Idiot's Delight

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Idiot's Delight

1939,

1h 45m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

33%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In Clark Gable's only musical performance on film, "The King of Hollywood" plays World War I veteran Harry Van (Clark Gable), who is attempting to revive his career in show business. Twenty years after a brief romantic liaison with beautiful Russian acrobat Irene (Norma Shearer), Harry finds himself stranded in a European hotel during the outbreak of World War II. While he waits for the borders to be reopened, Harry meets a mysterious woman who may be Irene.

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 5, 2025

2.5/4

A toothless drama further hampered by Shearer’s unbearably exaggerated performance.

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John Kinloch

California Eagle

Oct 30, 2019

Clarence Brown has given the film snappy, brisk direction. However, it bogs down toward end and never quite comes off.

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Graham Greene

The Spectator

Sep 11, 2019

Over-acting could hardly go further...

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Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Feb 18, 2008

4/5

WWII + Gable+ Gable singing! Add Norma Shearer for more MGM star power.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jun 19, 2005

3/5

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Jan 28, 2005

C

An unfulfilling adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

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Theodore R

Jan 11, 2019

Gable interestingly (because he's not what you call your first choice for this kind of role) plays a showbiz hoofer, back from WW1 and on the lookout for any job he can tag. Norma Shearer plays vaudeville carny performer. They meet for one night of love and then part, only to meet up again years later in Europe at the outbreak of WW2. Robert Sherwood concocted this basically anti-war message film but it seems to bear the imprint of many other hands and too many cooks... For instance, Shearer's kooky traveling artist persona grates on the nerves and one wishes Gable, ever a rock, would shut her up just once. Here is a mighty effort, although to no avail. Or in conventional terms: a bomb.

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Clarence Brown

Director

Norma Shearer

Irene Fellara

Clark Gable

Harry Van

Edward Arnold

Achille Weber

Charles Coburn

Dr. Hugo Waldersee

Joseph Schildkraut

Capt. Kirvline

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Synopsis

In Clark Gable's only musical performance on film, "The King of Hollywood" plays World War I veteran Harry Van (Clark Gable), who is attempting to revive his career in show business. Twenty years after a brief romantic liaison with beautiful Russian acrobat Irene (Norma Shearer), Harry finds himself stranded in a European hotel during the outbreak of World War II. While he waits for the borders to be reopened, Harry meets a mysterious woman who may be Irene.

Director: Clarence Brown
Producer: Clarence Brown, Hunt Stromberg
Screenwriter: Robert E. Sherwood
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 1939, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2009
Runtime: 1h 45m

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