
Manhattan Melodrama
Seen it?1934 | 93 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Why it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (81% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and romantics. If you loved The Public Enemy or Road to Perdition, start here.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty, warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1934: an older pace and style.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
81% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Oscar: Best Story.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$1 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 32K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Public EnemySaturday SpecialAnother mob crime drama.
Road to PerditionSaturday SpecialAnother mob crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
Absence of MaliceSunday Safe BetAnother crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Wild OneSaturday SpecialAnother crime drama that's easy to miss.
Jane EyreSunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by W.S. Van Dyke
- Clark GableEdward J. 'Blackie' Gallagher
- William PowellJim Wade
- Myrna LoyEleanor Packer
- Leo CarrilloFather Joe
- Nat PendletonSpud
- George SidneyPoppa Rosen
- Isabel JewellAnnabelle
- Muriel EvansTootsie Malone
- Thomas E. JacksonAsst. Dist. Atty. Richard Snow
- Isabelle KeithMiss Adams