Red Dust (1932) User Reviews (70)

Highly charged

[mik-19 · 8/10 · 11 July 2004]

Erotically highly charged melodrama that fairly sizzles, even today, more than 70 years later. Cinematography has a plasticity and a sheen to it that makes the film gorgeous to look at, editing is highly efficient and gets the job done and the story told, and the acting is fabulous. I wasn't prepared for the physical impact of the young Gable, how he makes absolutely no excuses for his raw sexuality and libido and how amazingly attractive he was. Harlow as well, I was prepared to find her vulgar and shallow, but she was quite good and certainly had a chemistry thing going with Gable.

Recommended, and please, all of you insisting that this is an inexcusably racist picture, any work of art needs to be judged by its own unique standards, and those of its time. Racism in movies today is a lot subtler, but certainly exists just like it did in the early 30s, and politics or no politics it doesn't detract from the greatness of this genre movie.

Heartily recommended.

first key role at MGM for Harlow

[didi-5 · 8/10 · 3 March 2007]

This film was the one which really showcased Jean Harlow, fresh at MGM after a stint at Columbia, and a film or two as one of the muses of Howard Hughes.

In real life she'd married and been widowed in quick succession, and although the Paul Bern scandal must have been a strain, it doesn't show here on screen. Harlow is absolutely luminous, a wise-cracking hardboiled good-time girl with a soft centre and a hint of innocence. What else could she be but a bright platinum blonde? Mary Astor, tight-laced and classy, arrives at the sexually-charged rubber plantation with feverish husband Gene Raymond, and catches the eye of wide-boy hard-man Clark Gable (a real he-man of the 'grab em by the hair' school).

A fascinating slice of 1930s pre-Production Code history, 'Red Dust' sizzles and is always in heat. Remade as 'Mogambo' and apart from the addition of colour, some recasting (Gardner for Harlow, Grace Kelly for Astor, Donald Sinden for Raymond), it remained a heady brew, even down to the indefatigable Mr Gable reprising his role as Carson!

Gable, Harlow and Astor make for one good film

[km_dickson · 8/10 · 9 September 2005]

A pretty good movie. Red Dust is one of the films that made Clark Gable a star and it's easy to see why. In it, he plays the kind of likable rogue character that audiences would come to know him as. Gable is Dennis Carson, the operator of a rubber plantation in Indochina, who is all business until his world is turned upside down by two women. First Vantine Jefferson (Jean Harlow), a prostitute looking for a place to lie low arrives. Then a prospector and his wife, Barbara (Mary Astor), show up at the plantation. Both women are unwelcome intruders into Carson's world at first, but soon they each end up igniting his desire. Fooling around with the floozy Vantine is easy, but things get complicated when Carson's eye falls on the married Barbara. With his more than questionable actions, any other actor might have been completely unlikeable in the role, but Gable somehow pulls it off. Harlow and Astor also give very good performances. It helps that the heavy subject matter and brash duologue, adapted from a stage play, was not watered down too much for the screen version. Definitely a well made film worth seeing.

Pre-code period piece melodrama with intelligent writing.

[radkins · 6 July 2002]

Context is an important element in viewing any work of art or commerce and movies are both. "Red Dust" at it's core is about human weakness and strength, in degree and in full force. Mary Astor, a star since appearing opposite John Barrymore in "Don Juan", plays a repressed wife who doesn't believe in the strength of her husband (Gene Raymond) nor her own weakness when it comes to resisting the animal magnetism of rubber plantation owner Dennis (Clark Gable). Conversely, Gable doesn't realize his weakness in letting himself get involved with the ladylike Astor and underestimates the strength of prostitute Vantine (Jean Harlow) who, when Astor shoots Gable, gives witness to Raymond that his wife is innocent and that Gable deserved shooting. For it's time, 1932, "Red Dust" is sexually progressive, showing the freely running passions of Gable and the two women, while in retrospect, it's depiction of Asians is as poor stereotypes. Willie Fung, who plays Gable's houseboy, is also derided as gay in the script by the line delivered by Jean Harlow. Harlow notices Fung giggling at her underwear, to which she replies "Gee...you even find them in the jungle."

"Red Dust" has a tremendous "back story" as well. John Gilbert was to play the part of Dennis originally as an attempt to bolster his masculine image which had been damaged by the higher-than-anticipated timbre of his voice as recorded by early sound equipment. With the sensation caused by Gable when he returned Norma Shearer's slap in the face in "A Free Soul" Gable's star rose mercurily. No "hero" ever countered the indignation of the leading lady before, and certainly not the divas at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Gable was a whole new breed of leading man. Jean Harlow's star had been on the ascendant after scoring a huge hit in "Red Headed Woman" a scandalous story of a secretary who sleeps her way to the top. The realism of these two performers in those films made them a natural for the raw jungle tale of passion and betrayal. In the middle of the making of the film, Jean Harlow's producer-husband, Paul Bern, was found dead. The scandal that followed frightened the studio who thought that Harlow's career was over. Scandal had ruined the careers of Fatty Arbuckle and Clara Bow, causing their studio (Paramount) to loose millions on their films. M.G.M. was surprised when Harlow's fame and popularity increased. For her part, Harlow returned to the studio and never spoke an unkind word about her late husband. Bern, it turned out, had a common law wife who had emerged from years-long institutionalization and confronted him about his new wife.

