The idea did sound interesting, but the most interesting aspect, and my main reason for seeing 'The Hucksters', was the cast. One that is filled with some of the best talent there was at that time, Clark Gable, Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner, Adolphe Menjou and Sydney Greenstreet promised such a lot. It is hard not to get excited watching Kerr's Hollywood career being launched, or see Gable reunited with director Jack Conway in their last of six films.
While part of me did enjoy 'The Hucksters', namely because the cast did wonders with their material, part of me was also rather disappointed considering that the potential was hardly small. All the cast admittedly did much better before and since, not knocking them but this is just in comparison, and as far as Gable and Conway's other collaborations go it is no 'Too Hot to Handle' or 'Boom Town'. Both very good and nearly great films, whereas this was only decent to me and actually would have been worse if the actors didn't excel as well as she did.
Starting with the good things, 'The Hucksters' looks great. It's beautifully photographed and has a glossy but not overblown and always handsome look. Conway directs with an assured touch, while the script does have a sparkling wit and boasts some genuinely amusing moments. Some of its portrayal of advertising is thought-provoking and on-the-nose, in a way that entertains and shocks.
Gable plays an arrogant snake of a character with a lot of charisma and enough charm to make one understand his appeal to the other characters. Gardner is glamour personified and Kerr, while deserving of more to do, brings charm and elegant dignity. Greenstreet does merciless to perfection, he was clearly enjoying himself here as a tyrant, while Menjou is suitably sharp. Keenan Wynn surprisingly pulls off an annoying character amusingly.
Having said that, 'The Hucksters' has a story that is very thin and sometimes muddled, the advertising types portrayal can be more out of date than soap itself. The ending was agreed on the sanctimonious side for reasons cited already.
Did find myself mixed on the music score. It was jazzy and very pleasant to listen to on its own, in terms of how it fitted within the film it was a touch too syrupy. The satirical elements sometimes could have done with more sharpness and bite.
In conclusion, decent but could have been a much better film than it was. 6/10
While part of me did enjoy 'The Hucksters', namely because the cast did wonders with their material, part of me was also rather disappointed considering that the potential was hardly small. All the cast admittedly did much better before and since, not knocking them but this is just in comparison, and as far as Gable and Conway's other collaborations go it is no 'Too Hot to Handle' or 'Boom Town'. Both very good and nearly great films, whereas this was only decent to me and actually would have been worse if the actors didn't excel as well as she did.
Starting with the good things, 'The Hucksters' looks great. It's beautifully photographed and has a glossy but not overblown and always handsome look. Conway directs with an assured touch, while the script does have a sparkling wit and boasts some genuinely amusing moments. Some of its portrayal of advertising is thought-provoking and on-the-nose, in a way that entertains and shocks.
Gable plays an arrogant snake of a character with a lot of charisma and enough charm to make one understand his appeal to the other characters. Gardner is glamour personified and Kerr, while deserving of more to do, brings charm and elegant dignity. Greenstreet does merciless to perfection, he was clearly enjoying himself here as a tyrant, while Menjou is suitably sharp. Keenan Wynn surprisingly pulls off an annoying character amusingly.
Having said that, 'The Hucksters' has a story that is very thin and sometimes muddled, the advertising types portrayal can be more out of date than soap itself. The ending was agreed on the sanctimonious side for reasons cited already.
Did find myself mixed on the music score. It was jazzy and very pleasant to listen to on its own, in terms of how it fitted within the film it was a touch too syrupy. The satirical elements sometimes could have done with more sharpness and bite.
In conclusion, decent but could have been a much better film than it was. 6/10