Manhattan Melodrama

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Manhattan Melodrama

Released May 4, 1934

1h 33m

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

80%

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15 Reviews

71%

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500+ Ratings

Jim Wade and Blackie Gallagher are two boys orphaned by the sinking of a ship. Upon the death of their guardian, also a survivor of the sinking, the boys go their separate ways. Jim (William Powell) grows up to have a prominent political career, while Blackie (Clark Gable) becomes a casino owner and killer. Despite Blackie's lifestyle, the two men remain bonded through thick and thin. But when Jim runs for governor, his association with Blackie threatens his chances.

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THR Staff

The Hollywood Reporter

Audiences will not fail to react emotionally to the intelligent writing of it... Each situation is milked dry, yet never overplayed.

May 8, 2018

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TIME Magazine

Well directed by W. S. Van Dyke, superbly photographed by famed Chinese Cinematographer James Wong Howe, Manhattan Melodrama is first-rate cinema, chiefly important because it marks the elevation to stardom of Myrna Loy.

Jul 26, 2010

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Variety Staff

Variety

Apart from the Clark Gable-William Powell stellar duo and Myrna Loy, who does an excellent job as the principal femme, the Arthur Caesar story is replete with punchy popularly-appealing ingredients.

Mar 26, 2009

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Josephine O'Neill

Daily Telegraph (Australia)

Makes the modern stuff manneredly anaemic in comparison. And how many films have copied its plot?

Oct 14, 2020

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

The audience suffers quite a long time before. Not recommended.

Jul 22, 2019

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

This MGM prestige production, winner of the Original Story Oscar, features its top stars, Gable, William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Rated: B

Mar 21, 2013

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Richard O

This movie was OK till the ending!! The one Protagonist confess to a crime which ends his run as Governor after sending the Antagonist to his rightful death! Then the female led comes back to the Protagonist and after leaving him asks for him to take her back and he does!! Who wrote such a crappy ending??

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

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Ben L

Loy and Powell what else do you need, oh and Clark Gable …enough said..1930s magic. Did you know that both Powell and Gable were married to Carole Lombard? Anywoo, recommend to anyone who loves those 30s flicks.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

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Steve D

lives down to its name.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/10/23

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Connor S

The last movie that John Dillinger ever saw was just........good enough.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bring back the electric chair! If there ever was a pro electric chair movie, this is it. Gable, with the blessing of his priest/friend Leo Carrillo (who would go on to TV stardom as The Cisco Kid's faithful sidekick Pancho) is determined to have his moment in the chair, no matter what his pal, Governor William Powell, says. Overall, the movie tells a good story and gives us a chance to see teen-age Mickey Rooney cry up a storm and steal the few scenes he's in. Worth the price of admission.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

I'm giving this 2 stars as it's pretty average fare. William Powell seems miscast as he isn't his usual witty self in this role, but it's still interesting to see him together with Gable. This is another film that demonstrates why the King of Hollywood had no competition for the role of Rhett Butler a few years later. Like everyone else, I spotted Mickey Rooney standing in for the boyhood version of Gable's character, Blackie. The versatile Myrna Loy is her usual Boffo Box Office.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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W. S. Van Dyke II

Director

Clark Gable

Edward J. `'Blackie'` Gallagher

William Powell

Jim Wade

Myrna Loy

Eleanor Packer

Leo Carrillo

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Synopsis

Jim Wade and Blackie Gallagher are two boys orphaned by the sinking of a ship. Upon the death of their guardian, also a survivor of the sinking, the boys go their separate ways. Jim (William Powell) grows up to have a prominent political career, while Blackie (Clark Gable) becomes a casino owner and killer. Despite Blackie's lifestyle, the two men remain bonded through thick and thin. But when Jim runs for governor, his association with Blackie threatens his chances.

Director: W. S. Van Dyke II
Producer: David O. Selznick
Screenwriter: Oliver H.P. Garrett, Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 4, 1934, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 33m

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