Racism is not a key element in the plot of "Red Dust". For that, you would have to see "The Mask of Fu Manchu" where the Asians are neither lazy nor stupid, but sexual predators, instead. Or you could watch any number of other World War Two American movies with Asians in them. But for accurate Pre-censorship Hollywood adult dialogue and plot, "Red Dust" will do nicely, thank you.

Steam Heat in the Malayan Jungle

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 26 December 2005]

One thing about the old Hollywood studios, they never let anything go to waste. Look very carefully and you'll see this is the same set on which Joan Crawford and Walter Huston filmed Rain. And the plot's real similar about some hormone driven men and women in the jungle.

Clark Gable is the manager of a rubber plantation in the Malayan jungle and if the only company you had at the plantation were Tully Marshall, Donald Crisp, and Willie Fung you'd get the itch too. Along comes stranded Jean Harlow and it's hinted at that she's a working girl. Red Dust was pre-code so ladies of easy virtue were permitted.

Then comes newly assigned Gene Raymond and his bride Mary Astor. She's a lady, more unattainable and hard to get. Well maybe not so hard. Testosterone and estrogen take over for Gable and Astor.

Now this plot should sound very familiar and it is the one of the more recently filmed Mogambo. Mogambo in fact is a remake of Red Dust. Of course since it was shot on location in Africa where Gable is a white hunter instead of a plantation manager, it's production values put Red Dust to shame. I like Mogambo better because of that and the story line was more mature. The only flaw with Mogambo was the miscasting of Grace Kelly. Mary Astor is far her superior.

One thing though, I would never want to have to pick and choose between Jean Harlow and Ava Gardner. I don't think anyone else would want to choose either.

Gable is still Gable, but in 20 years time he's moved from the hardnosed cynical plantation manager to the world weary game hunter. But a man's man all the way.

Of course Red Dust became notorious because of the death of Harlow's second husband, producer Paul Bern during the filming. That tragedy turned out to be a box office gold mine for MGM.

Still fans of the stars will like the work they did here.

Gable & Harlow without interference from the Production Code

[stwhite · 9/10 · 30 August 2003]

For those that have never seen a pre-Code film, RED DUST is a great film to begin with. It certainly isn't shy about dealing with adultery, prostitution, or heavy drinking. Although it was made over 70 years ago, it holds up extremely well by today's standards. This is due to a well written script that dealt with these subjects directly and wasn't restrained by the Production Code that was enacted 2 years later. Later films either didn't deal with this type of content or did so in a way that was ridiculous. It is also due to the performances of a rugged and virile Clark Gable and a strong willed and street smart Jean Harlow and a strong supporting cast. There is no doubt as to the sexual stamina of their two characters. We find this out early and often. One example is when Gable tucks money down Harlow's dress and says, "It's been nice having you." and spanks her behind. Most modern films would have shown a sex scene while films subject to the code would have treated its audience as children and made us aware in a ridiculous way that would satisfy the censors. The scene where he warns her against misusing the plumbing and attempts to pull her out of the water barrel(yes, she's naked, but we don't see the nudity) while the society woman he is trying to seduce watches on is hilarious. Clark Gable and Jean Harlow made one the better on screen couples of that time. It is a shame that her career was tragically cut short. I also enjoyed the scene where a frightened Mary Astor slaps him across the face for his indifference to the plight of her sick husband and he responds with a smug and confident grin. The movie also gives one an appreciation of the primitive conditions people lived in on a rubber plantation during that time. RED DUST is directed by Victor Fleming who would later direct THE WIZARD OF OZ and Clark Gable in GONE WITH THE WIND. People have complained that this film is racist, but need to realize that the world was a much different place in 1932 than in 2003. If you can do that, you'll probably enjoy this film. 9/10

super-sleazy pre-code tale of lust (cool)

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 18 March 2006]

This film was not exactly meant to be Shakespeare nor appeal to film snobs. Nope. This movie is pure unadulterated 1930s pre-code sleaze! Now, some might see this as a terrible thing, but today it's really a lot of fun to see just how far some films from major studios pushed the film making envelope. There is little doubt that just a year or two later, this film would have not been made and its 1950s remake, MOGAMBO, is a lot tamer and sophisticated film.

