IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Big City (1937)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   137 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Norman Krasna (story)
Dore Schary (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Big City on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 September 1937 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
So much of happiness and heart-break...drama and romance...set to the tune of a big city...glorified by two great stars...it will bring glowing memories for years to come! more
Plot:
To avoid a taxi war, city officials blame a gang bombing on driver Joe Benton's wife Anna and put her on a ship to deport her... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
Slight, well acted '30s melodrama more (10 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Luise Rainer ... Anna Benton

Spencer Tracy ... Joe Benton
Charley Grapewin ... Robert, the Mayor
Janet Beecher ... Sophie Sloane
Eddie Quillan ... Mike Edwards
Victor Varconi ... Paul Roya
Oscar O'Shea ... John C. Andrews
Helen Troy ... Lola Johnson
William Demarest ... Mr. Beecher
John Arledge ... Buddy 'Bud'
Irving Bacon ... Jim Sloane
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams ... Danny Devlin (as Guinn Williams)
Regis Toomey ... Fred Hawkins
Edgar Dearing ... Tom Reilley
Paul Harvey ... Dist. Atty. Gilbert
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Skyscraper Wilderness (USA) (TV title)
more
Runtime:
80 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 5 people found the following review useful.
Slight, well acted '30s melodrama, 16 January 2006
7/10
Author: blanche-2 from United States

Luise Rainer and Spencer Tracy are an affectionate couple in "Big City," a small film from MGM, which is surprising, since it has two big stars in it. The happy world of Joe and Anna is torn apart when her brother is killed as a result of a war between the independent cabbies in New York and a large cab company. Anna is blamed and plans are made to deport her.

Rainer and Tracy make a sweet couple; one really believes they're in love. Tracy is wonderful. Rainer is beautiful with soulful eyes, and of course, she gets another telephone call as in "Hello, Flo" in "The Great Ziegfeld." Rainer takes a lot of heat for winning two Oscars in a row and basically disappearing soon after, as if this was her fault. She was, and still is, a strong-willed woman who came up against Louis B. End of story. He's long dead and she's still alive as of this writing, at the age of 96, and made a film in 2003. So take that, Louis.

This film was made at a time when you weren't supposed to see a woman's pregnancy, and though Anna is pregnant in the story, in fact, far enough along to be ready to give birth, from the look of her, the baby should have weighed half an ounce.

The end of the film is a free-for-all featuring some of the great sports figures of the day, listed in the cast, including Jim Thorpe, Maxie Rosenbloom, and Jack Dempsey. Look for Ruth Hussey in a small part as the mayor's secretary.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (10 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Big City (1937)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Government Agents vs Phantom Legion Across the Universe The Galloping Ghost The Black Widow Midnight Court
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.