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Clark Gable and William Powell are boyhood friends who end up on opposite sides of the law in "Manhattan Melodrama," also starring Myrna Loy. Loy is lovely here, as usual, but she doesn't really have much of a role. The film focuses on Gable and Powell. In the first scenes of the film, we see that they are orphaned and taken in by a man who has lost his son in the same fire that killed the boys' friends and family.

When we see them in present day, Gable is running an illegal gambling joint, leaning on people for money they owe, and dating the Loy character. Powell is in politics. After Loy spends some time with Powell, she decides she'd rather be with him, and eventually they marry, and Powell moves from DA to governor. Gable becomes increasingly ruthless, though the two remain devoted friends.

There are some melodramatic sections in the film, particularly the beginning and the courtroom scene which contains a very dramatic speech delivered by Powell. The acting is marvelous. Gable is likable as a slick gangster who takes things in stride. His smile lights up the screen. He really had one of the great screen presences - looks, a great voice, and dripping with charm.

But the really interesting performance is given by Powell. He's not the witty, energetic Thin Man in this, but a very committed and serious, dignified person with a lot on his shoulders. He's totally believable, and he and Gable provide great contrast. Powell's scene at the end of the film is very touching.

Enjoy the great stars and the story, but don't look for laughs.

'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.

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. who has made it to governor of New York because of a murder done by Blackie, unbeknownst to Jim. On top of it all they both love the same woman, Myrna Loy.

Despite its melodramatic but never overwrought style 'Manhattan Melodrama' has sufficient weight and substance to make itself heard 70 years after the fact. It cuts no convenient corners in the description of the governor's sad plight of having to decide whether his friend should live or die, and it paints a wonderful and believable picture of Loy's character who does what she deems best. Powell delivers a multi-layered performance that has to count amongst his best, and Gable is irrepressible and delightfully amoral as the bad guy we're all rooting for.

Recommended, but please don't judge it by the first 20 minutes which are rather slow-moving, but still entertaining.

Well, unusual for me. Perhaps at the time, the circumstances, what have you, it was not so unusual. But for me, watching Clark Gable portray a happy-go-lucky double murderer, who garners tons of sympathy from the audience; it was a first.

Manhattan Melodrama is a film of dubious and rather interesting morals. Who's the hero? Who's the villain? Childhood friends Jim and Blackie grow up very different men, Jim becomes DA of New York City, while Blackie runs a casino, and performs other unsavory activities. Eventually, their positions force them into conflict, but it's not your typical run-of-the-mill courtroom drama.

Blackie in most films would be a villain, he is after all a gangster and a murderer, amongst other activities. But here he's played by Clark Gable, about as charming an actor as ever lived, and the movie takes place in the 1930s, when gangster pictures like Little Caesar elevated these types of men into hero roles.

The picture makes a very blatant message against the heroic vision of gangsters (In a speech by Jim that feels as if the men who controlled the Production Code were standing off screen holding the cue cards for him). But I couldn't help feeling sympathy for the character, after the evil deeds he did. Meanwhile Jim, a hardworking individual who is uncorruptable, comes off as "cold" by the end of the picture. The way this movie sidesteps conventional roles is really interesting.

The lead woman in the picture, Eleanor, is rather interesting too. Watch how she jumps back and forth and between the men, and for what reasons.

I don't fully understand this movie, and it's not one of the most exciting films I've ever seen, but it's one of the most interesting ones I've seen in quite a while.

... those being "San Francisco" given the impact a disaster has on a community and the friendship as well as adversarial relationship the two male leads have to one another - with Gable being named "Blackie" in that one too, and the other being "The Thin Man" which reunites William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Nat Pendelton in a much better production that fires on all cylinders. Of course, both of these were directed by the director of this film, W. S. Van Dyke. That being said, this film doesn't seem nearly as good as it could have been.

The plot is this - Two friends grow up in the shadow of tragedy caused by sudden loss. The younger one is Blackie Gallagher (Clark Gable) and is always trying to work an angle - usually involving gambling - even before the tragedies. The older one is Jim Wade (William Powell) always studying, always chiding Blackie for his slacker and crooked ways, but always his friend. In adulthood, Blackie is a big time gambler and casino owner and is not adverse to murdering associates and Jim becomes district attorney in New York. And yet whenever they meet they seem fast friends. Eleanor (Myrna Loy) starts out Blackie's girl but decides she wants the conventional marriage she'll never get from Blackie and eventually marries Jim.. At this point I was starting to get bored with this morality tale until some of Blackie' s criminal acts cross paths with Jim's official duties where complications ensue.

