Too Hot to Handle (1938)

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Siskoid
Too Hot to Handle teams Myrna Loy up with frequent co-star Clark Gable, her as a daring pilot, he as a daredevil newsreel journalist. It's pretty exciting, actually. Not QUITE a jungle picture - only the last act really concerns an Amazon expedition for Loy's long-lost brother - when it does get there, it's a bit more authentic than most. Oh, the natives aren't portrayed in the best light (nor are the Chinese, earlier), but the some of the cultural footage is at least real even if most other scenes are populated by African American extras. But that's a relatively small part of the film, and admittedly the weakest. Much stronger is the stuff about Gable's journalist "staging" news footage, sabotaging competing cameramen, and yet, being quite able to put himself in danger and getting the goods when he gets the chance. He's a rascal and a con man, but he's certainly good at his job in an action man kind of way. Loy's Amelia Earhart stand-in takes a second seat to him on occasion, but despite a frequent lack of agency, she still cuts a fine heroic (and romantic) figure. So it's good fun, and not entirely dated aside from the way non-Americans are portrayed. 4 years 11 months ago
danhofstra
fun little movie...it's a little odd seeing Gable in a chicken suit at the end, though. 12 years 7 months ago