Manhattan Melodrama

thumb Manhattan Melodrama is a 1934 film about the friendship between two orphans that endures even though they grow up on opposite sides of the law and fall in love with the same woman. Directed by W. S. Van Dyke. Written by Oliver H. P. Garrett and Joseph L. Mankiewicz. A Girl - A Gambler - A District Attorney...One of them had to lose in this warfare of Wits, Passions, Love! Edward J. 'Blackie' Gallagher Die the way you lived, all of a sudden, that's the way to go. Don't drag it out. Don't commute me - I don't want it. Hey, look, Jim, if I can't live the way I want, then at least let me die the way I want. You better cross yourself, Manny, and make it double, because this is once you doubled-crossed yourself. Well I'm not dressed for company! Jim Wade And I'm not sure, maybe ideals have ceased to exist. Maybe they're outmoded like um [pauses] oil lamps and horse cars. But they're mine, and I'm stuck with them. I was born at home, because I wanted to be near Mother at the time. I'm going to clean out every rotten spot I can find in this city, and, Blackie, I don't want to find you in any of them! Eleanor Packer Entertaining your gunslinger pals is bad enough, but politicians? Oh, no, that's out! [to the priest] It must be nice in jail, with you there. Nothing like a district attorney to keep a girl in shape. You and I must have a good wrestle someday. [to Blackie as he's getting out of the taxi] Oh, I'm not complaining, dear. I'm just wasting the best years of my life in a taxi cab. Dialogue Spud: But, Boss, I tink... Blackie Gallagher: With what? Jim Wade: You know, I think those yes-men would go to bed with me if they had a chance. Eleanor Packer: Don't worry, Darling, they won't have a chance. Jim Wade: Have you left anything at your table, I mean, anything that you have to go back for? Eleanor Packer: I'm fully equipped. Eleanor Packer: Now, now Blackie, Blackie don't do anything foolish!... Blackie? Blackie Gallagher: [Chuckles] Did I ever do anything foolish? Cast Clark Gable - Edward J."Blackie" Gallagher William Powell - Jim Wade Myrna Loy - Eleanor Packer Leo Carrillo - Father Joe Nat Pendleton - Spud George Sidney - Poppa Rosen Isabel Jewell - Annabelle Muriel Evans - Tootsie Malone Thomas E. Jackson - Asst. Dist. Atty. Richard Snow Isabelle Keith - Miss Adams, Jim's Secretary Frank Conroy - Blackie's Lawyer Noel Madison - Manny Arnold Jimmy Butler - Jim Wade as a Boy Mickey Rooney - Blackie as a Boy Shirley Ross - Black Cotton Club Singer George Irving - Campaign Manager (uncredited) Leonid Kinskey - Trotskyite (uncredited) Edward Van Sloan - Yacht Capt. Swenson (uncredited) External links 0025464 Category:1934 American films Category:American crime drama films Category:Films about capital punishment Category:Films set in the 1920s Category:Films about orphans Category:Films whose writers won Best Story Academy Award Category:Films directed by W. S. Van Dyke Category:American gangster films Category:Films set in 1923 Category:Films set in Manhattan