Review of Mogambo (1953) by Mike L — 07 Sep 2012
Gable, Gardner, and Kelly. Gable plays a big-game hunter/trapper in Africa collecting animals for zoos. Somehow in the middle of nowhere Ava Gardner shows up, she is a street-smart woman who pretends to lack schooling but knows the ways of men.
Who should also show up but Grace Kelly and her anthropologist husband, looking to study gorillas, they both are well schooled but lack common-sense. As the boat that brought the anthropologist to camp, Gardner was leaving due to Gables lack of interest.
In the obvious plot twist the boat that Gardner is on runs into trouble and Gardner comes back to camp. This sets up a jealous rivalry between Gardner and Kelly, more brought on by Gardner. It also sets up a cultural class between the low-brows of Gardner and Gable and the high-brows of Kelly and her husband.
This is made very apparent during the dinner scene and the drive to where the gorillas live. Once they leave to find the gorillas it becomes an adventure film, showing off the many tribes, wildlife, and scenery of Africa.
The tension between the 2 couples also increases as the relationship between Gable and Kelly grows until Kelly ends up shooting but not killing her husband. It is a good movie but without Gardner it would be a complete mess and lack any reason for watching.
This review of Mogambo (1953) was written by Mike L on 07 Sep 2012.
Mogambo has generally received positive reviews.
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