 'Mike' Bradley: How else?

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Connections

Featured in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Sombrero"
(chronological)
(Tune heard during Akim Tamiroff's kitchen scene)

User Reviews

Crawford Gable vehicle offers decent ride.

Diane Lovering (Joan Crawford) is about to win the lottery by wresting away ocean liner CEO Richard Field (Otto Kruger) from his harridan spouse who refuses to give him a divorce. Needing more time to convince his wife otherwise he sends Diane on a lengthy cruise replete with maid and a stateroom the size of a small cafeteria. On board she meets Mike Bradley a rancher in Argentina who attempts to romance her. After slowly wearing Diane down she resolves to return to the states and break it off with Field but when she sees what the tycoon has sacrificed for her she goes through with the marriage. Wealthy beyond her wildest dreams and loved by a decent man she is still nagged by her decision when she bumps into Bradley at a gun store a year later.

Gable and Crawford never looked better in this above average entry of their numerous teamings together. In more than one scene we are treated to cinematographer George Folsey's cameras warm embrace of the handsome Gable and radiant Crawford offering concrete evidence of the icons they were and remain. The star wattage however is dimmed by the rational and civil discourse displayed by Field who maintains decorum throughout even in the face of possibly losing his new wife to Bradley. In addition Diane for a good chunk of the film has to check her passion as she attempts to keep Bradley at arm's length. But whether in conversation or a clinch these two sharing the screen together constantly reinforce Norma Desmond's Sunset Boulevard declaration about pictures with matchless chemistry.

Crawford, more restrained, sophisticated and understanding than in most of her roles gives one of the better performances of her career. Garbo director Clarence Brown might have had some influence in toning her performance down but for the most part he maintains a steady framing of the two leads struggling with coitus interruptus.

Otto Kruger as Field is decent and noble in the face of the calamity he faces, maybe too much to the film's detriment. Stu Erwin is annoying as Mike's flunky while Oona Mundsin as Diane's maid casts more glances than dialogue. There are brief moments of ethnic insensitivity with some at the expense of Akim Tamiroff who nevertheless gets the biggest laugh in this otherwise well mannered and tame romantic melodrama that succeeds solely on the merit of its well showcased charismatic leads at the top of their game.