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Mayer immediately persuaded a studio employee to take the blame guaranteeing he would bribe the courts for a minimum suspension and that he would receive a large compensation. And so Gable was no longer connected with the crime. But Mayer didn't want to take chances with his studios image and loaned Gable to Colombia Studios for the film "It Happened One Night". Quite ironically Gable had to play certain scenes drunk... The film was a multi Oscar winner. Star image had to constantly be kept clean. If any rumour of scandal appeared a star could be forgotten overnight. M.G.M. had a peculiar clause in their studio contracts known as the Code of Decency. If any actor was caught acting in an improper manner the studio had the right to expel him under this clause. This gave a great fear to all the homosexuals in the Hollywood community who were told to keep their business very much to themselves.

         

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