He might have been nearing the end of his career, but Clark Gable still had it, even though I didn't think it was with leading lady Carroll Baker. The third version of the play "Accent on Youth" seems to have a wider age gap between the leads, Gable as an aging Broadway producer and Baker as his long time secretary who out of the blue declared her love for him. He's dealing with a similarly themed play, and Baker agrees to help him with it to make it seem real, and when she acts it out utilizing her own emotions, she's offered the lead. Ex-wife Lilli Palmer is behind the scenes playing matchmaker along with others on his staff and this leads to further complications.
I didn't see a point of the title outside the opportunity to have Ella Fitzgerald singing it (beautifully) over the credits. Still, it's a well written update even if Baker's character doesn't seem to know the difference between a crush and love. Just because it's on the page doesn't always make it true. Having recently had younger leading ladies like Jane Russell, Yvonne de Carlo and Doris Day, Gable's stuck in a pattern, and fortunately this one loosened it. A nice supporting cast includes the two Charles (Lane and Cane!), Thomas Gomez and Lee J. Cobb, but the lack of color seems to defuse the impact. Clark however does make an impact, and is definitely still the king. Palmer is a delight, too, and serves in creating a character that's noble, strong, determined and certainly likeable.
I didn't see a point of the title outside the opportunity to have Ella Fitzgerald singing it (beautifully) over the credits. Still, it's a well written update even if Baker's character doesn't seem to know the difference between a crush and love. Just because it's on the page doesn't always make it true. Having recently had younger leading ladies like Jane Russell, Yvonne de Carlo and Doris Day, Gable's stuck in a pattern, and fortunately this one loosened it. A nice supporting cast includes the two Charles (Lane and Cane!), Thomas Gomez and Lee J. Cobb, but the lack of color seems to defuse the impact. Clark however does make an impact, and is definitely still the king. Palmer is a delight, too, and serves in creating a character that's noble, strong, determined and certainly likeable.