#Idiot's Delight 1939

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

February: Coeli's Monochrome Picks

Idiot's Delight / Norma Shearer as Irene

You can definitely see that we're moving toward the silhouette of the 1940s with this dress (from 1939). The character is supposed to be a Russian expatriate, which is reflected in the styling of her outerwear. And those chunky boots have an almost 1970s look to them.

[citizenscreen]

The week is the 85th anniversary of Clarence Brown’s IDIOT’S DELIGHT starring Norma Shearer and Clark Gable. (1939)

[thedivinecomedy0]

Clark Gable and Norma Shearer in Idiot’s Delight (Clarence Brown, 1939).

[clarklovescarole]

January 1939: Clark & Carole Delight

Numerous pictures were printed after Clark and Carole were seen together for the first time following news of his wife’s trip to Las Vegas to establish residency for a quick divorce. They attended the preview of “Idiot’s Delight,” to the delight of newspaper gossips. They looked extremely happy. 

GABLE AND CAROLE SEE SHOW TOGETHER

January 24, 1939 – Associated Press

Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, making their first public appearance since Mrs. Maria Gable announced she planned to sue for divorce, attended a preview Monday night, smiling broadly as they pushed through throngs outside the theater. 

Both laughed as photographers stopped them for pictures, and Miss Lombard clung tightly to Gable’s arm as the crowd pressed in. The preview was “Idiot’s Delight,” starring Gable and Norma Shearer.

January 24, 1939 – Des Moines Tribune

Gable and Lombard

Clark Gable, with Carole Lombard, attended a preview of his latest picture at a Hollywood theater. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gable is establishing residence at Las Vegas, Nev., preparatory to obtaining divorce. Note Gable’s hair growing for part as Rhett Butler in “Gone with the Wind.” 

January 25, 1939 - San Francisco Examiner

Film Romance – Nuptials Awaited

CUPID HAS LEAD – Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, film stars, shown together at a preview of a recent Gable picture. Friends expect the couple will marry as soon as Mrs. Rhea Gable’s divorce is granted in Nevada.

Carole Lombard, Gable Spring Marriage Seen

Close friends of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, film stars, expect that they will be married sometime this spring. The exact date of the wedding will, it is pointed out, depend on when Mrs. Rhea Gable, who now is residing in Nevada, will receive her divorce.

The Gable-Lombard romance long has been a popular Hollywood topic and their impending marriage has been expected just as soon as Gable is free.

January 26, 1939 – The Decatur Herald

Film Couple at Preview

Clark Gable and Carole Lombard attend a preview of Gable’s new picture. It was the first time they had been seen together since Mrs. Gable announced that she would seek a divorce.

January 28, 1939 – Santa Cruz Evening News

Changing Your Signature, Carole? 

Los Angeles autograph seekers besiege Clark Gable and Carole Lombard on their first public appearance since Mrs. Rhea Gable announced her intention of seeing a divorce.

[byneddiedingo]

Clark Gable and Norma Shearer in Idiot's Delight (Clarence Brown, 1939) Cast: Clark Gable, Norma Shearer, Edward Arnold, Charles Coburn, Joseph Schildkraut, Burgess Meredith, Laura Hope Crews, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Peter Willes, Pat Paterson, William Edmunds, Fritz Feld. Screenplay: Robert E. Sherwood, based on his play. Cinematography: William H. Daniels. Art direction: Cedric Gibbons. Film editing: Robert Kern. Music: Herbert Stothart. To make a critic's obvious joke, Idiot's Delight is sometimes idiotic and rarely delightful. It's mostly a rather ill-advised filming of Robert E. Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1936 play about a world on the brink of war. The world was even further out on that brink by the time the film was made, and two distinct endings were shot. One, for U.S. audiences, is conventionally neutral (as the United States was at the time) about whether a world war was about to happen. The other, to be shown abroad, takes a more pessimistic view. But the whole film is riddled with a confusion of tone. This is the movie in which Clark Gable, playing a vaudevillian, sings and dances to Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz" and is carried offstage by a group of chorus girls -- a sequence revived by its inclusion in the 1974 celebration of MGM musical numbers, That's Entertainment. Gable is game throughout the film, especially when he has to play opposite Norma Shearer at her most arch. The original Broadway version starred Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne; Gable and Shearer are not the Lunts.

[annoyinglyperfectartisan]

Idiot's Delight, 1939

[anime-dub-transcripts]

Hetalia: Axis Powers Episode #38 Transcript

This episode has Italy and Germany pinkie swear to be allies and Sealand sneaking into the G8 conference.

Japan: Germany. I was cleaning up my dolphin stew mess and I found this.

Germany: Auh…auh…

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Germany: Well, who knew flipper would taste so gamey? Uh, don’t bother cleaning up; you are a guest here in my home, Japan.

Japan: Hai!

(Hai!: Yes! → Japanese)

Japan: I am demonstrate appreciation! Now read this letter, okay?! I tried to read it first, but I cannot make out the crap scribble.

Germany: Hm?

Germany [reading from letter]: Dear Germany, it’s your friend, Italy. I had a really scary dream last night and I don’t want it to come true. I dreamt you stopped being my BF…F because…

Germany, Italy [reading from letter]: …Russia was cooler and less like…well… me!

Italy [in a letter]: Your friend forever, Italy Veneziano. P.S. Those sausages you left outside taste really bad.

