MovieChat Forums > The Misfits (1961) Discussion > Clark Gable's Kids

Clark Gable's Kids

posted 13 years ago by global_global
5 replies | jump to latest

In the film, that is...I know there's a question-and-answer in the FAQ section about this, but I'm curious to hear the opinions of others. Do you think his kids were there in the bar and left after becoming disgusted by his drunken behavior? Or was he so drunk he was seeing things, and Eli Wallach's character just sort of patronized him?

Eli Wallach's character had to ask whom Gable was talking about in the first place. Wouldn't it be self-evident Gable was talking about his kids? Then again, Wallach was also drunk.

[–] rsbarry 12 years ago

His kids were never at the bar. Either he never had kids or more likely something bad happened to them because of some thing he did or didn't do because he was never around for them.

[–] atomicstuffing 11 years ago

Interesting question.

A clip of the scene is on Youtube (great acting from Gable here, btw)
http://youtu.be/NisPlwJNnn0

I assumed the kids were really there and left from disgust.

But it could've been Gable imagining them. But I have to question whether being smashing drunk would actually make you imagine loved ones being there in front of you, talking to you (is this a common thing with drunk people - vividly imagined conversations with family members?)

Also, Gable's character said his children just happened to be at the rodeo earlier that day. Sounds a little too convenient for them to show up there and not even contact him about it.

It appears the answer could go both ways. The kids were there at the bar, or never were (and possibly don't even exist).

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

If they were there (and I seriously doubt it,) who could blame them for bailing out on their pisspot loser father.

[–] marktayloruk (2590) 3 years ago

I think he fancied they were there.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

i assumed he was estranged from his kids. otherwise he would have been nuts to invent them. the scene where gable is screaming gaylord is hilarious.