Love on the Run (1936)

boring

I'm a big Joan Crawford fan and a fan of old B&W movies....but this one is just kinda boring. Did see the Last of Mrs. Cheney, though and that was very good. Joan really sparkled in the latter. September 21, 2006

A DELIGHTFULL FILM

A WONDERFULL TRIO(CLARK GABLE,JOAN CRAWFORD AND FRANCHOT TONE) MAKE "LOVE ON THE RUN" A LOT OF FUN AND ADVENTURE MOVIE.VERY GOOD STORY.MY FAVORITE SCENE IN THE MOVIE IS WHEN GABLE AND CRAWFORD ARE IN A FRENCH CASLE AND A MAN WHO TAKE CARE OF THE CASLE THINKS GABLE AND CRAWFORD ARE THE GOST OF FAMOUS FRENCH KING AND QUEEN.ALSO THE CONFRONTATION BEETWEEN THE TOO REPORTERS(GABLE AND TONE) MAKE THE PICTURE TOO FUNNNY.
WHITH A VERY GOOD SUPPORTING CAST,"LOVE ON THE RUN" IS A TRULY GREAT ENTERTAINEMENT.MUST SEE FILM. April 26, 2005

It Happened One Night

W.S. Van Dyke's mild attempt at a screwball comedy should not be confused with the Francois Truffaut film of the same title.

"Love on the Run" as one viewer mentioned has elements of "It Happened One Night". I would also like to add to that list "Roman Holiday" and another van Dyke comedy "It's A Wonderful World" starring Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert (do not confuse this with the Frank Capra film "It's A Wonderful Life").

Gable, once again plays the role of a reporter who catches onto the story of his life when Sally Parker (Joan Crawford) becomes a runaway bride! Parker has decided that her soon-to-be husband was only interested in her money. But, what Sally doesn't know is that Gable is actually a reporter sent to do a story on her wedding. Gable helps Sally escape and the two go into hiding.

That is just about enough information for you to figure out where the film goes from there. Especially if you've seen the films I mentioned ealier.

"Love on the Run" has a very good beginning and around the middle lost me. I'll give you a hint: Gable prentends to be King Louis XIV.

Van Dyke, whom by no means do I consider one of the great directors, does a good job of dealing with what he has. Gable and Crawford have good chemistry going, the two had already appeared together, "Dancing Lady" is an example. And there are some funny moments especially the character of the caretaker, Donald Meek, and I didn't even mind the somewhat confusing plot going on with Reginald Owen as Baron Otto Spandermann.

What "Love on the Run" lacks is some better writing. The comedy could have been better and the romance scenes even more so. Here we have Clark Gable, the sex symbol of the day, and many of the love scenes are flat. The two have one good scene which actually reveals a lot for its time.

If your a Gable or Crawford fan "Love on the Run" should be able to please you. If you enjoy classic hollywood films you too will get a kick out of this, but, you have to admit, we've seen this done before, and in some cases better.

Bottom-line: Worthwhile Gable and Crawford vehicle that displays their chemistry. Some funny moments (though not enough) and one good love scene (again not enough) make the film what it is. November 12, 2004

Fast Moving Romp With Joan Crawford And Clark Gable

While it would never be called the best comedy ever made, "Love on the Run", is a fast paced, comic escapade that provides a refreshing light hearted role for MGM drama queen Joan Crawford just as she was beginning to move out of her "shopgirl", phase into more meaty dramtic roles. The theme of a flighty heiress running away from a stuffy fiancee and falling for the lovable heel who just might or might not be taking her for a ride is one often used in the 1930's screwball comedies. The most notable example of course is Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night", however here the idea, as silly as it may appear at times, gets the full MGM treatment as a star vehicle for the legendary acting team of Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. In the seventh of their eight teamings as a screen couple the pair go all out for laughs in the fast paced "Love on the Run", which is very typical of many of the screwball comedies of this era. Joan Crawford in particular takes on a very different type of character here and she seems to enjoy the madcap proceedings as the film taking its cue from the title, literally turns into one unending chase sequence with love predictably blossoming along the way.

