Film Snail

6.9

The Hucksters

NR·1947·115m

Drama

Romance

Comedy

Drama

Romance

Comedy

Summary

A World War II veteran wants to return to advertising on his own terms, but finds it difficult to be successful and maintain his integrity.

Cast

Clark Gable

Victor Albee Norman

Deborah Kerr

Kay Dorrance

Sydney Greenstreet

Evan Llewellyn Evans

Adolphe Menjou

Mr. Kimberly

Ava Gardner

Jean Ogilvie

Keenan Wynn

Buddy Hare

Edward Arnold

David 'Dave' Lash

Aubrey Mather

Mr. Glass, Valet

Richard Gaines

Cooke

Frank Albertson

Max Herman

Douglas Fowley

Georgie Gaver

Clinton Sundberg

Michael Michaelson

Gloria Holden

Mrs. Kimberly

Connie Gilchrist

Betty - Switchboard Operator

Kathryn Card

Miss Regina Kennedy

Lillian Bronson

Miss Hammer - Secretary

Vera Marshe

Gloria, West Coast Secretary

Ralph Bunker

Allison

Virginia Dale

Kimberly Receptionist

Jimmy Conlin

Blake - Blue Penguin Inn Proprietor

John McIntire

Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Robert Emmett O'Connor

Frank - Hotel Doorman (uncredited)

George O'Hanlon

Freddie Callahan (uncredited)

Theodore von Eltz

Radio Voice (uncredited)

Anne Nagel

Teletype Operator (uncredited)

Marie Windsor

Girl on Train (uncredited)

Richard Abbott

Elevator Starter (uncredited)

Charles Abraham

Arabian Rug Peddler (uncredited)

John Albright

Assistant Photographer (uncredited)

Sam Ash

Man at Inn (uncredited)

Vangie Beilby

Flower Woman (uncredited)

William Benedict

Bellboy at Blue Penguin Inn (uncredited)

Nan Bennett

Girl at Inn (uncredited)

Hoffis Better

Arabian Rug Peddler (uncredited)

Frank Bingman

Radio Voice (uncredited)

Henry Blair

Sonny (voice) (uncredited)

Harriett Brest

Flower Woman (uncredited)

Betty Callender

Stewardess (uncredited)

Harry Cheshire

Joe Lorrison (uncredited)

Edwin Cooper

Harry Spooner (uncredited)

John Daheim

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Bert Davidson

Man at Inn (uncredited)

Eugene Baxtor Day

Hal Dorrance (uncredited)

Drew Demorest

Man at Inn (uncredited)

Phil Dunham

Man in Elevator (uncredited)

Madge Erwin

Flower Woman (uncredited)

Nellie Farrell

Flower Woman (uncredited)

Almeda Fowler

Woman in Elevator (uncredited)

Dink Freeman

Man at Inn (uncredited)

Rudy Germane

Club Patron (uncredited)

Mahlon Hamilton

Businessman (uncredited)

John Hiestand

Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Fred Howard

Elevator Operator (uncredited)

Joseph Kearns

Radio Voice (uncredited)

Eugene Lay

Hal Dorrance (uncredited)

Frank Leigh

Man in Kimberly's Office (uncredited)

Cathy Lewis

Wanda Jean (voice) (uncredited)

Sydney Logan

Girl at Inn (uncredited)

Wilbur Mack

Man at Inn (uncredited)

Eddie Marr

Pitch Man (uncredited)

Vera Martin

Girl at Inn (uncredited)

David McKim

Photographer's Assistant (uncredited)

Sammy McKim

Western Union Messenger (uncredited)

David Merritt

Arabian Rug Peddler (uncredited)

Jerry Miley

Second Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Byron Morgan

Radio Soundman (uncredited)

Charles Peck

Elevator Operator (uncredited)

Dianne Perrine

Ellen Dorrance (uncredited)

Lillian Randolph

Violet (voice) (uncredited)

Jean Ransome

Maid (uncredited)

Jack Rice

Tie Sales Clerk (uncredited)

Gordon Richards

Conrad (uncredited)

Joe Sawaya

Arabian Rug Peddler (uncredited)

Erin Selwyn

Girl at Inn (uncredited)

Violet Seton

Flower Woman (uncredited)

Fred Sherman

First Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Ransom M. Sherman

George Rockton (uncredited)

Robert Skelton

Man at Inn (uncredited)

Agnes Steele

Flower Woman (uncredited)

Florence Stephens

Secretary (uncredited)

Cedric Stevens

Man in Kimberly's Office (uncredited)

Tom Stevenson

Paul Evans (uncredited)

Mary Stuart

Model in Elevator (uncredited)

Joan Valerie

Receptionist (uncredited)

Barrett Whitelaw

Man in Elevator (uncredited)

Chief Yowlachie

Indian (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Jack Conway

Adaptation

George Wells

Adaptation

Edward Chodorov

Novel

Frederic Wakeman

Screenplay

Luther Davis

Reviews

Geronimo1967

July 7, 2022

Clark Gable ("Victor Norman") returns from WWII to rekindle his career in advertising. His cunning plan involves the glamorous war widow Deborah Kerr ("Kay"), nervous old ad agency boss "Mr. Kimberly" (Adoplhe Menjou), some considerable perspicacity and a whole load of soap. The latter element is provided by the wonderfully odious "Evan Llewellyn Evans" (Sydney Greenstreet,) the shrewd, but ghastly, owner of the most popular brand of beauty soap for whom Gable engages Kerr to star in an advertisement. Much to everyone's surprise, the entrepreneur rather likes the end product and "Norman" looks like his new, highly paid, career is set fair. Meantime, he has completely fallen for "Kay", but his methods of courtship lack, shall we say, finesse or style! Will he get the big job and/or the girl? Does he even want the big job an/or the girl? Wakeman's novel sets up the shallowness of the advertising industry for a good kicking: it's manipulation of those it considers the "sheep" (i.e us) to buy whatever rehashed nonsense they choose to offer us, is presented in a frequently quite comical - certainly quite cynical - fashion, with Greenstreet superb as the thoroughly unpleasant boss surrounded by his band of acolytes calling out "check" when he seeks their nominal agreement for his decisions. Jack Conway let's the star own the film - the dialogue is quickly delivered; and there is the merest hint of chemistry between him and his new to Hollywood co-star, who could have been doing with a little more substance to her part. Edward Arnold chips in well too, and there is an early outing for keenan Wynn as "Buddy Hare"- the kind of comic that has me reaching for my shotgun! It's a bit on the long side, the story runs out of steam a bit - but its still well worth watching.