After Office Hours: Clark Gable is being Clark Gable again

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies where people talk at double-speed and everyone is wearing a sharp suit, sure. This is perfect for a rainy afternoon when you don't want to think too hard. If you get annoyed by men who think being loud and pushy is the same thing as being 'charming,' you might want to skip this one. Clark Gable is at peak smirkiness here, for better or worse.

The whole thing feels like it was written in a whirlwind. The newsroom scenes have that classic, frantic energy where everyone is shouting about deadlines and scoops. It feels a lot like The Family Skeleton in terms of that quick-fire, witty dialogue that doesn't actually give you much time to breathe. Sometimes the plot stops dead just so they can trade insults. It’s funny, but you definitely forget there's a killer on the loose.

The Good Stuff

• Gable and Constance Bennett have this weird, prickly chemistry that works surprisingly well.
• The pacing is frantic. Almost too frantic.
• Some of the background extras look like they’re having a better time than the actual leads.

There’s a moment about halfway through where they’re at a fancy party, and the lighting is just so incredibly moody. It’s a total shift from the bright, noisy office. I found myself staring at the wallpaper instead of listening to the exposition. It’s a nice touch of atmosphere in a movie that usually feels like it’s being filmed in a giant echo chamber.

The murder investigation itself? Honestly, I kind of stopped caring about who did it. The movie doesn't seem to care much either. It’s more about the power struggle between the editor and the socialite. It feels like the filmmakers just needed a reason to keep these two in the same room. It works, but it's not exactly high art.

It’s not as polished as some of the other stuff from the mid-30s. There’s a scene in the office that drags on for about thirty seconds too long, and you can tell the actors are just waiting for their next line. It’s charming in a 'they didn't have the budget to do another take' kind of way. It feels lived-in.

If you’re coming here looking for a deep mystery, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re coming here to watch two big stars try to out-talk each other in fedoras, you’ll have a grand time. It’s not going to change your life, but it’s a perfectly fine way to spend ninety minutes. Just don't ask too many questions about the police procedure. They clearly didn't.