Diamond Jim (1935)

The story of legendary gambler Diamond Jim Brady and his romance with entertainer Lillian Russell.

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Harry Clork (adaptation), Doris Malloy (adaptation),

Stars:

Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur, Binnie Barnes

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Arnold	...	James Buchanan Brady aka Diamond Jim
Jean Arthur	...	Jane Matthews / Emma
Binnie Barnes	...	Lillian Russell
Cesar Romero	...	Jerry Richardson
Eric Blore	...	Sampson Fox
Hugh O'Connell	...	Charles B. Horsley
George Sidney	...	Pawnbroker
Robert McWade	...	A.E. Moore
Charles Sellon	...	John Touchey
Henry Kolker	...	J.C. Randolf - Bank President
William Demarest	...	Harry Hill
Albert Conti	...	Jeweler
Armand Kaliz	...	Jewelry Salesman
Tully Marshall	...	Minister
Purnell Pratt	...	Physician

Storyline

The story of legendary gambler Diamond Jim Brady and his romance with entertainer Lillian Russell.

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Plot Keywords:

gambler | entertainer | based on novel

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brillanten - sonst nichts!

Filming Locations:

San Luis Obispo, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the real Diamond Jim Brady died in 1917, almost 20 years before this film was made, Edward Arnold, who played him, actually met Brady twice when Arnold was a young actor just starting out in the theater - once when Brady came to pick up an actress who was in the same play as Arnold, and another time when Arnold was in Ethel Barrymore's acting company and Brady came backstage to pay his respects to her.

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Connections

Spoofed in Have You Got Any Castles? (1938)

User Reviews

Edward Arnold Excellent

In maybe his most famous role, Edward Arnold stars as Diamond Jim Brady, the outsized financier in the late 19th century who builds a fortune in the expanding American railroads. Brady was also a famous social figure along Broadway and was famous as Lillian Russell's friend and famous for his immense appetite for fine foods.

Lucky in business but not in love, Brady comes off as a shrewd but genial man, one who values his friendships even with the women he may have been in love with.

Arnold is just sensational as the blustery but jovial man who helps make Lillian Russell (Binnie Barnes) a star. He's perfectly believable as the ambitious baggage handler, the smooth-talking salesman, and the generous millionaire who likes to wear diamond jewelry Barnes is solid as Russell, the most famous singer of her day.

Jean Arthur plays the vapid Southern girl, Brady first proposes to and a lookalike girl from New York he later meets and tries to marry. Cesar Romero plays the guy she's in love with, but he's dating Russell.

Co-stars include George Sidney as the pawnbroker, Eric Blore as the inventor, Hugh O'Connell plays the businessman who gives Brady his big start, and William Demarest plays the waiter.

Edward Arnold was so famous for playing Diamond Jim that he repeated in the role in 1940 in LILLIAN RUSSELL, which starred Alice Faye, Henry Fonda, and Don Ameche.

This film is worth watching for Arnold's performance and for its look at America, when it was growing fast and prospering.