Review of Manhattan Melodrama (1934) by Brett N — 07 Oct 2009

This movie is probably best remembered for the fact that it was the last movie Johnny Dillinger saw before being shot dead outside the theater (as depicted in the film Public Enemies). Outside of that infamy it isn?t really remembered as well as other gangster films of the era like Little Ceaser, The Public Enemy, and Scarface. Perhaps part of what?s responsible for the film?s relative obscurity is that it has a horrible title (although I suppose it?s a fairly accurate description). Also I think it might have to do with the fact that its star, Clark Gable, isn?t really known as a tough guy the way James Cagney or Paul Munni were. That would seem to suggest that he was miscast, but that isn?t really the case, because his character is pretty different from those guys, and he was also pretty different from John Dillinger. This wasn?t the kind of guy who would be driving around robbing banks himself. He could certainly handle a gun but for the most part he was more the kind of gangster who would control a vast empire, the kind of guy who would rather run a phone scam than personally rob a bank.

The film?s relative obscurity is unfortunate because it?s actually a pretty strong work. The film?s story is pretty intriguing, pitting two child friends on opposite sides of the law against each other. Not exactly the most original set up in the world but there?s still drama to it. The film also interestingly ends with a moral dilemma rather than a shootout. Gable proves to be a strong lead, and it interestingly also features Mickey Roony playing Gable as a child. There are some of the typical problems that Hollywood films of the era had to deal with, but for a film made in ?34 it seemed fairly modern. If you?re going to get shot over a movie, this is a pretty good one to do it for.