Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Charles Reisner

Writers:

Frank Hummert (musical revue)
Harry Sauber (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 November 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

Gangsters take control of a record company and use toughguy tactics on unwilling performers. |

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Threat | Nightclub | Radio Broadcasting | World Series

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Phil Regan	...	Jerry Hart
Leo Carrillo	...	Tony Gordoni
Ann Dvorak	...	Ann Rogers
Tamara Geva	...	Charlizzini
James Gleason	...	Danny The Duck
Ted Lewis and His Orchestra	...	Themselves
Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra	...	Themselves
Kay Thompson and Her Ensemble	...	Themselves
Joe DiMaggio	...	Himself - the Baseball Player (as Joe Di Maggio)
Henry Armetta	...	Spadoni
Luis Alberni	...	Martinetti
Max Terhune	...	Himself - the Ventriloquist
Smiley Burnette	...	Frog - Accordian Player
Louis Prima and His Band	...	Themselves
Gene Autry	...	Himself - the Cowboy Star

Also Known As:

Manhattan Music Box (UK)

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #3734)

Filming Locations:

Biograph Studios, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures (I)

Trivia:

It was while appearing as a guest star in this film that Joe DiMaggio first met his future wife, actress-dancer Dorothy Arnold, who was also appearing in it as a member of the chorus.

Quotes:

Danny The Duck: I can land enough talent in your lap to entertain the world.
Tony Gordoni: Yes, but I don't want them in my lap. I never mix business with pleasure.
Danny The Duck: Don't take me illiterately!

Movie Connections:

Featured in It's Black Entertainment (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Owe You

Gangsters take over a record company.

I just saw Manhattan Merry Go Round and thought it was a pretty good film. I am writing this because I did not like some of a previous viewer's extremely negative comments. It may not have been the best musical, but some of the songs were nice and the storyline interesting. I thought Leo Carrillo was humorous as the head gangster, who was "a man of few words". Phil Regan and Kay Thompson were good and so were the rest. I was even surprised to see Joe Di Maggio in his role. Ann Dvorak did very well as "Jerry's love interest" and I thought Tamara Geva was good as Madame Charlie. I had not seen her before, and thought she was similar to Tallulah Bankhead with some of her gestures. James Gleason and Moroni Olsen were good, too. In short, there are many WORSE films out there today, which is why I usually watch older ones, not of my time.