Carole Lombard, January, 1942: after a successful War Bonds tour, Carole rushes home to husband Clark Gable, whom she doesn’t trust – but then the unthinkable happens.

SYNOPSIS:

After a War Bonds tour, Carole Lombard rushes home to husband Clark Gable, whom she doesn’t trust – but then the unthinkable happens.

It’s January 15, 1942. Carole ends the first-ever World War Two Bond tour in Indianapolis in triumph. From her hotel room, she calls Clark back home in California to tell him all about it. He does not pick up and Carole’s jealousy and insecurity increase, as she fears her husband may be up to no good with Lana Turner. She changes her travel plans and rushes home by plane, rather than endure three days’ travel by train.

Five years earlier, Carole is one of the highest-paid Hollywood movie stars—Carole calls the shots. Screwball comedienne on screen and off, she lives life to the fullest. She connects with Clark at a Hollywood party and sparks fly. Aware of married Clark’s reputation as a womanizer, Carole takes Marion Davies’ advice to play it slow—but she is smitten and, before long, so is Clark, who can’t stop thinking about the wisecracking beauty. Tension builds as he remains married. She confides in her friend, young Lucille Ball, who in return seeks advice about how to make it in Hollywood.

Clark secures a divorce at Louis B. Mayer’s orders in order to play Rhett in “Gone with the Wind” – but is rendered penniless as a result. Carole, ecstatic that he is free to marry, pays cash for their first home, a ranch. They marry and all is well for a while, Carole making certain concessions about Clark’s infidelities: for her, it’s enough that he is emotionally faithful to her.

Carole tries but fails to have a baby and feels the pressure to be a good wife and control her man. Then she miscarries and is told that she will be unable to have children. To make things worse, Clark is teamed up on screen with Lana Turner, who makes no secret that she is after him for keeps. They weather the storm and life returns to normal. Then comes Pearl Harbor.

Carole, a true patriot, insists that they both join the war effort and immediately signs up to take part in the War Bonds Tour, which takes place in her home town, Indianapolis. Clark is unable to join her: he’s committed to another film with Lana Turner. Carole is furious and Clark, fed up of her jealousy, leaves the house. However, they soon make up while she is away and things seem better than ever between them.

That brings us back to January 15, 1942, where we began. Clark prepares to give Carole a welcome home party but she never returns. Clark has to face the years ahead without her, never recovering from her loss.

All that remains is the tarnished ruby heart Clark gifted her when he fell in love with Carole.