But Not for Me (Paramount 1959, Clark Gable, Carroll Baker)

In But Not for Me an over-the-hill Broadway producer gets a new lease on life when he becomes the object of a much younger woman’s desire. Based on the play ‘Accent on Life,’ this comedy chronicles Clark Gable’s problems as he tries to convince financiers who think age has dampened his creative spark to put up money for his new production. Soon art is imitating life when he gives his Lolita-esque secretary the starring role in a play about a girl who falls in love with an older man.

But Not for Me is the third filming of Samson Raphaelson’s ‘Accent on Youth,’ following Accent on Youth (1935) and Mr. Music (1950). Raphaelson saw similar success with a play that later became The Jazz Singer (1927, 1952, 1980).

production details
USA | Paramount | 111 minutes | 1959

Director: Walter Lang
Script: Samson Raphaelson, John Michael Hayes,

cast
Charles Lane as Al Atwood
Barry Coe as Gordon Reynolds
Lilli Palmer as Kathryn Ward
Wendell Holmes as Miles Montgomery
Lee J. Cobb as Jeremiah MacDonald
Clark Gable as Russell ‘Russ’ Ward
Carroll Baker as Ellie Brown / Borden
Thomas Gomez as Demetrios Bacos
Tom Duggan as Roy Morton