Clark Gable Stunts

Let me clarify something right quick. I don't want to sound mean but Clark Gable didn't do all of his own stunts. a few of the stunts were done by Jack N. Young.


The studio wanted to bill Gable as doing all of his own stunts because it sounded better and went right to the image. The studio would never let it's major star do this or even any minor star. There are just some things a studio would never let an actor do. Image if Gable broke his arm or worse how bad that would be for production.

It's the illusion of Hollywood.

When dealing with the mustangs, Young actually had his fingers pulled from his sockets which limited his work for a year.

Here is a tidbit Young wrote about his experience.

" Myran Mishkin, my Agent, called to tell me they wanted me to double Gable in this movie. He said they wanted to advertise that he was doing his own stunts and would that be a problem with me? I said, “Why would it be? I’m not supposed to be recognized anyway….just make certain they pay me!” He was sick at the time and we didn’t know that. But, I figured it out during the 3 weeks I spent on the movie. Here are some area’s you can see my stunts.

57:31 I did a rodeo scene riding the bucking bronc and was thrown off.
61.59 Doubled Gable getting guy out of rodeo arena.
92:10 Doubled Gable turning the airplane prop.
101:09 Doubled Gable in the entire scenes working with the Mustangs. When ever you could not recognize him, it was me.
"

Phil