Cain and Mabel: When Gable and Davies Tried to Dance

Is it worth watching?

If you're a fan of Clark Gable looking like he's about to laugh through half his lines, sure. You’ll like this if you enjoy that specific kind of 1930s fluff where everyone talks fast and wears hats in bed. If you need a movie that feels grounded or has a plot that doesn't rely on a giant misunderstanding, you’ll probably find this one pretty grating.

Marion Davies is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. She’s supposed to be this struggling dancer, but she plays it with such a specific, frantic energy that I spent half the movie wondering if she’d just had five cups of coffee. It works, though. She’s the only reason the scenes between her and Gable feel like they have a pulse.

Speaking of Gable, he’s a boxer. Does he look like a boxer? Not really. He looks like a guy who just walked out of a very nice tailor shop and is trying to remember where he parked his car. But when he and Davies start the whole 'let’s fake a love affair' bit, the movie finds a weird, goofy groove. It’s not genius, but it’s kind of sweet in a cynical, showbiz-obsessed way.

Odd bits and pieces

• There is a scene where a press agent is just shouting, and I swear he doesn't take a breath for a solid minute. It's exhausting just watching him.
• The musical numbers feel like they were filmed on a completely different planet. They just sort of happen, and then we’re back to the boxing gym.
• I kept thinking about The Glass Key because there's a similar sense of people trying to manipulate their own lives, but with way less grit and way more tap shoes.

The pacing is a mess, honestly. It starts like a sports movie, turns into a romantic comedy, then tries to be a full-blown musical for a few minutes before remembering that the boxer guy still needs to fight someone. It feels like three different writers were working in separate rooms and never talked to each other. Maybe they didn't.

There’s a moment in the second act where they’re eating dinner, and they’re both clearly trying to sabotage the fake romance, but they keep accidentally being charming. It’s predictable as hell, but I found myself grinning anyway. Sometimes you don't need art, you just need two movie stars who look like they're having a decent time.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even close to the best thing Gable ever did. But if you want to watch something that feels like a dusty old postcard from a version of New York that never really existed, it’s fine. Just don't expect it to change your life. 🥊💃