Germany: Ugh…it’s from Italy and he’s freaking out.

Japan: Italy is literate?! Uh…we already ate; what are you cooking now?

Germany: Oh, I’m making wurst. I wanted something for dessert.

{Caption: [Wurst] A German sausage. It is said that originally this was made by nomads in northwestern China and then was brought to Europe}

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Germany: Hetalia!

{Caption: Hetalia}

Germany: Uh, hello, Italy?

Italy: Aah!

Germany: I wanted to speak with you for…one minute if, uh…that is okay.

(Italy: Uh uh uh uh uh….)

Italy: Aah! Germany! How are you? I’m good, thanks! Oh, you didn’t ask, did you? I feel stupid now, you know like when you tell a weird---

Germany: Um…I just want to say…Russia will not be interfering with our friendship. So we can be best friends forever.

(Italy: Oh, you too? Are you enjoying your meal? Can I get you anything? But if you leave a bigger tip when that happens---)

Italy: Oh!

Germany: Nghh…nh.

Italy: Wow! How cool! I didn’t know that you were telepathetic!

Germany: Ja…that, and I read idiot.

(Ja: Yes → German)

Germany: Anyway, I will swear this oath to you if you would like.

Italy: You mind reader! That’s awesome, but I’m kind of embarrassed because of what I’m thinking about right now.

Pookie: Meow!

Germany: I don’t care what you’re thinking! Do you want me to make this oath or not?

Italy: Yeah! Pinky swear!

Germany: Ja…

(Ja: Yes → German)

Italy: Germany? Where did pinky swear come from?

Germany: Japan. Never ask him to elephant swear.

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Italy: Hetalia!

{Caption: Hetalia}

Germany: Italy, you need to know things won’t be as safe for you from now on. We should make some sort of agreement, I think. If you’re ever in danger, let me know, I’ll be there no matter what. You’re my friend, and I will not fail you. And when I’m in trouble, you must be there to rescue me too. Although I won’t get my hopes up.

Italy: Ahuh!

Italy’s thoughts: Germany and I have an agreement. Fun!

Germany: Oh, I almost forgot.

Italy: Oh? Thanks! What’s this? Nom! Nom nom nom…mm!

Germany: How is it?

Italy: Outside, it doesn’t taste like death as much!

{Caption: He cooked the best sausage he had}

{Caption: May 22, 1939 German-Italian Military Alliance Pact of Steel Signed}

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Canada: Hetalia!

{Caption: Hetalia}

Japan: All of the members of G8 are now here. Shall we get started?

Britain: Um…considering what happened last time, I’d like to make sure no one’s missing. Something is not quite right…Canada, are you here?

Sealand [imitating Canada]: Yep, I’m here!

Japan: Everyone is here, let us start!

Italy: I’m here, I’m here!

Germany: I’m present as well.

Russia: What about China? I think it’s most definitely China. Hmhmhmhm...

Britain: It’s not China, Russia, you just want it to be!

America: Hahahahaha! Dude, Britain, I’m starving, bro!

France: I’ll make us a most delightful lunch!

Britain: Shut up!

America: Yo! You called a false alarm again! You’re like the boy who cried wolf or…something.

Britain: Oh…yeah. I guess you’re right.

Sealand [imitating Canada]: Sure he’s right, you British jerk of jerks!

Britain: I WAS RIGHT! IT’S SEALAND!

(Sealand: AAAAAAHHHH!)

Sealand: How did you figure it out? I curled my hair and everything! Aah!

{Caption: Yank}

Sealand: That stung, you bully! And not only was it unnecessary, it was quite rude.

Britain: Why don’t you just go home and watch anime?

America: Hahaha!

Britain: America, I’m trying to lecture here.

Japan: Oh no, I am suddenly concerned for Canada’s safety.

Russia: Yeah…I’m concerned too!

(Canada: Aah…aah…aah aah…)

{Caption: Squeeze…}

Canada: Maple leeeeaf.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finland: Ehewhewhewhewhe! Seriously, you guys, this isn’t funny anymore! Ehweh! It’s so mean and cruel and stupid!

{Caption: Next time…}

[letsgetreelz]

Idiot’s Delight is one of my favorite classic films. Norma Shearer and Clark Gable are beyond perfect in this hilarious comedy. 

If you guys have any suggestions/request for movies for me to review send me a message through this blog or through my other socials. If I pick your movie and watch it and review it I’ll give you a shout out. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cinethusiast Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsgetreelz.

[itsagablething]

Clark Gable and Norma Shearer for “Idiot’s Delight” 1939.

[yesterdaysprint]

Clark Gable and Norma Shearer in Idiot’s Delight (1939)

[marylikesmovies]

The Beguiling, Norma Shearer

(1902 - 1983)

- Shearer was nominated for an Academy Award 6 times as Best Leading Actress, recieving the honor once in 1930 for “The Divorcee” -

< First Credited Film: The Stealers, 1920 >

< Last Credited Film: Her Cardboard Lover, 1942 >

[citizenscreen]

Costume designer Adrian confers with Norma Shearer on set of Clarence Brown’s IDIOT’S DELIGHT (1939)

[chaptertwo-thepacnw]

norma shearer, idiot’s delight |1939|

[lanaturnerhascollapsed]

Motion Picture, September 1939

[hedda-hopper]