In MOGAMBO, Gable is a hunter and tracker that takes rich slobs on safaris. In RED DUST, he works at a rubber plantation in Southeast Asia. Along the way, he meets up with a cheap but sweet dame (Jean Harlow) but soon forgets about her when he is introduced to sophisticated (but also trampy) Mary Astor. Astor and Gable fall in love (it's really more like "lust") but don't know what to do about Astor's decent husband. The only one who REALLY knows what to do is Harlow, that insists Gable run off with her and leave that marriage intact. Well, what happens next is for you to see. The film is great for fans of Gable or Harlow and is fine entertainment on a purely unsophisticated level.

Gable & Harlow Get Torrid In The Tropics

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 6 April 2001]

The fetid RED DUST of a Malaysian rubber plantation is the setting for an adulterous triangle involving the quick-tempered, rawboned manager, a brassy American prostitute & the upper-class wife of a new employee. Together, they're about to heat up the tropics.

Although blessed with good acting & fine production values, this is merely a soap opera set in the jungle. MGM was pushing the moral envelope here, seeing just how far they could go with libidinous behavior - and in those pre-Production Code days that was pretty far. Clark Gable & Jean Harlow exude sexuality, openly lusting for each other & spreading hormones around the screen. Harlow's lines (of dialogue) are both witty & suggestive, while Gable talks with his eyes and his hands. They were a perfect cinematic match and this film was such a big success that they would repeat the same basic plot 3 years later in CHINA SEAS, although the Code would cause that film to be a bit more covert.

Mary Astor adds a wrinkle to the plot as another fine-looking female for Gable to mate with, but the audience is never in any doubt that gorgeous Harlow will get him in the end. The rest of the cast (Gene Raymond, Donald Crisp, Tully Marshall & giggling Willie Fung) are good in small roles.

It should be noted that the story line contains racist elements, not unusual in a Hollywood film of that era.

By the way, the bedtime story Harlow is reading Gable at the end of the movie is a parody - and a good one - of the animal stories by Thornton W. Burgess which were very popular at the time.

The bathtub in a barrel movie

[HotToastyRag · 7/10 · 14 March 2019]

Oh, the bathtub in a barrel movie! Reportedly, Jean Harlow, actually nude, stood up during one of the takes to give the workers in the editing lab a thrill. Now that we've gotten the sensationalism out of the way, let's talk about the movie.

Red Dust is the most famous of all the Clark Gable and Jean Harlow movies. My favorite is Hold Your Man, but Red Dust is very fun to watch from time to time. Clark is a manager of a rubber tree plantation in Malaysia, and when prostitute Jean Harlow literally gets dropped at his doorstep, sparks fly. The only problem with their romance is that Clark treats Jean like garbage. His scruffiness and extremely crude, gruff demeanor makes for continual criticism and disrespect. Jean is street-wise and rather low-class, but she's always sweet. She's the hooker with a heart of gold, and while you can't help but root for them, you also hope she softens out his rough edges after a while.

Then, Gene Raymond comes to the plantation to shoot big game, and he brings his prim and proper wife, Mary Astor. Mary is disgusted by Clark's uncouthness as well as Jean's presence, but since Clark's a cad, he makes a play for her. I'm willing to bet Mary Astor wishes she never made this movie. Yes, Red Dust is famous, but in pitting her against sheer perfection, also known as Jean Harlow, Hollywood sealed her fate to play "the other woman" forever after-and not in a good way. Playing "the other woman" to Mary Astor meant playing the wife when the story is about her husband falling in love with someone else, or playing the snooty best friend, or the uptight mother-in-law. If you look at her body of work, Red Dust was clearly the turning point in her career. Plus, her character is so unlikable, in contrast to Jean Harlow's delightful, perpetually nude, bathtub-barreling, quip-rattling, cute as a button character. No one would ever like Mary Astor in this. If you're looking for a good Mary Astor movie, this isn't it.

If you're looking for the bathtub in a barrel movie, this is it. Obviously, since Jean Harlow didn't make many movies, you'll want to watch every one she ever made. And she's so incredibly darling, even when she doesn't try to be, like when she leans back in her chair to file her nails and her dress exposes her thigh; or when she flicks Clark's wandering hand off her leg while reading him a bedtime story. The sparks between the real-life friends are off-the-charts, and whenever I see them together, I'm always glad MGM "punished" Clark Gable and Joan Crawford for not covering up their affair as they should have. She was supposed to have been in Red Dust, but they pulled her out at the last minute to give the steamy couple some distance. And now we get to see Jean Harlow immortalized in her barrel bath!

One of My Favorite Pre-Code Films

[cng4 · 10/10 · 4 June 2003]

To me this is one of the films that defined the Pre-Code Era. Complete with prostitution, adultery, sex as a major plot point, partial nudity (well, much more than was allowed during the Code enforcement), drunkenness, and strong women characters, this film has it all. Plus, it has an extremely engaging storyline, interesting setting, and an explanation of how rubber is made. Aside from the racism present, this film is great. One of the most interesting things about this film, which I have studied a great deal as a part of my senior thesis in undergrad film school, is the freshness of the dialogue. Coming only a few years after the addition of sound to films I was shocked to find how fun and refreshing the dialogue was. Whereas lots of films these days disappoint me in that the dialogue is so overly cliched and stale, Red Dust has lines about favorite cheeses and stories read about bunnies-- how fun!

