Strange Interlude is the kind of film, that was regularly cranked out in Hollywood. It is a melodrama. The movie is based on Eugene O’Neil’s play. He also wrote the screenplay. The film is a perfect vehicle for developing acting skills. Clark Gable is still not the actor he would become. Norma Shearer keeps the film moving with her brand of acting. The drawback, is hearing the character’s thoughts. This is something that works on stage, but is odd in a movie.
Norma Shearer, plays Nina Leeds. She is a woman who loves her father, Professor Leeds, (Henry B. Walthall). He dies suddenly; leaving her devastated. She is secretly loved by Charlie Marsden, (Ralph Morgan). Charlie watches as Sam Evans, (Alexander Kirkland), sweeps her off her feet. The couple seem happy. Unfortunately Nina’s mother-in law, decides that can’t be. She tells a dark family secret to Nina. This is that the men in Sam’s family develop insanity. This upsets Nina so much, that she flees into the arms of Ned Darrell, (Clark Gable). Ned is a doctor and family friend. Gable is good in this role, but isn’t typical of the leading men that he later played. Ned and Nina have a love child. This is hushed up, and poor Sam believes it is his. The boy, Gordon grows up resenting Ned and loving Sam. The adult Gordon, is played by Robert Young. Young is only six years younger than Gable in this film. The studio makeup department was good at creating the age difference.
Gordon has become a student athlete. He is being cheered on by his parents in competition. Unfortunately Sam cheers to hard. He has a fatal heart attack. Gordon is devastated and takes out his grief and anger on Ned. Nina slips and tells him the truth. Ned denies it, and lets Gordon believe that Sam was his father. Ned also walks out of Nina and Gordon’s life. An unhappy Nina is comforted by Charlie Marsden, whose happy thoughts, are heard by the audience.
The most significant detail of this movie, is Clark Gable’s trademark mustache. He has it at the end of the film, when he is an older man. He was without facial hair, in his early films. Norma Shearer was able to make this film her own, overshadowing Gable. The only other time that happened to Gable, was in Gone With the Wind. He wasn’t overshadowed, but did compete with Vivian Leigh. She gave one of the best performances by any actress in that film. Strange Interlude, should be viewed by fans of Clark Gable. It is interesting to watch his development as an actor. It is mainly just another film for an aspiring actor.