Was very intrigued by the idea of the story and its themes. Further sparking my interest were that 'Strange Cargo' was directed by Frank Borzage, a director who deserved and still does deserve more credit, and a great cast, including Clark Gable and Joan Crawford in their eighth and last film paired together. Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas and Albert Dekker are always worth watching, the most familiar for me is Lorre and he especially applies here.
A final pairing that showed them off well and was worthy of their talent. Neither are at their very best sure and both did better films, but 'Strange Cargo' still manages to be interesting and entertaining despite its flaws. It is understandable why people find 'Strange Cargo' a strange film, in a way it is and it is not hard to see where people are coming from with their criticisms, but strange (not a positive adjective a good deal of the time with me) in an intriguing way.
'Strange Cargo' is not without flaws. Do agree that it does get heavy-handed at times, especially towards the end with the allegorical themes being laid on rather too thickly and the spiritual redemption angle could have been made clearer.
Parts of the story do strain credibility and some of the dialogue could have been tighter and more subtle.
The main reason to see 'Strange Cargo' however is the cast, all more than game in their roles. Both Gable and Crawford are very good, Gable has charisma and tough intensity aplenty and by Crawford standards her performance here is quite understated (am not knocking her as an actress by the way, actually like her a lot). Their chemistry sizzles as it should. Lorre is deliciously loathsome if somewhat underused and Lukas gave me the chills. Dekker has fun and Ian Hunter makes an interesting character out of one that could have been potentially bland.
Borzage directs with his usual sensitivity as well as an edge, don't usually associate him with this sort of film but he does very well and directs attentively if sometimes lacking the extra dramatic punch. It's a good looking film and Franz Waxman provides a haunting and moody music score in his usual unmistakable style. The script does provoke thought mostly and the story is compelling, never dull, with its starkness still quite raw, some of the content was daring back then and one can see why.
To conclude, interesting and entertaining. 7/10 Bethany Cox
A final pairing that showed them off well and was worthy of their talent. Neither are at their very best sure and both did better films, but 'Strange Cargo' still manages to be interesting and entertaining despite its flaws. It is understandable why people find 'Strange Cargo' a strange film, in a way it is and it is not hard to see where people are coming from with their criticisms, but strange (not a positive adjective a good deal of the time with me) in an intriguing way.
'Strange Cargo' is not without flaws. Do agree that it does get heavy-handed at times, especially towards the end with the allegorical themes being laid on rather too thickly and the spiritual redemption angle could have been made clearer.
Parts of the story do strain credibility and some of the dialogue could have been tighter and more subtle.
The main reason to see 'Strange Cargo' however is the cast, all more than game in their roles. Both Gable and Crawford are very good, Gable has charisma and tough intensity aplenty and by Crawford standards her performance here is quite understated (am not knocking her as an actress by the way, actually like her a lot). Their chemistry sizzles as it should. Lorre is deliciously loathsome if somewhat underused and Lukas gave me the chills. Dekker has fun and Ian Hunter makes an interesting character out of one that could have been potentially bland.
Borzage directs with his usual sensitivity as well as an edge, don't usually associate him with this sort of film but he does very well and directs attentively if sometimes lacking the extra dramatic punch. It's a good looking film and Franz Waxman provides a haunting and moody music score in his usual unmistakable style. The script does provoke thought mostly and the story is compelling, never dull, with its starkness still quite raw, some of the content was daring back then and one can see why.
To conclude, interesting and entertaining. 7/10 Bethany Cox