The Hucksters

Classic case of a movie that tries to be too many things...in this case a love story, an examination of ethics or lack thereof in business, and a satire on advertising...and ends up with half ass versions of everything. Particularly egregious is the romance between Gable and a way too priggish Deborah (May I extract that stick from up your rectum?) Kerr. Probably would have been better to jettison Kerr's dull character and just go with Ava with whom Gable has undeniable chem. There are a few scenes and characters that click...Sydney G has never been so disgustingly malevolent...but in general this is a lackluster affair as befits its director, a veteran MGM traffic cop. Give it a C plus. PS...That squeak you keep hearing in the background is the Hayes Office boys taking a sexy, trashy novel and sanitizing it.

Excellent portrayals by Clark Gable, Deborah Kerr and Sydney Greenstreet and an unusual background of life in the corporate advertising world, make this movie an enjoyable and memorable comedy and romance mix. Also has Ava Gardner playing an important but minor role.