Mogambo

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Mogambo

Released Oct 9, 1953

1h 55m

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

77%

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13 Reviews

55%

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2,500+ Ratings

Victor Marswell (Clark Gable) is a big-game hunter in Kenya. After Eloise Kelly (Ava Gardner) is stood up by a friend there, she falls in with Marswell. Shortly thereafter, the Nordleys (Grace Kelly, Donald Sinden) arrive for a gorilla safari. Mrs. Nordley, disillusioned with her husband, takes a liking to Marswell, and the two have a brief affair. Kelly grows jealous, and the two women engage in a battle of wills over the hunter, while Mr. Nordley remains oblivious to it all.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Gable actually hasn't had one good movie since his return from World War II service. He's got it now in Mogambo.

Jun 24, 2019

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

There’s very little action, but it’s ably conveyed by Gable’s glowering take on his character’s shoot-from-the-hip experience with this world...but aside from Gardner, the whole enterprise is humorless.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 8, 2024

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

I have no doubt that 'Mogambo' is one of the weakest romantic films I have ever seen from John Ford. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Mar 11, 2021

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

An amusing romantic comedy with an African jungle setting... Enjoyable hokum which never takes itself too seriously.

Oct 14, 2019

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Mogambo is a silly, laid-back Hollywood romance with an exotic setting, but it's nonetheless quite affecting and satisfying.

Sep 26, 2012

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Clark Gable reprises his role from Fleming's 1932 adventure in this colorful and enjoyable remake by John Ford, featuring great performances by Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly

Rated: B

Feb 24, 2011

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Alec B

A great role for Gardner but other than that its mostly silly and unremarkable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

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A good movie. I have watched it loads of times just because my late father had a cameo part in this film (mogambo). He only had about 10 second part. He was the native in the jungle wearing a leopard cloth shorts and making noises with his hands to lure the gorillas out into the open so that Clark gable(marswell)could photograph them in their natural habitat. I think his part was filmed in a studio. He didn't meet the main stars but did get to meet Donald sinden. The pipe that sinden smoked was a prop. My father said to him "i like that pipe" and sinden said "here you are keep it". I know this because my mother recounted the story to me years later. I still have the pipe as it is a reminder of my father.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/17/23

Full Review

CodyZamboni Z

This remake holds up to the original, A fun adventure, Cool wildlife footage, Stunning cinematography of picturesque African vistas, Gable and Gardner are the whole show, With their bright, alive, earthy chemistry, Grace Kelly's naive bland character pales in comparison. This gets my vote for Ava Gardner's most attractive and charming screen role.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

Full Review

david l

Mogambo is definitely familiar and predictable in its story, but it's still an undeniably charming, adventurous and witty romantic adventure featuring excellent performances across the board. Clark Gable was perfectly cast while Ava Gardner stole the movie playing the most endearing and funniest character of the bunch. The dialogue and humor are excellent in this picture that was also shot on location, resulting in authentic photography of African animals and landscapes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

A great role for Gardner but other than that its mostly silly and unremarkable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Ava Gardner steals the show with glamour and glitz from "Plain Jane" Grace Kelly. Both received Oscar nominations.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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John Ford

Director

Clark Gable

Victor Marswell

Ava Gardner

Eloise Y. 'Honey Bear' Kelly

Grace Kelly

Linda Nordley

Donald Sinden

Donald Nordley

Philip Stainton

John Brown-Pryce

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Synopsis

Victor Marswell (Clark Gable) is a big-game hunter in Kenya. After Eloise Kelly (Ava Gardner) is stood up by a friend there, she falls in with Marswell. Shortly thereafter, the Nordleys (Grace Kelly, Donald Sinden) arrive for a gorilla safari. Mrs. Nordley, disillusioned with her husband, takes a liking to Marswell, and the two have a brief affair. Kelly grows jealous, and the two women engage in a battle of wills over the hunter, while Mr. Nordley remains oblivious to it all.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Sam Zimbalist
Screenwriter: John Lee Mahin, Wilson Collison
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 1953, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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