Review of Strange Cargo (1940) by Norm D — 27 Jan 2018

~ Here we have a well titled movie. It IS strange in that it might've been better titled "Die Another Day." Apparently Bogart wasn't available so we get a reprise of the practiced nonchalance of Mr.

Rhett from his previous technicolor outing (GWTW). Crawford comes back to claim her previous star-pairing ordination with a boffo performance mostly sans obvious make-up, and maybe looks better than ever in a saucy, stained, glam'ed-down role.

~ And then there's this looming, unflappable Christ-on-the-Stormy-Sea figure that turns the whole production into something of a strained & sprained morality play instead of the jungle escape adventure it aspires to be, the last shot being a guy crossing himself.

~ The film might have become classic if it had just gone totally "African Queen" & let the chemistry combust between icons who define "Hollywood." ~ Of production interest: It looks as tho' the costume designer attacked Gable with a pair scissors for his prison rags look, the holes being a bit too prefect & symmetrically placed! | ~ Norm de Guerre.