All and all, this movie is terrific. Clark is as virile as anything and Jean Harlow is full of strength and sass and dimensions-- just a great female character. And hell if she isn't going to fight for her man! Mary Astor's character is also very well done as we see and believe that Clark is just so tempted by her and she by him. I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone-- It's a 120 times better than its remake, Mogambo, which despite Gable's presence just totally loses everything that Red Dust had.

Lives up to the hype

[1930s_Time_Machine · 7/10 · 27 June 2022]

This actually is as good as the publicity says. Definitely one to watch.

Back in the thirties, MGM might be thought of as slightly smug and arrogant but watching this you can understand why they were a bit self satisfied. They were the studio who really knew how to make a movie.

Care, detail and time were clearly invested to evoke the feel the insect laden, steamy Indonesian rain forest where the normal constraints and rules of society don't apply. In a similar sort of way to how Coppola evoked the surreal, dislocated world of Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, Victor Fleming brings Clarke Gable's private fiefdom vibrantly to life.

What makes this film so watchable ninety years after it wowed the audiences back in 1932 are the two stars. Gable is perfect as the world's most macho man; you can almost smell the gallons of testosterone he sweats out. I've never been a fan of Jean Harlow but for once, she really shows what she can do - she is brilliant in this. You've also got to impressed by her professionalism in the way she effortlessly makes the personality of her character so real considering her husband was either murdered or committed suicide during its filming.

Harlow/Gable chemistry is unmatched in cinema

[oneway · 10/10 · 19 December 1999]

Red Dust is definitive proof that Gable and Harlow were a unique phenomena in the field of cinema chemistry. It is also stands as a prime example as to why Harlow became a star so quick. She is a loveable sex goddess, and there has simply been no other like her. The way she stares at and chides Gable, and the sheer image of delight which graces her expressive face when she's in his presence, is something that couldn't be taught in any acting college. It is pure Harlow. The production value is quite adequate for 1932, with Harlow playing a prostitute on the run who happens upon Gables rubber plantation. The arrival of Mary Astor and her husband played well by Gene Raymond, threatens Harlow's chances with Gable, as he takes a liking to the pleasant demeanor of Astor. The rain-barrel scene in which gable scolds Harlow for being to "care-free" is one of Hollywood's most memorable film moments. This film was remade as "Mogambo" by John Ford in 1953. The role of "Vantine" (occupied by Harlow) was assumed by Ava Gardner, and the Mary Astor role was assumed by Grace Kelly. Though more than competent in their roles, neither of these actresses could recapture the spark that made Harlow and Gable the "it" couple of the 1930's.

Typical Gable

[grandpagbm · 7/10 · 3 November 2008]

Red Dust sets the tone for Clark Gable's usual character in movies. He is rough, tough, loud, physical, hard-drinking, and domineering. He also shows some of his typical humorous and softer sides, but not as much as in later movies he made. Jean Harlow is a perfect foil for him in this movie, holding her own in their conflict scenes and a perfect match in their love scenes. There is not much to the story, and it's all light-weight action, but there are some good dialog exchanges between Gable and Harlow, well-tuned to their personalities and acting styles. The movie is consistent with the adventure-type films Gable made throughout his career.

Really disappointing - only Jean Harlow shined

[Ursula_Two_Point_Seven_T · 3/10 · 12 July 2005]

I'm a big fan of older movies, esp. the so-called "pre-codes", and so I was really looking forward to seeing this classic. Was I ever disappointed!

On the plus side: Jean Harlow. Great, as always! She played her character with lots of wit and intelligence. The only time this movie was enjoyable was when Jean Harlow was on screen. She had lots of great lines and delivered them with her usual, natural humor.

The negatives: Clark Gable and Mary Astor and the whole entire dumb story! I assume we are supposed to like Clark's character (Denny, the man who runs the rubber plantation), but I found nothing about him to like or root for or sympathize with. First of all, Denny is a DOLT for initially turning down Jean Harlow ... I mean, c'mon, she's gorgeous and smart and funny! Then he uses her for sex (which Jean is OK with), but when it comes time for them to part several weeks later, Jean is looking for a little affection, maybe a hug or kiss goodbye, and Clark stuffs some money down her cleavage. Niiiiiiiiice - what a jerk! Then married, goody-two-shoes Mary Astor comes on the scene (accompanying her husband who has been recently hired as a surveyor for the rubber plantation), and Clark goes ga-ga over her. Give me a break! Mary Astor is decent enough looking, but her character was a complete and total simpering wussy! I found it very unbelievable that a rough and tumble free-spirited guy like Denny would prefer the Mary Astor character over the Jean Harlow character.