There is just something off about this film. For one, Jim is supposed to be an uncorruptible political star destined for higher office but within the details of the film instead seems hopelessly naive and inflexible. Myrna Loy makes the transition from gangster moll to pious first lady in the blink of an eye, and even when she is with Blackie she is nagging him to "quit the rackets". Where did she think those marvelous evening gowns came from? There's just no way I'm believing Blackie is as ruthless in the rest of the film as he is shown to be and is just so "Oh gee whiz what class Jim has!" in response to things that impact his male pride (Eleanor), his livelihood, and even life itself. I guess none of this is as ridiculous as being expected to believe that Mickey Rooney grows up to be Clark Gable, but still the inconsistent characterizations are bothersome.

I'd say it is probably worthwhile overall and just to give it a pass as some of the weirdness may have been caused by confusion over just what exactly the production code, which began to be enforced two months after this was released, would allow.

With a cast like this, how can you go wrong? And the film is a delight from beginning to end. Although all the players were great, special kudos to William Powell, whose uncompromising morals cause him to lose almost everything he has. His is a gut-wrenching performance, and the scene in which he addresses the assembly with tears in his eyes to tell of his own "weakness"--wow. It's rare to see Powell in a role with so much complexity and it is a marvelous performance.

Two boyhood friends (one played by a very young Mickey Rooney) grow up on opposite sides of the law. Clark Gable becomes a criminal--William Powell becomes governor. Myrna Loy loves both.

This plot is now screamingly familar but, back in 1934, this was original. In fact it won the Best Original Story Oscar for its year. This could have been a real howler but a great cast, tight script and wonderful direction really put it over. Well worth catching--especially for a powerful climatic scene between Powell and Gable. A classic of its type.

Solid MGM crime drama that is best remembered today as the film John Dillinger saw just before being gunned down by federal agents. The story is a simple one about two men (William Powell, Clark Gable) who grew up together but are on opposite sides of the law. Myrna Loy also stars as the woman initially with Blackie (Gable) who falls for and marries Jim (Powell). Great director and trio of stars with fantastic chemistry elevate this above otherwise banal plot. Young Blackie is played by, of all people, Mickey Rooney! Must've been one hell of a puberty. Also of note is the song "The Bad in Every Man," sung by Shirley Ross here. The song would later be given new lyrics by Lorenz Hart and become the classic standard "Blue Moon."

From what I can gather, two main social factors led to the popularity of the gangster genre in the 1930s. The first, and most obvious, was the prevalence of criminals like Al Capone and John Dillinger, who were glorified by the national media. The second was the Great Depression, and how it impacted the traditional notion of the "American dream." Families – regardless of character or social standing – were torn apart amid the economic collapse, and no doubt many ordinary citizens contemplated crime as the route to happiness.

Films like 'Manhattan Melodrama (1934)' and 'Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)' place great emphasis on the thin line between "good" and "bad" characters, and often the central criminals are lamented as victims of circumstance. For example, James Cagney's Rocky Sullivan and Pat O'Brien's virtuous priest were separated by a matter of metres when the former is condemned to a life of crime. Circumstance, too, drives the fates of the characters in 'Manhattan Melodrama.' As children, both Jim Wade (William Powell) and Blackie Gallagher (Clark Gable) lose their parents in the burning of the steamship SS General Slocum, a true-life disaster caused by gross negligence that cost over 1000 lives. Each child responds to this injustice in their own way: Blackie rebels against the judicial system that betrayed him, whereas Jim enters law in a bid to reform it.

Whereas Warner Bros. was responsible for most of the decade's gangster films, 'Manhattan Melodrama' was produced by M-G-M, and helmed by W.S. Van Dyke (director of the first four 'Thin Man' films), whose decidedly non-gritty aesthetic style at first seems at odds with the required mood. However, it would be misleading to compare the film with the likes of 'Little Caesar (1931)' and 'Scarface (1932).' Firstly, Hollywood was now working, for the first time, under the active supervision of the Production Code Administration. Also, the studio's intentions for the film were undoubtedly geared towards a higher-brow audience, further suggested by the unintimidating, woman-friendly title.

Gable's "Blackie" Gallagher is not a paranoid hot-head like Tony Camonte or Rocky Sullivan, and, indeed, remains oddly passive throughout the film. When he does commit murders, it seems to be merely out of an obligation to genre conventions. Even when old friend Jim Wade dramatically demands his execution, Blackie looks on with a detached, amused smirk, doodling idly from the defendant's chair; the expected outburst of emotion never arrives. Instead, the story's central conflict unfolds entirely within the righteous Wade, who must choose between his personal and professional allegiances.