Based on a lightweight story by Alan Green and Julian Brodie, "Love on the Run", finds two "friends", and rival newspaper correspondants Mike Anthony(Clark Gable), and Barney Pells (Franchot Tone), covering two concurrent events in Europe; the society wedding of flighty heiress Sally Parker (Joan Crawford), to shady Prince Igor (Ivan Lebedeff),and the stratosphere flight of Baron and Baroness Spandermann (Reginald Owen and Mona Barrie), who in actual fact are spies using the flight to smuggle out valauble defense documents. The routine assignment of covering another indulgent society wedding however hots up when Sally decides to run out on the groom at the altar and hides out in her hotel room where she is trapped by the hated reporters who continually make her life a tabloid misery. Sally makes the acquaintance of Mike who in his brazen manner breaks into her hotel room pretending to be an admirer who has taken pity on her. Sally has no idea that Mike is one of the hated reporters who she is trying to get away from. Seeing the scoop of a life time in front of him Mike offers to help her in her escape and after throwing rival Barney off the scent he helps Sally make her escape when both of them steal the flying clothes of the Baron and Baroness and take off in their plane for the continent. Complications arise however when Sally and Mike discover the smuggled documents on the plane and they realise that the Spandermann's are crooks and that having discovered the documents makes them marked individuals. After a crash landing Mike and Sally find themselves in all sorts of comic mishaps when they steal a clothing van and keep one step ahead of both the Baron and his gang and also of Barney who is in hot pursuit of his "buddy", who has double crossed him one time too many. Wandering throught the french countryside the pair stumble across the closed Palace of Fontainbleau and end up staying the night where they are mistaken for the ghosts of Louis the Fourteenth and Madame de Maintenon by the eccentric caretaker (Donald Meek). When Barney catches up with the pair they find themselves the targets of the Baron's spy ring which is intent upon getting back the documents. During the chase Mike finds himself falling in love with Sally and wanting to do the right thing decides tell her about his real job as a newspaperman. She however takes it the wrong way and feels totally betrayed by the man she is also starting to fall in love with. It takes a real crisis when Sally and Mike are held captive at gunpoint by the spy ring for her to see that Mike is trying to do the right thing and truly loves her. Barney of course once again is the dupe left literally holding the baby when he is hoodwinked into taking Mike's place as the Baron's captive but the spy ring is overpowered by the trio and Mike and Sally make their escape. Openly declaring their love for each other they soon see it's "business as usual", in the newspaper business when they return to find Barney even in his bound and gagged state trying to get a wire through to the newspaper to get a headline about the new romance between Mike and Sally.

Frothy nonsense "Love on the Run", might certainly be but it is blessed with some great acting by the leads and supporting cast. Joan Crawford and Clark Gable were largely remembered for their dramatic efforts together but this film offers them a unique opportunity to cut loose with some crazy shindigs that actually suit them very well. Joan Crawford has actually never looked more animated than she does in this role and of course no 1930's Crawford film would be complete without at least a selection of spectacular gowns by MGM designer Adrian which in "Love on the Run", often turn up in the most unlikely places as seen in the scene when Mike and Sally steal the van in the village that just happens to have some evening gowns hanging in the back! Franchot Tone as the sap who is continually outsmarted by Mike delivers a wacky performance and spends much of his screen time hung up on clothes pegs or being bound and gagged. He displays a flair for screwball comedy not often associated with the then Mr. Joan Crawford. Supporting performances are generally interesting here ranging from Donald Meek's delightfully eccentric Ghost seeing Palace Caretaker, through to Reginald Owen and Mona Barrie who do great work as the villians Baron and Baroness Spandermann. The fast pace of "Love on the Run", is achieved by the famously fast working MGM director W.S. Van Dyke who's great fame lies in the early "Thin Man", films. This kind of romp filled with smart dialogue and rapidly changing situations is ideally suited to the directing style of Van Dyke who earned his title of "One Take Woody", on efforts such as this. Being a major Crawford/Gable vehicle "Love on the Run", of course received "A" class expertise in every facet of the production as was highlighted in the lavish set design by Cedric Gibbons for the Palace of Fontainbleau scenes.

"Love on the Run", could be passed off as simply a typical assembly line product of a major studio however I appreciate the films showcasing of the three main actors in largely non traditional roles that come across well. While Joan Crawford and Clark Gable always combined well on screen and were a formidable Box Office team in the 1930's some critics felt that their comedy efforts were a mistake. I'm inclined to disagree with that assumption and I feel the role of Sally Parker in particular gave Joan Crawford the opportunity to show a softer and at times comical side to her established screen persona. For classic movie fans who enjoy their movies fast moving and filled with snappy dialogue "Love on the Run", makes fun entertainment from Hollywood's Golden Age.

October 26, 2004

Entertaining,lovely,and carefree.

I found this movie quite lovely.However, if your looking for a drama ridden, heart wrencher don't bother with this one. Love on the Run goes by the usual MGM formula outline. Beautiful ladies ( Joan Crawford), handsome men (Clark Gable & the former "Mr. Crawford" Franchot Tone), a dilemma, a joyous resolution. And finally, Love. One word sums it up, CUTE! December 17, 2003

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