Forsaking All Others (1934)

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke

Writers:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (screen play)
Frank Cavett (from the play by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 December 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Dill leaves Mary standing at the altar in order to marry his old flame, Connie, instead. Knowing that Mary still has feelings for Dill...

Plot Keywords:

Adirondack Mountains | Cabin | New York City | Elopement | Wedding

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	Dillon Todd
Joan Crawford	...	Mary Clay
Clark Gable	...	Jeff Williams
Charles Butterworth	...	Shemp
Billie Burke	...	Aunt Paula
Frances Drake	...	Connie Barnes Todd
Rosalind Russell	...	Eleanor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hooper Atchley	...	(scenes deleted)
Margaret Bert	...	(scenes deleted)
Edward Brophy	...	(scenes deleted)
Lillian Harmer	...	(scenes deleted)
Forrester Harvey	...	(scenes deleted)
Ted Healy	...	(scenes deleted)
Ernie Alexander	...	Telegram Messenger (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey	...	Paula's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Jan Duggan	...	Mrs. Cobal - Customer (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty	...	Turkish Bath Attendant (uncredited)
Edward Hearn	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Louise Henry	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Harold Huber	...	Mr. Frankenstein - Hamburger Stand Owner (uncredited)
Perry Ivins	...	Hotel Man (uncredited)
Eily Malyon	...	Mrs. Gordon - Customer (uncredited)
Greta Meyer	...	Bella - Mary's Masseuse (uncredited)
Eddie Phillips	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Kane Richmond	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Tom Ricketts	...	Wiff' Wiffens - Marys Butler (uncredited)
Arthur Treacher	...	Johnson - Dill's Butler (uncredited)
Clarence Wilson	...	Hotel Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
W.S. Van Dyke

Writing credits
Joseph L. Mankiewicz		(screen play)
Frank Cavett		(from the play by) (as Frank Morgan Cavett) and
Edward Barry Roberts		(from the play by)

Produced by
Bernard H. Hyman	....	producer

Original Music by
William Axt		(as Dr. William Axt)

Cinematography by
George J. Folsey		(photographed by) (as George Folsey)
Gregg Toland		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Tom Held		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Woehler	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Edwin B. Willis	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Other crew
Frank Davis	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (A W.S. Van Dyke Production)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1934) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

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:Approved (PCA #487) | Australia:G | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The screenplay was written for Loretta Young, George Brent and Joel McCrea, but later was given to Gable, Crawford, and Montgomery.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mary shows Jeff a picture of the three of them as kids, it's a photo of children with the three star's adult pictures obviously pasted on their bodies - Mary even has on lipstick. Though they did at least use a picture of Gable without a mustache.

Quotes:

Dillon 'Dill':Connie, I need to speak to you.
Connie Barnes Todd:But darling, I'm learning to tap dance!
Dillon 'Dill':This is more important than tap dancing!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Temptation

Good solid fun

A better than average comedy that certainly entertains. Plot is believable and somewhat unusual. Clark Gable returns from Madrid (we are not told what he was doing there nor really what anyone does for a living) in order to propose to Joan Crawford. Clark has secretly loved Joan since they were children but in his absence, Joan has agreed to marry Robert Montgomery who she has loved since they were children. Enter the old flame, Frances Drake, who whisks Montgomery away on the eve of his nuptial leaving Crawford standing at the alter. The marriage does not work and soon Crawford steps out with Montgomery on the side. Gable criticizes and consoles Crawford eventually making plans to return to Spain. Good performances by Crawford (opening shot with cream on her face is in contrast to other stars who preferred glamorous introductions), Montgomery (he really is funny), Gable, Billie Burke (who can do "flustered" any better), Rosalind Russell (does well in one of her early films) and a very droll Charles Butterworth. I never thought Frances Drake was believable as the lower class wife but this can easily be overlooked. Recommended as an evenings good entertainment.