'Manhattan Melodrama' has achieved some notoriety for being the film that killed John Dillinger, so to speak. The fugitive bank-robber was gunned down by FBI agents as he emerged from a screening at Chicago's Biograph Theatre on July 22, 1934 (clips from the film were recently featured in Michael Mann's 'Public Enemies (2009)'). These curious circumstances can't help but make one ponder what Dillinger had thought of 'Manhattan Melodrama.' Had he, like Blackie, accepted that his time was coming to an end? Did he welcome death over a lifetime of legal persecution? At the very least, he checked out having experienced a very fine addition to the genre.

Two boyhood friends end up being on opposite sides of the law as adults. At least the film can't be accused of false advertising. This is definitely melodrama, which can be fun if done right; here, however, it starts off as merely uninteresting and ends up as being rather corny. Unfortunately, the star power of Gable, Powell, and Loy can't overcome the lackluster script. The film is mainly of interest for historical reasons. It was the first teaming of Powell and Loy, made just before "The Thin Man," also directed by Van Dyke. More notoriously, this was the film Dillinger went to see at the Biograph Theater in Chicago and was killed by the FBI upon emerging from the theater.

Excellent performances and direction combine with an exemplary script. Like all good fables, this story runs far deeper than its apparently simple premise. The same can be said of the fine acting from all players. The film explores the notion of nobility from highly contrasted perspectives and it offers plenty to discuss beyond the closing credits. Well worth catching!

Clark Gable plays a really sweet, caring guy who just happens to be a top mobster and cold-blooded killer. William Powell, less than month before his first appearance as wealthy gumshoe Nick Charles in "The Thin Man," is the uncorruptible Manhattan DA who saved Gable's life when they were kids. And Myrna Loy, less than a month before she first appeared as wealthy gumshoe-ette Nora Charles, is the Woman Who Loves Them Both.

Gable finds himself in a quandary: should he let old buddy Powell lose the big election over a dirty lie? Or should he risk the chair to help him?

Decisions, decisions.

How times have changed: a chiseler who's borrowed a bundle from Gable pleads, "I thought I could pay, Blackie! But I ain't got the dough! Please lemme have just a little more time! A couple more days!"

Gable snarls, "I'll give you more time! You got two months! You'll pay then...or else!"

Wow! Two months with no penalty! You can't a get a deal like that from your own bank! That's the kind of movie this is.

So how can it be as good as it is? Gable, Loy, and Powell. Like so many old-time stars, G and P learned early on how to play just one character each (let's call them Rhett and Nick) and they played them to perfection till they quit making movies. Loy was a little more flexible (check out The Best Years of Our Lives), but here she is, Nora Charles before "Nora" was even born.

Nat Pendleton plays one of his trademark goons, and in a small role the Harlowesque Muriel Evans shines, almost literally, as Tootsie.

Famous, as about every film buff knows, for being the movie in which infamous gangster John Dillinger and "The Lady In Red" exited from and Dillinger was gunned down shortly after leaving the theater.

The real-life occurrence is far more exciting than the movie. The story was not unlike others made during the '30s and '40s about two pals growing up together and one winds up a gangster and the other a priest or a lawman. In this case, it was a lawman played by William Powell. The gangster is played by Clark Gable. As a boy, Mickey Rooney plays him. Add Myrna Loy to the mix and you an interesting cast, but the story was really not that much.

They didn't name this "Manhatten *Melodrama* for nothing - it's classic melodrama! If you can get past the first fifteen minutes or so, what saves this film is the three leads: William Powell, Clark Gable, and Myrna Loy. As a Myrna Loy/William Powell fan, I love the whole scene from their first meeting, as she flings herself into his taxi, and he thinks she is out to wreck his career by pretending he assaulted her! Clark Gable is great as the charming bad guy, too. Of course, in this story about unpunished crime vs. betraying a friend, nobody ever considers the third way, but then it wouldn't be a melodrama anymore, would it? Anyway, if you enjoy golden oldies or any of the three main actors, it's worth watching.

Myrna Loy, who was often paired with William Powell or Clark Gable, is paired with both in "Manhattan Melodrama". Gable plays Blackie--a gangster/casino owner with a sense of honor. Powell plays Jim--a childhood friend of Blackie, who, due to shared tragedies, becomes his spiritual brother, but finds success as a D.A. and politician.

