Diamond Jim

I haven't seen this movie for several years. If anyone can tell me where I may purchase it on DVD, I would greatly appreciate it. The acting of Edward Arnold as Diamond Jim was superb. Edward Arnold was always one of my favorite character actors and in this movie he shined.

His characterization of Diamond Jim as a boisterous railroad tycoon showed a love of life. His portrayal also showed a sympathetic and humane side of the real Diamond Jim.

Edward Arnold could always play larger than life characters with great ease and ability. Although this movie was made 73 years ago in 1935, the ease and naturalness of the acting still holds up today.

Someone please tell me where I may purchase this movie.

"Diamond Jim" is a very good bio-pic about a very big man - big in more ways than one. James Buchanan Brady (1856-1917) became known as Diamond Jim Brady for his flair of wearing, buying and bestowing expensive jewelry, especially diamonds. Brady was big in size, weighing over 300 pounds. The claims about how much and what he ate for dinner are probably more myth than fact; but, he loved to eat and his typical meal would be the equivalent of what six or more people would eat. After his death at age 60 and an autopsy, doctors said that Brady's stomach with six times larger than a normal stomach.

Much of this film is centered around Brady's love for food and eating habits. Several scenes are at dinner tables when he was alone or with others. The film is based on the 1934 biographical novel of the same title, by author Parker Morell (1906-1943). Although some of Brady's early successes in business had some shady overtones, Brady was highly regarded for his achievements and his generosity. He had a big heart and cared about others - even making friends out of former enemies or opponents. And, he was a philanthropist. Brady's worth when he died in 1917 is estimated at $1.5 million which would be close to $45 million in 2022. Among his charitable support was a $220,000 donation ($6.5 million in 2022 dollars) to Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital.

The film is mostly about his adult life when he became a great salesman and then entrepreneur and supporter of new businesses. He concentrated on railroads, the equipment they needed, and eventually the production of steel rail cars to replace the wooden ones that had been in use.

This appears to be a fairly accurate and thorough picture of Brady, at least as can be portrayed in less than 90 minutes. One of the other things Brady was also otherwise known for was his friendship with the famous American singer and performer, Lillian Russell. That gets good treatment in this film.

The acting is very good with a fine cast of actors of the time. Edward Arnold is superior as Diamond Jim Brady. Binnie Barnes is very good as Lillian Russell. And Eric Blore is very good and humorous as the English businessman, Sampson Fox. Some of the other supporting cast are very good. The only roles that seem sort of lackluster are those played by Jean Arthur as Jane Matthews and Cesar Romero as Jerry Richardson.

My favorite bit of dialog in the film is the lines that portray when and how Brady got the moniker, Diamond Jim. Pawnbroker, "What you need is a diamond." Jim Brady, "What for?" Pawnbroker, "Well, to make money, you gotta look like money."

I really enjoyed this biopic of "Diamond" Jim Brady, who was a celebrity in his native New York City at the end of the 19th century. A bigger-than-life man about town, Jim made his fortune in the railroad industry, and he spent his fortune on diamonds (hence his nickname), fancy clothes and huge meals. A powerful eating man was Jim! He loved his oysters and lobsters: he drank buckets of orange juice. He also showered his fortune upon two women he loved but who didn't love him in turn. Edward Arnold was an ideal actor to play the part of the easy- going Brady. A young Cesar Romero is along as the romantic male lead.This movie has it sad parts.

James Buchanan Brady made a fortune in the development of American Railroads - the cutting edge of 19th Century technology (as the internet is today). Brady, unlike Vanderbilt, Gould, Fisk, Drew, Harriman, and Hill, did not build up a vast system of railroad lines like the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Grand Central Railroad, or the Baltimore and Ohio System. Instead he sold the Railroads equiptment they needed, in particular the rolling stock (i.e. the railways car). But he was a man who enjoyed life. He weighed over three hundred pounds by his eating the largest meals imaginable (a typical meal for Brady would have five main courses, and end with a box of candy - oddly enough he never drank: his favorite drink was orange juice). He romanced the leading entertainer of the day, Ms Lillian Russell. An advanced psychological thinker, Brady wore different sets of expensive jewelry with his different suits - to advertise his success, and impress railway executives to use him to get the materials that they needed.

He never was married (Ms Russell loved him dearly, but did not want to marry him). He died in 1917 of urinary problems due to his diet. His fortune was used to fund an important foundation at Johns Hopkins for the study of urology.

The script for this 1935 film was by Preston Sturgis, and was one of his best films (sans his own directed ones). Arnold does very well in it, playing the good natured, clever Brady as a sharp but decent person (which he was), who despite his great financial and social success never achieved his happiness. He dies when he sees that there is no point in pursuing the stringent diet that would prolong his lonely life, so after burning I.O.U.s from his friend, he insists he have the "normal" meal he enjoys. Arnold is last seen heading for the meal that will help kill him. He will eat himself to death. A really bizaare film conclusion - but with Sturgis's script and Arnold's acting it is successfully pulled off.

Folks, this is the finest movie I've ever seen. It stars my all-time favorite actor, Edward Arnold. I'm 53. I saw it just once. I was 20. I cried at the end (and I'm a guy!) It's disappeared. If anyone can tell me how to get a copy of it, I'll send them a lollipop.

This flick shoes Edward Arnold at his height. He is extremely underrated these days because he is so little known. A onetime president of the Screen Actors Guild (so was Ronald Reagan)but old Eddie was a president first. Additionally, Arnold once had top billing over Cary Grant (The Toast of New York.)

Anyway, if anyone can help me find this flick, I would be most grateful. Then there are other flicks after this.

Thank you,