Trying not to ruin the plot too much, but when Denny turns all "noble" and gives up Mary Astor (who was going to run away with Denny after Denny told her hubby about the two of them - Mary Astor's character didn't even have the guts to tell her own husband she was leaving him, she was such a wimp!) just because Mary's husband told Denny about how much he (hubby) loved his wife and he would be nothing without her .... well, it seems very unlikely that a cad like Denny would all of a sudden turn noble. So, exit Mary Astor and hubby, leaving Denny and Jean Harlow behind on the plantation. Denny "returns" to Harlow (she being the only available woman left to him). Harlow's character deserved much better than gratefully accepting Denny's "settling" for what was in his mind second best.

This movie left me mad and sad for Jean Harlow's character, and very disappointed at this famous classic pre-code that was supposed to be so great. I love me my down-n-dirty pre-codes, but I just didn't "get" this one. Very disappointing. Jean Harlow, though, was her usual fantastic self. 3 stars for her, -7 for the dreck she was surrounded by!

And the Sparks Fly!

[drednm · 7 July 2005]

Excellent drama set on a rubber plantation stars Clark Gable as a rough-and- tough boss who drives his men to produce rubber in a harsh southeast Asian locale (they mention Saigon a lot). He's awaiting a new surveyor to join his small band on white men (Tully Marshall, Donald Crisp) and Asian workers. But the boat brings Jean Harlow instead, a call girl who has fled the city for a while. Gable and Harlow are terrific as they spit and snarl at each other befall falling into each others' arms. But then the new kid arrives (Gene Raymond) with a wife! Mary Astor (the wife) has one of her first great roles in talkies in this film. Her arrival sets off all kinds of sparks with Gable and with Harlow. The husband is sick right off, allowing Gable and Astor to get friendly. Great chemistry among the stars here, and a very adult script for 1932. Two memorable scenes: Harlow taking a bath in the water barrel; Gable carrying Astor through the torrential monsoon rains. Certainly ranks among the best performances of the 3 stars. Raymond has the thankless role of the wimp husband; Crisp is the drunk; Marshall is the loyal sidekick. Willie Fung (Hoy) and Forrester Harvey (Limey) round out the cast. Hard to believe Harlow is only 21 here and had already made more than 25 films, dating back to silent films in 1928. Oddly, Harlow, Astor, Gable, Marhsall, and Crisp had all started in silent films. It's wonderful to see these stars at their peak. Not to be missed.

Jungle Fever

[lugonian · 7/10 · 19 April 2014]

RED DUST (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1932), directed by Victor Fleming, is a red hot movie featuring the steamy collaboration of Clark Gable and Jean Harlow in their first starring roles together. Having been featured in secondary roles opposite Wallace Beery in the crime drama, THE SECRET SIX (MGM, 1931, RED DUST establishes Gable and Harlow, with their italic labeled names above the title, as the latest box-office draw. Coming in the wake of jungle related stories as TRADER HORN (1931) and TARZAN THE APE MAN (1932), or Harlow's floozy character somewhat inspired by W. Somerset Maugham's own Sadie Thompson lifted from RAIN (United Artists, 1932), RED DUST, set in a remote location of Indo-China, no doubt was a huge success at the time. Watching the chemistry between Gable and Harlow shows the reason why.

Taken from the play by Wilson Collison, the plot revolves around Dennis Carson (Clark Gable) in charge of a rubber plantation assisted by McQuarg (Tully Marshall) and Guidon (Donald Crisp). Upon their return from Saigon by boat, Carson encounters Vantine (Jean Harlow), a tough talking blonde babe of questionable background ("I'm not used to sleeping at night") eluding the Saigon police, found on the bed of the drunken Guidon. Carson, ("I've been looking at her kind ever since my voice changed"), allows Vantine ("Pollyanna, the Glad Girl") to remain on the plantation headquarters until the next boat arrives. Though they have a rocky start constantly arguing, Dennis and Vantine soon come to mutual terms. As Vantine leaves on the next boat, Dennis goes to greet Gary Willis (Gene Raymond), a young engineer to be his new assistant. Aside from being stricken with fever, Gary surprises Dennis by introducing him to his new bride, Barbara (Mary Astor). Later, due to the boat getting stuck in the mud, Vantine returns to the plantation and Dennis' life. After Gary recovers from his illness, Dennis sends him away on assignment assisted by McQuarg and Guidon to supervise the construction of a jungle bridge. In the meantime, Dennis, having already had a relationship with Vantine, finds himself doing the same with Gary's wife.

