The Mayor of 44th Street (1942)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Robert Hardy Andrews (story)
Luther Davis (article)

Release Date:

15 October 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Joe Jonathan tries to keep his business on the level after some shady dealings but will his cronies let him? |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Article

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

George Murphy	...	Joe Jonathan
Anne Shirley	...	Jessey Lee
William Gargan	...	Tommy Fallon
Richard Barthelmess	...	Ed Kirby
Joan Merrill	...	Vicky Lane
Freddy Martin	...	Himself
Rex Downing	...	Blitz McKarg
Millard Mitchell	...	Herman
Mary Wickes	...	Mamie
Eddie Hart	...	Gromm
Roberta Smith	...	Red
Marten Lamont	...	Shoemaker, Lawyer to Ed Kirby

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

minor murphy musical

This is part musical and part gangster film.Unfortunately neither really meshes with the other.Just when we are enjoying a musical interlude the rather routine gangster film comes crashing back in.It seems to me that they really could not make up their minds what sort of film they wanted this to be.The cast is quite interesting.Ann Shirley and Richard Barthelmess both make their swan songs.Also featured are the marvelous Mary Wickes and Millard Mitchell.In fact the exchanges between those two are the best part of the film.There is one rather strange scene when George Murphy asks the young gang leader to come and live with him instead of Ann Shirley.In the next scene Murphy and the boy are seen all hot and sweaty in his gym!I wonder if they were trying to tell us something?