What a shocker! Even as a committed Gable fan, I was not prepared for the simple greatness of this movie. Why it is not considered to be a Gable classic, I do not know.
Ploughing the ground for later epics, such as McQueen's Papillon, this tale manages to touch a deeper and more fertile vein. Combines all the elements of a Hollywood classic from the Golden Age such as danger, drama, romance and desperation and yet without any aspect being a makeweight. Even more remarkable is the effortless ease with which the film places our deepest questions beside a gritty and genuinely exciting story. This film offers so much for Gable and Crawford fans but is definitely a must see for anyone!