rickrudge Chained (1934)This is one of those early romantic movies Clark Gable and Joan Crawford used to do.Diane Lovering (Crawford) is the unapologetic mistress of a New York shipping magnet, Richard Field (Otto Kruger). Richard would love to divorce his wife Louise (Marjorie Gateson) and marry Diane, but Louise likes her lifestyle too much the way it is, and threatens to take Richard's two sons away where he would never see them again.Richard feels guilty about this and buys Diane an ocean cruise to Argentina to ease her pain, his guilt, and to give her time to think about whether she wants to stay in this kind of arrangement the way it is or not. On the ship she meets Mike Bradley (Gable) who has a South American cattle ranch.Naturally, they fall madly in love with each other, but Diane's loyalty to Richard keeps her from sealing the deal until she talks with Richard first. When she arrives back in New York, she finds out that Richard is divorcing Louise, despite never seeing his kids again. Diane resigns herself to marrying Richard and sends Mike a quick Dear John letter.Later, Diane bumps into Mike while shopping downtown and discovers that she still loves Mike more than Richard. What now?

Al Westerfield I'm a straight arrow. Been married 44 years, never cheated. Don't smoke, drink or do drugs. But I'm not a prude. I love pre-code films. It's just when I see a really decent guy get the shaft it upsets me. I don't know that anyone other than Otto Kruger could have played this role. He breathes sincerity. In anyone else it would be hilarious or maudlin. He makes the film work. Gable's character has known a lot of women. I think he'll know more, sooner or later. The flame of Crawford's character will turn to dust in time. Yes, it's exciting but it won't last. Until she met Gable her life would have been one of long term serene happiness, thinking only of Kruger while he thought only of her. That's the way to spend a life, or at least the way I've spent mine. Crawford made the wrong choice. If she'd stayed with Kruger I would have given it a 9.Otto Kruger was a better actor than most persons can imagine. He could play a suave fifth columnist who loves his wife and grandson (Saboteur), an action hero (Dracula's Daughter), a caring scientist with a very thin skin (Dr. Erlich's Magic Bullet) and a romantic leading man (Beauty For Sale). And everything in-between. He adds something to every film he's in because he is, in the end, believable.

bkoganbing Chained was the fourth film that paired Clark Gable and Joan Crawford, the fourth of eight. It's basically a piece of romantic fluff with no great strain on either star. Clark Gable was the leading man Joan did the most films and vice versa.Crawford is the well kept mistress of Otto Kruger who would like to marry her, but his wife Marjorie Gateson won't let him go without breaking him in alimony and child support. After making that abundantly clear to Crawford and Kruger, Joan goes off on a South American cruise where she runs into rancher Clark Gable who has a nice size spread on the Pampas. Nothing terribly original in Chained, it's your basic romantic triangle film. What got me about it after seeing is how terribly terribly civilized everyone is behaving, even Gateson after a fashion. There are few enough Hollywood films where Kruger's character would invite Gable to have breakfast with him and Joan knowing full well he's there to take her away.Anyone who's familiar with Hollywood romances in the days of the big studios knows full well how this is going to turn out. Chained is a pleasant enough romance to satisfy the fans of Gable and Crawford.

wes-connors Beautiful secretary Joan Crawford (as Diane Lovering) enjoys both working and sleeping with the boss, Otto Kruger (as Richard I. Field). Mr. Kruger wants to marry his willing mistress, but the wife refuses to grant him a divorce. To console a disappointed Ms. Crawford, Kruger sends her on a luxury cruise. On the ship, Crawford spurns "hot and bothered" Stuart Erwin (as John "Johnnie" L. Smith) at the bar, intending to be faithful. Then, she meets sexy rancher businessman Clark Gable (as Michael "Mike" Bradley)...Will Crawford stay "Chained" to Kruger, or fall in love with Gable?This is an MGM box office star power production, with Crawford and Gable doing what they do best. "When she's in his arms, it's the grandest thrill the screen can give!" Not quite, but director Clarence Brown and cameraman George Folsey handle the performers very well; the combination showed Crawford in her best light. Highlights include a fast stroll aboard ship, and a shimmering swimming pool sequence. The later includes young Mickey Rooney and pal Delmar Watson cavorting with Gable and Crawford.****** Chained (8/31/34) Clarence Brown ~ Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Otto Kruger, Stuart Erwin