The film covers a lot of ground and the early scenes move at breakneck speed to bring the story to the adult lives of the main characters. Even then, the film feels like a condensed version of a film with more depth. Loy, as the love interest, holds her own and Powell is solid as the dutiful public servant, but Gable steals the show with his nuanced performance as anti-hero.

The coincidences in this story stack up into a nifty pile of improbabilities, but it's a simple story at heart. Two "brothers" grow up on opposite sides of the law, but they still feel devotion to each other. Really, this is a love story. The most melodramatic parts are at the end of the film, when inescapable consequences allow for demonstrations of profound love.

Melodramatic, yes, but this movie has some meat to it that I wasn't expecting. Clark Gable and William Powell play childhood friends who grow up to be a hood and a respected judge, respectively. Both have a thing for Myrna Loy, but the expected rivalry for which this plot would seem to be tailor made never comes. Instead, there's a refreshingly serious story about the boundaries of loyalty and friendship. When Gable is accused of murder and sentenced to the death penalty, it is Powell's duty to decide whether or not to let his personal feelings for Gable interfere with his practice of legal justice. Loy pops up throughout, but, unfortunately, she's window dressing. (Side note: My wife and I decided to have a Myrna Loy theme to our New Year's movie night, and rented this and "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer." We couldn't have picked two Myrna Loy movies that do a worse job of showing off Myrna Loy). No, this movie belongs to the men, and the whole affair is better than I expected it to be.

Grade: B+

Hard luck orphans Blackie Gallagher (Clark Gable) and Jim Wade ( William Powell) have grown up to be massive successes with both on opposite sides of the law. They both date in different periods Eleanor (Myrna Loy). Blackie's long time moll, she splits for the up and coming Wade, inching his way towards the governor's mansion in Albany. When Blackie gets trigger happy, Wade reserves him a date with the electric chair but a lifetime of friendship weighs heavily on Wade and he contemplates commuting the death sentence and probably committing political suicide in the process.

"Melodrama" is a mawkish one piling on early with a heavy hand. Gable and Loy come across as solid realists while the idealistic Powell conflicted to a point of whimpering has to rely on Clark and Myrna to be his backbone. While Loy and Gable register, Powell's whiny, sometimes gullible, Wade does not as he rides his noble white horse in oblivious fashion above the fray.

A mediocre MGM top tier production, the real draw of the film is to allow the viewer to live in the head of John Dillinger, the famous bank robber about to meet his end near the marquee outside. Mobster Gable makes a couple of statements that Dillinger might have readily related to during the film along with the stark realization as the credits roll, the legendary gangster had about five minutes left on his life meter. Biograph ticket holders that night had the unexpected viewing of a double feature of gunplay.

What immediately drove me into seeing 'Manhattan Melodrama' was the three leads. William Powell, Clark Gable and Myrna Loy being fine actors, they gave many great and more performances individually (Gable's performance in 'Gone with the Wind' for example is iconic) and 'Manhattan Melodrama' is a fine example of them being a delight together. That was not a surprise though, as the teaming of Powell and Loy was/is a classic one. They are also the main reason to see the film.

'Manhattan Melodrama' is not my definition of a great film and will never be a personal favourite. All three leads have also done better and given performances that one is likely to remember more than the ones they give here. ll three though are also very well served in roles that play to their strengths very well. On the most part too, the film is a good, enjoyable one and definitely worth watching for the three stars and if this sort of film rocks your boat.

There are certainly many good things in 'Manhattan Melodrama'. First and foremost, great performances from all with Gable, on snarling form, and especially Powell, in a more sensitive performance than his usual ones, faring most memorably. One can totally understand what they see in Loy, as endearing as ever, and it is hard not to love the witty interaction between them. It looks professional and often quite stylish. The music is a good fit, with "The Bad in Every Man" being quite infectious.

Furthermore, the script has a delicious wit and never got to me as overwrought as the title or the film indicates, it is melodramatic but to me it wasn't overly so. Was actually surprised at the amount of bite it and the film in general has. The story is not exceptional or has many surprises, with it not being much different from other fairly similar films from this period, yet there is a lot of energy and the chemistry between the three leads really drives it.

However, 'Manhattan Melodrama' gets off to a rather slow and corny start, one that is not particularly interesting and creates a bit of a false impression. Also think that it is five minutes too long, with the last part after a quite powerful climactic scene (where the film should have ended) being quite tacked on and didn't serve much point.

Also saw mentioned somewhere that they felt that the death house scene was not plausible, and unfortunately do have to agree with this.

In conclusion, pretty good. 7/10