One plotline you can usually count on
seeing in old films is a newspaper reporter who is following a big story. He is
hot on the trails of the bad guy because the police do not know what they are
doing. Along for the chase is a girl the reporter has just met and is somehow
involved in the case but they are crazy for each other even if they do not know
it. In the end the reporter solves the case, gets the big scoop for a very frustrated
editor, and gets the girl. That is how the Joel McCrea and Jean Arthur film Adventure in Manhattan plays out but
with a few twists.
The
latest news in New York City is about a valuable ruby that has been stolen. Every
newspaper in town is writing about with no variations. Editor Phil Blane (Thomas
Mitchell) wants someone from his paper to add a woman to the story or anything
just to make their paper different. In walks a young reporter named George
Melville (McCrea). George is a very good observer which makes the other
reporters think he can predict the future. He predicts what will happen based
on past events and more so for the fact that he believes the thief is still
alive under a different name.
On
his way home from the office he runs into a woman on the streets asking for
money. Before he can give her anything an accident happens and runs away from
the woman. When goes to leave he realizes his wallet has been stolen. George
follows the woman to a salon where she comes out all nice with a new hairdo and
dress. He grabs her by the arm tells her he is going to take her to the police
but first he wants to take her out to dinner. Over dinner the woman named
Claire Peyton (Arthur) tells George that today is her little daughter’s
birthday and that she has not seen the daughter in four years. The reason she
stole the money was to get herself fixed up. Out of sympathy George takes her
to her husband’s house but when they get there the little girl has died. George
takes Claire back to his place. She asks him for a favor to go get the ring her
daughter was wearing. George goes to the house but no one is there and guard
says that the owner has been away in Europe for months. When George goes to the
telephone inside the house he gets the surprise of his life when the other
reporters he was talking to that day come out telling him that everything was a
joke. Claire is just an actress they hired to go along with the gag. They just
wanted to pull a joke on him. A man named Blackton Gregory helped to put
everything together he is a Broadway producer who happens to be financing
Claire’s latest play.
Still
in the house the group hears a gunshot go off in the house next door. They
learn that a priceless painting has been stolen. As the audience we find out
that Blackton is the one behind the painting theft as well as the theft of the
ruby. He plans to have George join his side after he finds out that George is a
collector and admirer of artistic things.
George
and Claire meet for lunch. He tells Claire they are going to The Ritz and by The
Ritz he meant his apartment. George plays it cute dressing up as a waiter with
the apron and a hat on his head. All his has in his cupboards is cans of beans.
Blackton finds his way to George’s place. They discuss the thefts and George
explains why he believes the thief is still alive: the man wants the things
that he stole because he could not purchase them they were not for sale.
George
makes another prediction. He tells his editor that the next place to be hit
will be the vault in the bank next to the theater where Claire’s play will be
running. Not knowing that Blackton is the thief Claire lets slip George’s
prediction. Blackton has the robbery pushed back to the opening night. George
is put to shame when the robbery does not happen since he boss had the whole
story written up and ready to go for minutes after the robbery. For days after
he is fired Claire is worried about George he seems to be going crazy. Blackton
lets George stay at his mountain home to recuperate.
From
the way George is acting it may seem obvious that he has something going on
that he is on track to catching the thief. With his observation, some acting,
and Claire’s help George helps the police catch Blackton.
Now
I really liked Joel McCrea I feel he played his character very nicely. Reginald
Owen was fabulous as Blackton Gregory he had the perfect look, mannerisms and
speech for a bad guy. Jean Arthur I could not get into. The character was good I
did not mind the character but Arthur I was not a fan of. This was the first
time I have ever seen Jean Arthur in a film. I am not sure what I was expecting
if I was expecting anything about or from her. For one thing her voice
completely threw me for a loop it was a bit high and at times got annoying. I
am not going to pass judgment on her acting until I have seen more of her films
which I would like to do.
When
I first heard the newspaper editor Phil Bane speak I could not get over how
familiar his voice was. All I have to say is thank God for IMBD because Thomas
Mitchell who played Bane is Gerald O’Hara from Gone with the Wind. I love his Irish temper and love it and
understand it even more when I read he was born and grew up in Elizabeth, New
Jersey (north Jersey is notorious for the bad, tough attitudes. And it is
mostly where all the Jersey Shore- type
people come from).
Adventure
in Manhattan is a cute crime story but typical of the time period. Definitely
worth a viewing for Joel McCrea and the interesting twists with his character
and the story.
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