On May 4, 1934, MGM unveiled Manhattan Melodrama, starring Clark Gable, William Powell and Myrna Loy, in theaters. At an estimated 1,021 fatalities, mostly women and children, this was New York City's single worst tragedy, in terms of lives lost, before 9/11. Van Dyke—with a starring trio of William Powell, Clark Gable, and Myrna Loy—the film piles on the melodrama in an unabashed and predictable manner, but still manages to deliver a quality story, elevated by its three powerful leads. Manhattan Melodrama (1934) Trivia. But they’re mine, and I’m stuck with them.” It’s all about the title. It’s a tragedy in the Greek sense, with destiny foretold since the characters’ childhoods and written in the stars. Powell and Loy in Manhattan Melodrama – apparent from their first scene together – that resulted in their being cast as husband and wife in the long-running Thin Man series. There’s hardly a natural bone in its body, even if it draws upon a great deal of New York history and atmosphere to manufacture its premise. Manhattan Melodrama holds a special place in movie lore. Famed for its part in leading to the end of outlaw John Dillinger's life, and revered by movie buffs as the first of the William Powell-Myrna Loy team-ups, MGM's MANHATTAN MELODRAMA is a solid underworld effort highlighted by a top performance from Clark Gable. Manhattan Melodrama is filled with action, drama, a good cast and effective pacing to really make this stand out. Directed by W.S. Manhattan Melodrama (1934) Plot. Manhattan Melodrama was released in May 1934, towards the end of the so-called ‘pre-Code’ period. In fact, the term ‘pre-Code’ is a … An Academy Award winner for best original story, Manhattan Melodrama certainly lives up to its title. They are taken in by a kindly Russian Jew who lost his son in the same tragedy. Showing all 16 items ... passengers to a picnic organized by St. Mark's Evangelical German Lutheran Church on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The friendship between two orphans endures even though they grow up on opposite sides of the law and fall in love with the same woman. Manhattan Melodrama Not Rated | 1h 33min | Crime , Drama , Romance | 4 May 1934 (USA) The friendship between two orphans endures even though they grow up on opposite sides of the law and fall in love with the same woman. Showing all 3 items Jump to: Summaries (3) Summaries. Manhattan Melodrama, with three of Hollywood’s greatest stars, is contrived and silly. The film went on to win an … “Manhattan Melodrama” is the story of childhood friends who take very different paths in life. Manhattan Melodrama remains well in the tradition of earlier movies from the early 30s, like Madame X and Frisco Jenny, whose plots are carefully engineered for the maximum amount of tear-draining hysterics. Clark Gable is the happy-go-lucky gangster Blackie who is being tried for murder by his boyhood best friend Jim, William Powell, a D.A. It's the film notorious gangster John Dillinger saw with his mysterious quot;lady in redquot; before exiting the theater and walking right into an FBI ambush.Even without that momentous historical footnote, Manhattan Melodrama would be a … Maybe they’re outmoded like oil lamps and horse cars. Blackie Gallagher (Clark Gable) and Jim Wade (William Powell) are orphaned after a fire on a party boat claims their parents. 'Manhattan Melodrama' may not have the stylistic finish to it to make it a great message movie about contemporary 30s issues, but it does go a long way towards that end, and is never less than engaging. Daniel S.'s rating of the film Manhattan Melodrama Daniel S. According to our actual moral standards, Clark Gable's behaviour may seem a bit ridiculous to see the least but I'm fully aware that cinema, even during the pre-code period, had to educate if not manipulate the audience.