Victor Fleming (1889–1949)

This swiftly paced film from the early 1930s has star power to burn and a story full of raw sensuality. For a director often viewed as a man's director, Victor Fleming elicits some strikingly feminine performances from Jean Harlow and more notably, Mary Astor. Remade in lusty fashion 21 years later by John Ford, with Gable in the lead again, that version has color and two gorgeous stars, in Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly. Yet the original edges it out, the difference being Astor — which might come as a surprise to those who only remember her from The Maltese Falcon. There is an aching and repressed sensuality in her performance that shows why she was considered such hot stuff, both on and off-screen. Her diaries published in 1936 caused quite a stir.

The story revolves around the rubber plantation deep in the jungle that Dennis Carson (Clark Gable) oversees. This is a man's world, harsh and unforgiving. Then in pops the wonderful and talky Vantine (Jean Harlow). Seeking haven till her lifestyle blows over and she can head back, she adds something new to the mix, but it’s nothing Dennis hasn't seen before. When he does finally come around, and takes advantage of what she's offering, she falls hard, caring about the man rather than his wallet. But Dennis drops her like a hot potato when his new surveyor, Gary Willis (Gene Raymond), shows up with his elegant wife Barbara in tow. Astor is gorgeous and Dennis begins to plot and scheme for her while her husband has the fever, Harlow watching and waiting for the outcome.

Tigers, rain, and the fever and a storm wear down Astor’s resistance, and then she can’t get it out of her mind. A rain-covered Astor is wonderfully — and perhaps surprisingly — sexy. Her Barbara’s sensual elegance seems ready to spill out uncontrollably if she can't get hold of herself. Astor is amazing here, as you can really feel the turmoil and fear she has of cheating on her sweet husband. All the while the wise and earthy Vantine waits for Dennis to do the right thing. Harlow is also terrific here, her sharp chatter masking a real love for Dennis. She hopes he'll come around, and be a better guy. But when he does come around, it might be too late, as passions have boiled over. Harlow's smarter than she looks Vantine might be fast enough on her feet to turn everything right though. Maybe…maybe not.

Photographer Harold Rosson and film editor Blanche Sewell make the set decor of Cedric Gibbons and costumes of Adrian look beautiful in a jungle filled with rain and danger, and seething passions. Fleming moves things at a lightning pace, with a cast of screen veterans like Tully Marshall and Donald Crisp lending support to John Mahin's screenplay. Such a good job was done here, that the story’s stage origins can hardly be detected. An outdoor adventure of hard men and what happens when women are thrown into the mix, Red Dust is a fabulous early sound film still enjoyable today. Harlow has the reputation, but wait till you get a load of Astor soaking wet!… (more)

Scarlett is a woman who can deal with a nation at war, Atlanta burning, the Union Army carrying off everything from her beloved Tara, the carpetbaggers who arrive after the war. Scarlett is beautiful. She has vitality. But Ashley, the man she has wanted for so long, is going to marry his placid cousin, Melanie. Mammy warns Scarlett to behave herself at the party at Twelve Oaks. There is a new man there that day, the day the Civil War begins. Rhett Butler.
Produced before MP Ratings; Today's rating would likely be Rated PG… (more)