| Manhattan Melodrama
(1934) MGM  Release Date: May 4,1934 Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke Costarring: William Powell Myrna Loy Available on DVD in The Myrna Loy and William Powell Collection Gable is Blackie Gallagher, a gambling, gun-slinging gangster, who remains best friends with his childhood pal, Jim Wade (Powell), an ambitious lawyer. Blackie's girl, Eleanor (Loy) grows tired of the shady side of life and soon falls in love with Jim and marries him. Jim is promoted to district attorney and starts a campaign to become New York's next governor. When a blackmailer threatens Jim's campaign, Blackie decides to handle the situation himself and kills the man. On trial, Jim has no choice but to prosecute Blackie and he is sentenced to death. The conviction helps Jim win the election, but on the day of Blackie's execution, Eleanor pleads with Jim to pardon Blackie and reveals to him that Blackie killed the man to protect Jim. Jim rushes to the prison to commune Blackie's sentence, but Blackie refuses to let Jim waver on his original decision. After Blackie is put to death, Jim resigns as governor and makes up with Eleanor at the fade out.Quote-able Gable "I'm glad you are through. I've had enough of your beef!" first line "Me? I'm just an all around lucky guy." "When I lose, I pay and when I win I expect to get paid. I don't ask anybody to trust me and I don't trust anybody: big shot or penny chiseler." "You're talking a lot of hooey out of nice clean storybooks!" "The whistles have stopped, Manny. A couple of months ago I might have felt sorry for you and let you crawl out. But a lot of things have happened to me since then and I don't feel the same about you anymore." "You better cross yourself Manny and make it double. Because this is once you double-crossed yourself!" "I'm just a no good guy, that's all." "If I can't live the way I want, at least let me die when I want." "So long, kid." last line Behind the Scenes Had a twenty-four day shooting schedule, of which Gable was only required for twelve. Produced by David O. Selznick (Gone with the Wind). The only film that stars both of Carole Lombard's husbands (Powell past, Gable future). Soon after production on this film, Gable joined the Freemasons, to please his father, who was a lifelong member. After serving his apprenticeship, he became a Master Mason.
The first film that costarred Myrna Loy and William
Powell. They hadn't even met before they began filming their first scene.
Director W.S. "Woody" Van Dyke noticed their onscreen chemistry and
requested them both to star in his next feature, The Thin Man. They
would go on to become one of classic film's most popular onscreen duos,
starring in fourteen films together.
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