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In 1999, the American Film Institute
named Clark Gable seventh among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time. His big
ears and cocky grin helped define his screen persona for nearly three decades,
Clark may be best remembered as Rhett Butler in Gone with The Wind.
His final film was The Misfits (1961) which was also Marilyn Monroe's and Montgomery Clift's last film.
"His ears are too big and he looks like an ape," said Warner Bros. executive
Darryl Zanuck about Clark after testing him for the lead in Warner's
gangster drama Little Caesar (1931). However, Clark was signed in
1930 by MGM's Irving Thalberg as MGM was looking to expand its stable of male
stars and he fit the bill. MGM's publicity manager Howard Strickland developed
Clark's studio image, playing up his he-man experiences and his 'lumberjack in
evening clothes' persona. Clark became a star immediately and the public
responded to his screen sexuality. The Hollywood Reporter wrote "A star
in the making has been made, one that, to our reckoning, will outdraw every
other star... Never have we seen audiences work themselves into such enthusiasm
as when Clark Gable walks on the screen".
Clark won an Academy Award for his performance in It Happened One Night in
1934. In 1939 Clark married Carole Lombard, but tragedy struck in January 1942
when the plane in which Carole and her mother were flying crashed into Table
Rock Mountain, Nevada, killing them both. Clark then volunteered to be drafted
and flew combat missions in Europe . After the war he continued with his film
career. When he died in 1961, Gable was buried shortly afterwards in the
shrine that he had built for Carole Lombard and her mother when they died.
For Clark's birthday, we take our cue from Darryl Zanuck and suggest
making Elephant Ears and watching him in The Misfits.
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1. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and
1/4 cup sugar. Add butter, milk, and eggs. Mix and knead at least 6 minutes.
2. Roll in walnut size balls and let stand for 20 minutes.
3. Roll thin and fry in deep oil until light brown. Remove and place
on paper towels to remove excess oil.
4. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes |
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