If the plot sounds overly familiar, in true Hollywood essence of "great movies are not made, they're remade," the basis of RED DUST reappeared in CONGO MAISIE (MGM, 1940), the second of the "Maisie" series starring Ann Sothern, and officially remade more famously as MOGAMBO (MGM, 1953) with the much older Clark Gable repeating his original role with different character name. Stretched out to nearly two hours as opposed to the original's 83 minutes, MOGAMBO, set in Africa, has Ava Gardner ("Honey Bear") and Grace Kelly (Linda) in the Astor and Harlow roles. MOGAMBO proved to be Gable's last great motion picture for MGM before leaving his home-based company after 23 years of service. The advantage MOGAMBO has over RED DUST is the fact that MOGAMBO does not have the studio bound with stage origin feel to it, yet, greatly benefits in both Technicolor and actual location shooting in Africa. The advantages RED DUST has over MOGAMBO is the fact the movie is very much pre-code, with situations and toned-down vulgar talk between Harlow and Gable. Other classic Harlow moments include her bathing in a barrel of drinking water; reading Peter Rabbit stories to Dennis; and her presentation of a tough girl with a heart of gold.

With Harlow having a reputation of not being such a good actress, under Victor Fleming's direction, she's actually quite effective here as well as alluring. Mary Astor as the dignified wife who falls into Gable's charms, comes off as second best. Gene Raymond is acceptable as the young man who looks up to his employer, but clueless to what's happening behind his back. With a small assortment of players listed in the cast, there's also Forrester Harvey as Limey, and Willie Fung assuming his usual stereotypical broken English speaking Chinese ("Ah lite") for comedy assurance.

Though the leading players prove more favorable than the title of RED DUST (RED LUST might have been more like it), the film itself is a classic in its own right. As in situations of remakes versus originals, it does leave the old question as to which movie is better, RED DUST or MOGAMBO. Distributed to home video in the 1980s, and later into DVD decades later, RED DUST continues to entertain whenever broadcast, sometimes on a double bill with MOGAMBO, on Turner Classic Movies. (***)

"You can check the wings and halo at the desk."

[utgard14 · 8/10 · 13 April 2014]

Wonderful pre-Code film with Clark Gable playing a rubber plantation owner in Indochina. Jean Harlow plays a prostitute that becomes an unwanted visitor of Gable's. Unwanted for a little while, at least. She is Jean Harlow, after all! Then an engineer arrives at the plantation along with his wife (Mary Astor). Gable quickly takes an interest in Astor, tossing Harlow aside.

This movie would make the career highlight reel of all involved. Good script and solid performances from all. Gable is at his charmingly gruff best. Harlow is sexy, fun, and very likable. Possibly my favorite role of hers. Astor is quite good, too. Even Gene Raymond works well and I usually can't stand him. This was remade as "Mogambo," directed by John Ford. It also stars Gable but with Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly and the setting moved to Africa. It's not as good as this one but still worth checking out. This one, though, is a classic that everybody should see.

Love triangle--or quadrangle--at Southeast Asian rubber plantation

[netwallah · 7/10 · 14 June 2006]

Out in the jungles of south-east Asia there are westerners running rubber plantations. Three days by boat from Saigon—here pronounced "say gone"—is the plantation owned by Denny Carson (Clark Gable). A surprisingly pretty blonde just shows up one day, explaining that she'd gotten in trouble along the river and thought it best to lie low a while. She's Vantine Jefferson (Jean Harlow), and she's no better than she should be. Even though Denny is a terrible bully, always pushing his "lazy coolies" around and treating Vantine like dirt, she breaks through to him with amusing chatter about Rocquefort and Gorgonzola cheese. They "hook up," as the current parlance would have it, and when she leaves on the boat after a while Denny hands her money. Idiot. Then on the scene comes the new surveyor, Gary Willis (Gene Raymond), young and green and ill with malaria—and along with him comes his wife Barbara (Mary Astor), obviously used to and expecting better things. There's friction between her and Denny, and between her and Vantine, who's returned. And the friction between Babs and Denny turns heated while her husband has been sent away to survey an exceedingly wet part of the jungle. A rotten trick. The love story is supposed to be heated, what with Gable's manly grasping and Astor's melting eyes—and she looks pretty good in thin, summer-weight rain-soaked clothes, too. Denny's all set to tell Willis, but hearing the young man talk about his plans, he has a change of heart. He rides six hours back from the wet jungle camp and drinks and kisses Vantine, telling her with disgusted tones he's turned all angelic. Babs sees them rolling about, and Denny explains he was just using her, and she shoots him just as her suspicious husband arrives. Babs stands there shaking and Vantine pipes up with the right lie, that Denny had been after her relentlessly and she finally shot him, and Willis believes the story. All is well, with Denny and Vantine, who suit each other, together. The plot is grade B melodrama, weighed down by the colonialist subtext—somebody has to get the rubber from the jungle to the balloon tires, and the coolies won't do anything if they're not bullied into it, and weighed down by the pervasive racism, and weighed down by the incredibly annoying notion that a tall, handsome, arrogant, misogynistic brute is the ultimate in sex appeal, and weighed down by the utterly predictable love triangle plot. The only thing that saves the movie is the fizzy dialogue between Harlow and Gable, and the jaunty, sexy, teasing flirtatiousness of Harlow, who brightens every scene she's given.

