Possessed (1931)

Rating: 4/5

Possessed (1931), is probably the most famous Joan Crawford and Clark Gable collaboration, and they did eight films together, so that's saying something. I wouldn't say its' famous for the plot or the dialogue, but it is most likely the undeniable chemistry between the two actors.

Marian Martin (Crawford), is an unhappy woman who works at a paper box factory. She dreams of a better life, and decides that New York City is the place that she's going to find it.

Upon her arrival into the city, she meets a wealthy lawyer named Mark Whitney (Gable). Flash forward three years, and Marian is no longer dreaming of a better life; she has it. Mark and Marian have been an item for those three years, however due to the humiliation he felt after his first marriage, he refuses to marry again. Marian appears to be fine with their arrangement, but all that changes when an old boyfriend from her hometown comes to visit her in New York.

As far as the plot goes, its' actually a tad confusing, not because it is an overly complicated story, but because the movie has a very short runtime (76 minutes). With such a quick movie, some of the major details of the plot seem to be mentioned so briefly that they're easy to miss. Had the movie been a bit longer, the story could have been stretched out enough to add more detail and allow the movie to not feel as rushed.

As mentioned before, what makes this movie memorable are the two leads. In the scenes that Crawford and Gable share, it is clear why they were in so many films together. Their romance seems effortless and they play very well off each other's performances. Specifically in the scene where Marian is putting on her jewelry before going to a party. The relationship that they portray seems incredibly real, even if the dialogue they speak does not. It is the subtle looks they give one another that make the movie come to life.

Overall, it isn't one of the best Joan Crawford movies that I have watched, but certainly not the worst. It is a must see in the Crawford-Gable film saga, and given the fact that it is so short, it won't take much of anyone's day to give it a watch.