From Thief to Soldier

They Met in Bombay (1941) starts out as a light-hearted heist film, with two thieves (Clark Gable & Rosalind Russell)--each of whom is initially unaware that the other is also a thief--plot to steal a valuable jewel from a duchess staying at a swanky hotel in Bombay.

Gerald Meldrick, who we find out was once a soldier and is a bit of a danger junkie, plans to swap the jewel with an expertly made fake. He's posing as a Lloyd's of London detective in order to manufacture the opportunity. Anya Von Duren plans to make friends with the Duchess and then quietly slip away with the jewel when she gets the chance. She's posing as a baroness and has meticulously researched the duchess' family in order to impress her.

Both Gable and Russell seem to be having a lot of fun with their roles and both make the best of the witty dialogue they are given.

After a number of shenanigans, the two thieves have the jewel, argue about who should get to keep it, then have to make a run for it together when a local police detective gives chase.

The two take refuge on a seedy merchant ship sailing for Hong Kong. Here the movie smoothly morphs into something that has a look that would later be equated with Film Noir. The ship's captain is wonderfully portrayed by Peter Lorre, who looks as seedy as the ship he commands. When he figures out who is passengers are, he makes plans to turn them over the the cops for reward money as soon as they reach Hong Kong. This forces Anya and Gerald to steal a life boat and row ashore during a foggy night.

What I like about this second act of the movie is the characterization. The  two thieves spend a month or so on this ship and--possibly for the first time in years--they have no reason to lie or maintain a facade. When they begin to fall in love, the performances, dialogue and situation help make it seem real and not simply something that is supposed to happen because movie conventions demand it.

The third act of the film morphs it into a war story. They hide out in Hong Kong, unable to sell the jewel and running out of cash. So Gerald comes up with an idea for a con that requires him to pretend to be a soldier again. But this leads to him getting picked up by a staff car and taken to the British army base when the Japanese land nearby. Gerald abruptly finds himself in command of British troops with the job of evacuating a Chinese village.

The Japanese show up at the village as well. Gerald can't just play soldier now. If he and the soldiers and civilians he's reluctantly responsible for are going to live, he's going to have to actually become a soldier again.

It's a fun movie that manages to switch from one genre to another several times, but to do so smoothly and in a way that makes story sense. They Met in Bombay doesn't seem to be particularly well-remembered, but it should be. It is a fun blend of humor and adventure that eventually deals with themes of honor and responsibility in a very genuine manner. It's definitely a movie worth watching.