"They Met in Bombay" might be viewed as a story in three acts. In the first, Clark Gable plays an insurance detective charged with protecting a valuable jewel. In India, he encounters Rosalind Russell, a jewel thief. Gable, who is really a thief himself, fools Russell into giving him the gem. But she sees through his subterfuge before he can make his getaway.
In the second act, they have joined forces. The question is whether it is a personal attraction that keeps them together or just the opportunity of working together. And are both of them really in the partnership for the long run, or just waiting to make the double cross? They take a steamer to China, where the authorities close in. They escape and Gable assumes an identity as a British fusilier.
In act three, Gable and Russell look for a way to escape the charade, but Gable is conscripted to address a local military problem--the Japanese have invaded Hong Kong. Gable seems to make the right decision at every turn, staying one step ahead of discovery. Exigencies force him to deal with Japanese forces in a heroic manner.
By now, Russell has had plenty of opportunities to dream of a life free of crime with the man she loves. She is willing to stick with Gable no matter what his decisions, but one can see her yearning for a life without flight.
I won't reveal the ending, but I think the success of the film relies upon the chemistry between the two stars. Lana Turner, who was picked for Russell's role first, might seem to be a more suitable choice as a woman to inspire Gable's desires. But Russell is very convincing as a woman who is inspired by the "true" nature hidden within the man.
The story itself is interesting. The suspense is less about the theft of jewelry and more about whether the two thieves might double cross each other. Gable plays the part of a gambler who knows his way around a bluff, so his true motives are difficult to read. It's a mystery that continues until the last scene. In my opinion, each scene is more interesting than those prior.
In the second act, they have joined forces. The question is whether it is a personal attraction that keeps them together or just the opportunity of working together. And are both of them really in the partnership for the long run, or just waiting to make the double cross? They take a steamer to China, where the authorities close in. They escape and Gable assumes an identity as a British fusilier.
In act three, Gable and Russell look for a way to escape the charade, but Gable is conscripted to address a local military problem--the Japanese have invaded Hong Kong. Gable seems to make the right decision at every turn, staying one step ahead of discovery. Exigencies force him to deal with Japanese forces in a heroic manner.
By now, Russell has had plenty of opportunities to dream of a life free of crime with the man she loves. She is willing to stick with Gable no matter what his decisions, but one can see her yearning for a life without flight.
I won't reveal the ending, but I think the success of the film relies upon the chemistry between the two stars. Lana Turner, who was picked for Russell's role first, might seem to be a more suitable choice as a woman to inspire Gable's desires. But Russell is very convincing as a woman who is inspired by the "true" nature hidden within the man.
The story itself is interesting. The suspense is less about the theft of jewelry and more about whether the two thieves might double cross each other. Gable plays the part of a gambler who knows his way around a bluff, so his true motives are difficult to read. It's a mystery that continues until the last scene. In my opinion, each scene is more interesting than those prior.