ClassyWas Excellent, smart action film.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

moonspinner55 Cocky confidence man--with the fastest, most dishonest hands in the West--escapes a tar and feathering in a small town, only to wind up in a different community running a casino and chasing after the judge's daughter. Clark Gable is so at ease in the leading role that one can sense him coasting on auto-pilot; he invests this wily character with his own personality, which gives the part its only verve (the writing is too staid). Lana Turner can't do much with her role as the girl-who-won't be-had, and she seems too young and inexperienced for Gable anyway (there's no reason why he should take a fancy to her). Supporting players Frank Morgan, Marjorie Main, Claire Trevor and Chill Wills are far more interesting than the leads, yet a later turn to drama throws a wet blanket over the hijinks. The opening scenes are diverting, as is some of the dialogue ("Was that fella botherin' you?" .. "Not as much as I bothered him!"). ** from ****

JLRMovieReviews The first of four screen pairings of Clark Gable and Lana Turner has Gable as Candy Johnson, a con artist/card shark who's been run out of one too many towns, with his partner in crime Chill Wills, due to their shady dealings and swindling the "suckers," as he calls them. He decides he wants to find one place and stay there, and go honest, at least partly. The next place down the line on the train is Yellow Creek, Nevada. On the way, he meets Lana, a sweet, pretty young thing, who's going to stay with her father. They of course instantly start making sparks, him coming on to her and Lana trying her best to not let on she likes him. In town, he finds he knows her father, the respected judge, played by Frank Morgan, who really isn't really honest, but is a drunk crook, to put it bluntly, and who puts up a front of respectability and in turn collects taxes and fees and uses them for his own habits. It turns out Candy and the judge go way back, but Lana never knew her father was anything but a good fellow. Claire Trevor is great as a saloon girl/poker dealer, who also knew Candy from the past and who is still harboring a yen for him. And, of course, there's a jerk, who's abusing the position of Sheriff, played by Albert Dekker. Have I got you in the mood for a good, old-fashioned western? Well, you can find it here, but up to a point. Most of the appeal of this is of course Gable and Turner together and their fireworks, with some fast-talking quips by Gable, such as when trying to kiss her, "Why don't you jump in and get wet all over? You'll feel better." and also by costar Marjorie Main, who was Ma Kettle. But after the first hour or so, the novelty wears off and and the melodramatics take over and there's too much talking and not enough action. "Honky Tonk" may be the most known and liked of their movies together, but it's far from perfect. I'd rather give this a 7.5, but I will round up for Gable being in top form and in his element as fast-talking Candy Johnson and for Lana Turner, who never looked more sweet and flirtatious than she does here.

Scarecrow-88 Well acted little western about a smooth talking con man named "Candyman" Johnson(perfectly played by the always dapper and charming Clark Gable who has never been better)who wishes "to take over" a town of his own and finds one in Yellow Creek. He's head-over-heels for Elizabeth(Lana Turner, her beauty is angelic), a Boston girl who is the daughter of a former con man he once knew and now the judge of Yellow Creek(justice of the peace, played by a wonderful Frank Morgan). The Judge is a bad drunk who doesn't like it all that his daughter is so in love with a trickster who has the uncanny ability to never find a way to stay in any town too long. Claire Trevor has a marvelous scene-stealing supporting part(it seems she's always in these parts, owning the scenes she's in)as a former "colleague" of Candy's who is a professional bar girl always working the gambling tables. Marjorie Main has an entertaining supporting role(another character actress who always steals her scenes)as Mrs. Varner, a woman who was to teach Liz about the ways of being a proper woman(cooking and such). Varner often is quite a fixture in town business whose voice is often heard loud over the others. Albert Dekker is Brazos, the corrupt sheriff of Yellow Creek who is automatically the arch nemesis of Candy's when it becomes clear that our con man has worked the town against their current "lawman"(it's stated by one of the townsfolk that Brazos just put the star on one day and began barking orders). Liz wants Candy to change and boozes him up so that when he wakes, he'll find that they are married. The film's melodrama stems from this unusual courtship and the different ways Liz changes instead of Candy. Bottom line is that Candy is intoxicated by Candy and can not resist his charms. What we later find, as corruption seethes within Yellow Creek as Candy is voted in as sheriff when Brazos is dropped like a bad habit, is that Candy's life has changed in that he loves Liz, but his taking from the town certain profits(60% of the town's earnings seem to fall into his pocket and buy lots of nice outfits for Liz and a nice fancy place to live)will soon upend him. And, the drinking judge hates Candy enough he'll try to use documents of the con man's corruption against him as the town grows restless at what their lawman has swindled them out of.The film starts out really entertaining with great dialogue as Gable works his charm on everyone around him. Seeing Gable work tricks on unsuspected victims like Dekker's Brazos and the townsfolk with fancy words is also a hoot. Eventually, though, the melodrama is laid on a bit thick and the film bogs down towards the end. Still, the film has such an amazing cast with good leads it's hard not to recommend to western fans.

johno-21 This is Clark Gable in his fifth film after Gone With the Wind and pre-World War II when he was at the peak of his Clark Gable screen persona that he best remembered by as the rugged, devil-may-care, reckless, dangerous, sly, witty, conniving, and handsome character that finds trouble and romance equally irresistible. Kind of like the character that Sean Connery portrayed in his early Bond pictures. This is typical Gable matched up with his feminine romantic adversary this time around in a young Lana Turner in their first film together. Turner is absolutely beautiful. He's a con man and gambler in the old west that flees from town to town one step ahead of the law and anyone he's crossed or bamboozled. He and his side kick Chill Wills land in a town where he ends up in love with the Judge daughter. He and the Judge played by Frank Morgan share a common shady past. Gable buys a saloon and ends up taking over the town but there's plenty of trouble always looming while he simultaneously tries to lead the life of a settled down married man. Claire Trevor, Majorie Main and Albert Dekker are among the supporting cast. Harrold Rosson who photographed The Wizzard of Oz and had 5 Academy Award nominations in his long career is the cinematographer with some scenes shot by 4 time Academy Award nominated and long-time Greta Garbo photographer William H. Daniels. Jack Conway who directed Gable in Boomtwon, Too Hot to Handle, Saratoga and The Hucksters as well as directing such notable films as Red Headed Woman, Libeled Lady and A Tale of Two Cities is the film's director. Franz Waxman provides the score. It's a nice blend of drama, romance and comedy and I would give it an 8.5 out of 10.