Gable and Harlow raise the heat

[moviefreak37 · 8/10 · 30 November 2003]

A very entertaining movie with Gable and Harlow at their best.They really shine in their roles.Also a good performance by a young Mary Astor.It's easy to see that Clark Gable consolidated his newly won fame with this film.He shows his magnificent charisma on the screen perhaps for the first time to full effect.Harlow matches him all the way.An inspired pairing.

A sizzler to some, but really just a tepid tryst in the tropics

[SimonJack · 6/10 · 30 October 2015]

Some movie buffs seem to think that if a movie is "pre-code" it must be good. Or, if it "sizzles," it must be interesting. Well, I like a good number of Hollywood movies made before the Hays Office enforced the studios' own code. Some definitely have sizzle. Others don't but they're good. There also are some real stinkers. Most are somewhere in between. I think a film needs more than sizzle to be very good – whether "pre-code" or later. It should have a good plot and screenplay. It should have good production qualities. It should have good sets, good camera work and good direction and editing. And the cast should all give good performances.

"Red Dust" has an interesting plot, and it has lots of sizzle. But unfortunately, it suffers in most other areas. The only very good performance in the film is Jean Harlow as Vantine. Harlow has true talent that never seems to be wasted in any of her films. She has a persona of a tough cookie, and often naughty girl in most of her films – comedy or dramatic. I would like to have seen her in a different type of dramatic role, and in a wacky comedy to see how she could handle such roles. Unfortunately, she died at age 26 from blood poisoning due to kidney failure.

As much as I like Clark Gable as an actor, I think he way overacts here in his character as Dennis Carson. And, for the first half of the film, he's a very unlikable fellow. We know Gable can be boisterous and cantankerous, but he's loud, complaining and grouchy to the point of being obnoxious in the early part of this film. Now, in contrast, Mary Astor plays way under her role. She gives the impression of one just biding her time as this soap opera plays out. Her performance seems wooden throughout the film. As Barbara Willis, she arrives with her husband on a boat at the rubber plantation upstream in a country of SE Asia. She changes at the drop of a coin from a prim and proper attitude at the start, to a withdrawn, apologetic milquetoast in the next scene, and then to a very familiar and perky person for a short time. Talk about mood switches in a movie. When Dennis comes on to her so quickly and blatantly, she seems to easily slip into adultery with so little struggle.

Tully Marshall and Donald Crisp are OK in their roles as McQuarg and Guidon. Gene Raymond as Gary Willis is just so-so. He seems too fragile and out of place – and not because he comes down with Malaria. Perhaps they made his character that way for greater contrast with the rugged, crude and vulgar Dennis. But, I think it made the direction and casting seem weaker. Willie Fung's role as the giggling Malaysian cook, Hoy, is goofy. The rest of the supporting cast are mostly native workers.

Some others have noted that the set was recycled from another film or two. It doesn't appear to have weathered very well. Pun aside, most of the settings for this movie had the feel of being on stage. I am in a different frame of mind when watching a play on stage, than I have when watching a movie. With a play, I know it's constrained and confined, so I delve more into the plot. With movies, I imagine that we're looking at a scene set in a house surrounded by lawns and woods or city, or in the outdoors that runs on and on. So I know that the characters could suddenly move outside or take off in a car. It has a sense of openness and looking down on real life from an eagle's vantage point.

The production quality of the DVD I watched is quite poor. Apparently Victor Fleming directed this film, but he's not credited for it. I wouldn't think he would care that much, because this is far inferior to most of his work. I give "Red Dust" six stars for the sizzle and Jean Harlow's acting. She is a hooker with a good heart who falls for Dennis. The soap opera ending was almost laughable. Although, Gable came close to convincing one that he had repented and didn't want to ruin the nice kid, Gary's marriage. This is an early look at Gable in the days before he grew a mustache.

A Trip to Cinema's Past with a Timeless Theme

[lawprof · 8/10 · 10 January 2004]

If you can't stand old films that perpetuate and even celebrate racist notions, skip 1932's "Red Dust." Putting that historical reality in perspective, "Red Dust" is a very good, well-acted film set in a studio's fantasy of the Indo-China jungle and its rubber plantations.

Where would film have gone in depicting real romantic relationships with steamy exchanges and barely hidden amorous capers if, two years after "Red Dust," the puritanical code that stifled sexuality hadn't been imposed? Who knows but here Clark Gable as Denny, a plantation manager, Jean Harlow as Lily, a woman who, as they used to say, was no better than she ought to be and lovely Mary Astor as Babs Willis act out an adult story.

