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      Manpower

      Released Aug 9, 1941 1h 45m Drama List
      Reviews 76% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Electric company foreman Hank McHenry (Edward G. Robinson) works with his friend Johnny Marshall (George Raft). Upon the death of an older worker in an accident, Hank and Johnny visit the man's daughter, Fay (Marlene Dietrich), who has just been released from jail. Johnny takes an instant dislike to the jaded Fay, but Hank begins courting her and, despite not loving him, Fay eventually marries him. Later, when Hank brings Johnny home for care when he is ill, Fay falls in love and sparks fly. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Heated dramatics made great by the wonderful Robinson and Marlene Dietrich. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member a good working man's pic uplifted by an impressive cast of WB greats. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Edward G. Robinson always puts in a 100% effort to every performance. He always lifts up a film. This is a routine story, made considerably better by the terrific cast. Eve Arden scores in an early supporting role, but Marlene Dietrich seems a little out of place. Great pace, good photography. A solid crime drama. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member 75/100. Edward G. Robinson always puts in a 100% effort to every performance. He always lifts up a film. This is a routine story, made considerably better by the terrific cast. Eve Arden scores in an early supporting role, but Marlene Dietrich seems a little out of place. Great pace, good photography. A solid crime drama. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Edward G. Robinson and George Raft are power company lineman who, between dangerous jobs, get plastered, chase women, and carouse around with their other linemen pals. (Think of a frat house, but with forty-year-olds.) Enter the world-weary Marlene Dietrich, fresh from prison, and eager to get on with her life, even if it takes a man she doesn't love to carry her through. Robinson is enamored of her beauty from the start, but Raft sees nothing but trouble in store for his pal. While not one of "the greats", "Manpower" is as true an example of the standard Warner Brothers movie of the early-40's as I've ever seen. Director Raoul Walsh focuses on action and humor, provided by an occasionally witty script and the inclusion of many of the stock Warner Brother's players; notably Alan Hale Sr., Frank McHugh, Ben Welden, and Barton MacLane. The one weird exception to that WB feel is Dietrich. (What's she even doing here?) She's not bad in the role, but "Manpower" really needed an actress who wasn't known for being quite so...glamorous. "Manpower" could have also withstood having about 10 minutes shaved off the run time, but in all, it still manages to be a pretty fun ride. Gets an extra 1/2 star for having The Mighty Ward Bond in the cast. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member snappy good stuff of WWII cinema. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Manpower

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      Critics Reviews

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      Don Q. Cine-Mundial The direction is magnificent and the comic part, excellent. [Full review in Spanish] Sep 19, 2019 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Working man melodrama with good visual style. Jul 17, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Lively, overwrought and conventional. Rated: B- Jun 17, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Electric company foreman Hank McHenry (Edward G. Robinson) works with his friend Johnny Marshall (George Raft). Upon the death of an older worker in an accident, Hank and Johnny visit the man's daughter, Fay (Marlene Dietrich), who has just been released from jail. Johnny takes an instant dislike to the jaded Fay, but Hank begins courting her and, despite not loving him, Fay eventually marries him. Later, when Hank brings Johnny home for care when he is ill, Fay falls in love and sparks fly.
      Director
      Raoul Walsh
      Producer
      Hal B. Wallis
      Screenwriter
      Richard Macaulay, Jerry Wald
      Distributor
      Warner Bros.
      Production Co
      Warner Bros.
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 9, 1941, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      Nov 17, 2009
      Runtime
      1h 45m