Idiot's Delight (1939)

Synopsis: This exceptional political comedy, based on Robert Sherwood's Pultizer Prize-winning play, stars Clark Gable as Harry Van, a small-time vaudeville performer who, after years of touring vaudeville... This exceptional political comedy, based on Robert Sherwood's Pultizer Prize-winning play, stars Clark Gable as Harry Van, a small-time vaudeville performer who, after years of touring vaudeville circuits and sideshows, has finally hit the big time in Europe with his all-girl review, Les Blondes. On the eve of WWII, Harry and his girls are temporarily detained at an Alpine resort with a very eccentric group of characters brought together under extreme circumstances. Two of the guests at the resort are millionaire Achille Weber (Edward Arnold) and his slinky Russian mistress, who claims to be a wealthy aristocrat. Harry knows better; he recognizes the pretty blonde as Irene Fellara (Norma Shearer), a small-town girl with big dreams whom he had met years earlier while performing in Omaha. After some amusing bantering back and forth and numerous denials on her part, he finally gets Irene to admit the truth. Irene had always dreamed of becoming a wealthy countess, but Harry convinces her that her act is a sham as they wait to discover their fate. With the war erupting around them, Harry and Irene fight to stay together. This fast-paced comedy is most remembered for Gable's song-and-dance routine to "Puttin' on the Ritz," the only time he sang and danced in a movie. [More]

Starring: Clark Gable, Norma Shearer, Edward Arnold, Charles Coburn

Starring: Clark Gable, Norma Shearer, Edward Arnold, Charles Coburn, Burgess Meredith, Joseph Schildkraut, Laura Hope Crews, Skeets Gallagher, Pat Paterson, Fritz Feld

Director: Clarence Brown

Director: Clarence Brown
Screenwriter: Robert E. Sherwood
Producer: Hunt Stromberg
Composer: Herbert Stothart

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