Babs is married to "gosh, oh, golly" idealist and almost straight man Gary Willis, played with affecting naivete by Gene Raymond. Gary works for Denny who is working Babs. Sent away into the deep black-and-white monsoon greenery of the jungle by Denny, Gene is thankful for what he thinks is a fine job opportunity. Also happy are Babs and Denny whose obvious affair is portrayed without any of the sweaty gymnastics that are the staple of today's films.

Enter Lily who really loves Denny and knows she's the only true tramp for him. Gene is planning (in 1932!) for a house in Westchester County, NY (then a true rural backwater, not a suburban one) complete with kids. Denny doesn't know what he wants and Babs loves him but she hasn't forgotten she's hitched.

Director Victor Fleming lets this story play out within, barely, the bounds of then acceptable storytelling.

"Red Dust" shows up on movie channels and is available for sale. It's an important piece of Hollywood's pre-war history and is still a viewer-grabbing flick.

8/10.

sweaty triangle

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 7 January 2020]

Dennis Carson (Clark Gable) is the frustrated owner of an Indochina rubber plantation. Vantine (Jean Harlow) arrives on the boat and is hiding out from the Saigon police. Despite being initially disinterested, he gets hooked on the brassy female. Then surveyor Gary Willis arrives with his restrained wife Barbara. Gary becomes ill with malaria and Dennis falls for Barbara.

It's a pre-Code movie with Jean Harlow taking a bath in a barrow. It's trashy. It's a pulpy romance. It's sweaty. Clark Gable is a hard man. Mary Astor and Jean Harlow cannot be more different other than that they are both beautiful women. There isn't enough heat between Gable and Astor although they have one soaking wet kiss. There is a difference between hesitant and cold. Gable and Harlow have a bit more fun. More back and forth like the barrow bath would improve the situation. Overall, Astor is too cold, Dennis' feelings are a little muddled, and the triangle is a little shaky.

Steamy sizzling - Harlow outdoes Gable

[amboyd · 10/10 · 20 February 2002]

Red Dust without a doubt is the best movie Harlow and Gable ever made together or separate! Harlow is magnificent and looks like a dream. She puts Gable in his place every time he utters a word. But together, they are magic - such chemistry! The rest of the cast just fades when these two melt together. Two scenes that are memorable - Harlow bathing in the water barrel and cleaning out the parrot's cage. Wow! She is dynamite. There is no other blonde bombshell that even comes close to this original!

Lust and Clothing in Southeast Asia

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 11 April 2014]

In Southeast Asia, rugged plantation owner Clark Gable (as Dennis "Denny" Carson) is annoyed to discover an overweight drunk in his rustic jungle home. He tosses the bum in a bed and discovers platinum blonde prostitute Jean Harlow (as Vantine Jefferson) laying there in the sheets. The two are mutually attracted and begin copulating when the camera drifts out of range. Shipwrecked and stranded, Ms. Harlow starts to imagine a commitment, but Mr. Gable states, "I'm not a one woman man." Gable next sets his sights on ladylike but lusty Mary Astor (as Barbara Willis), who arrives with her ailing husband Gene Raymond (as Gary Willis) for hunting and surveying. He is impressed with Gable's hunting prowess while she checks out her host's animal magnetism...

"Red Dust" provided film-goers with the irresistible prospect of seeing Gable and Harlow saunter around half-naked (something acknowledged in the film's script). They still have the attraction, while Ms. Astor manages to hold most of her own during her time on screen. Stalwart character actors Tully Marshall and Donald Crisp are also nice to see – fully clothed. But giving them all competition for getting attention is Chinese housekeeper Willie Fung (as Hoy); originally good for a few chuckles, his character is almost jaw-dropping today, buck teeth and all. Also interesting is that Gable was still taking off his shirt and chasing women as "Red Dust" became "Mogambo" (1953) over 20 years later. Don't imagine Harlow and Astor would be asked to reprise their roles.

****** Red Dust (10/22/32) Victor Fleming ~ Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Mary Astor, Gene Raymond

AN EARLY ATTEMPT AT SEAMINESS...!

[masonfisk · 5/10 · 30 May 2021]

A early drama set at a rubber plantation in Indochina from 1932 & directed by Victor Fleming (The Wizard of Oz/Gone with the Wind). Clark Gable & Jean Harlow star in this drama in which a plantation owner's relationship w/a prostitute (she's never identified as one but we get the gist) becomes interesting when his new employee & wife come into the picture & she catches Gable's eye. Swinging back & forth between both women, Gable struggles to keep his head on straight as the usual highs & lows of his profession weigh on his mind. Coming out in the early days of talkies, this film suffers from its stilted drama & its lack of a cinematic look to its production (a film score is absent & some of the backdrop screens are noticeable) which is more indicative of the time in which the film was made & the language of movies was still in its infancy. Still worth a look for the bare bones attempt on view.