Well acted little western about a smooth talking con man named "Candyman" Johnson(perfectly played by the always dapper and charming Clark Gable who has never been better)who wishes "to take over" a town of his own and finds one in Yellow Creek. He's head-over-heels for Elizabeth(Lana Turner, her beauty is angelic), a Boston girl who is the daughter of a former con man he once knew and now the judge of Yellow Creek(justice of the peace, played by a wonderful Frank Morgan). The Judge is a bad drunk who doesn't like it all that his daughter is so in love with a trickster who has the uncanny ability to never find a way to stay in any town too long. Claire Trevor has a marvelous scene-stealing supporting part(it seems she's always in these parts, owning the scenes she's in)as a former "colleague" of Candy's who is a professional bar girl always working the gambling tables. Marjorie Main has an entertaining supporting role(another character actress who always steals her scenes)as Mrs. Varner, a woman who was to teach Liz about the ways of being a proper woman(cooking and such). Varner often is quite a fixture in town business whose voice is often heard loud over the others. Albert Dekker is Brazos, the corrupt sheriff of Yellow Creek who is automatically the arch nemesis of Candy's when it becomes clear that our con man has worked the town against their current "lawman"(it's stated by one of the townsfolk that Brazos just put the star on one day and began barking orders). Liz wants Candy to change and boozes him up so that when he wakes, he'll find that they are married. The film's melodrama stems from this unusual courtship and the different ways Liz changes instead of Candy. Bottom line is that Candy is intoxicated by Candy and can not resist his charms. What we later find, as corruption seethes within Yellow Creek as Candy is voted in as sheriff when Brazos is dropped like a bad habit, is that Candy's life has changed in that he loves Liz, but his taking from the town certain profits(60% of the town's earnings seem to fall into his pocket and buy lots of nice outfits for Liz and a nice fancy place to live)will soon upend him. And, the drinking judge hates Candy enough he'll try to use documents of the con man's corruption against him as the town grows restless at what their lawman has swindled them out of.The film starts out really entertaining with great dialogue as Gable works his charm on everyone around him. Seeing Gable work tricks on unsuspected victims like Dekker's Brazos and the townsfolk with fancy words is also a hoot. Eventually, though, the melodrama is laid on a bit thick and the film bogs down towards the end. Still, the film has such an amazing cast with good leads it's hard not to recommend to western fans.

Clark Gable is a rogue trying to go straight, and Lana Turner is his wife in "Honky Tonk," a western from MGM that also stars Claire Trevor, Frank Morgan, and Marjorie Main. Gable is Candy Johnson, who blows into town, and after he wins $5,000, opens his own gambling establishment. He meets Elizabeth (Turner), whose father (Morgan) is an old crook with a respectable front as a judge. After he and Elizabeth get married, Candy gets a taste of power and starts trying to take over the town. All his efforts initially were for his bride, but his intentions get away from him.The two stars really make this film. Turner and Gable have great chemistry, as they proved in other films together (this was their first). Gable is in his Rhett Butler phase and is at his handsomest and most charming in this pre-war era - clever, tough, sexy, and soft-hearted. The very young Turner is a good match for him - she seems overwhelmed by Candy at first, but she's got her own toughness, too, and knows what she wants. Claire Trevor is Candy's ex-girlfriend, and she's excellent as a woman who knows all there is to know about Candy and has been around the block a few times herself."Honky Tonk" is a big MGM picture with wonderful stars and first-class production values. The script isn't the greatest, but you'll hardly notice.

This is Clark Gable in his fifth film after Gone With the Wind and pre-World War II when he was at the peak of his Clark Gable screen persona that he best remembered by as the rugged, devil-may-care, reckless, dangerous, sly, witty, conniving, and handsome character that finds trouble and romance equally irresistible. Kind of like the character that Sean Connery portrayed in his early Bond pictures. This is typical Gable matched up with his feminine romantic adversary this time around in a young Lana Turner in their first film together. Turner is absolutely beautiful. He's a con man and gambler in the old west that flees from town to town one step ahead of the law and anyone he's crossed or bamboozled. He and his side kick Chill Wills land in a town where he ends up in love with the Judge daughter. He and the Judge played by Frank Morgan share a common shady past. Gable buys a saloon and ends up taking over the town but there's plenty of trouble always looming while he simultaneously tries to lead the life of a settled down married man. Claire Trevor, Majorie Main and Albert Dekker are among the supporting cast. Harrold Rosson who photographed The Wizzard of Oz and had 5 Academy Award nominations in his long career is the cinematographer with some scenes shot by 4 time Academy Award nominated and long-time Greta Garbo photographer William H. Daniels. Jack Conway who directed Gable in Boomtwon, Too Hot to Handle, Saratoga and The Hucksters as well as directing such notable films as Red Headed Woman, Libeled Lady and A Tale of Two Cities is the film's director. Franz Waxman provides the score. It's a nice blend of drama, romance and comedy and I would give it an 8.5 out of 10.

This romantic western is often overlooked. This is the first Clark Gable and Lana Turner tandem. Turner is a Boston maiden who finds herself out west and falling in love with a gambling ne're do well(Gable). Gable half heartedly wants to start living respectable; but after buying a saloon with gambling winnings, he gets the hankering to run the whole town. It is not easy to walk the straight and narrow especially with an old flame(Claire Trevor)in the mix. In spite of good intentions, this drama grows stale. Very good support from Marjorie Main, Frank Morgan, Chill Wills, Lew Harvey and Albert Dekker. Gable is Gable and Turner is drop dead beautiful...the sizzle caused by the two may be just cause to watch.