Tales of Manhattan (1942)
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73% of users liked it
(308 ratings)
Tales of Manhattan is a sumptuous multipart film centered around a formal tailcoat. The coat is specially designed for stage actor Charles Boyer, who wears it during a rendezvous with his lady friend (Rita Hayworth). The lady's husband (Thomas Mitchell) shoots Boyer, thus the tailcoat is damaged… More Tales of Manhattan is a sumptuous multipart film centered around a formal tailcoat. The coat is specially designed for stage actor Charles Boyer, who wears it during a rendezvous with his lady friend (Rita Hayworth). The lady's husband (Thomas Mitchell) shoots Boyer, thus the tailcoat is damaged merchandise and sold at a discount to a bridegroom (Cesar Romero). When the groom's peccadillos catch up to him, the bride (Ginger Rogers) chooses to marry the best man (Henry Fonda) instead, and the coat is shipped off to a second hand store. It is purchased by a would-be composer (Charles Laughton), who wears it the night that he is to conduct his first symphony; alas, the coat is too tight and tears apart, nearly ruining the conductor's debut. Stitched back together, the coat is donated to a skid row mission, wherein the kindly proprietor gives the coat to a down and out drunkard (Edward G. Robinson) so that the shabby gentleman can attend his 25th college reunion. Later on, the coat is stolen by a crook (J. Carroll Naish) in order to gain entrance to a fancy charity ball. The crook holds up the ball and stuffs the loot in the pockets of the coat, but while escaping in an airplane he loses the outer garment. The coat floats down to an impoverished African American shanty community; a farmer (Paul Robeson) decides to distribute the "money from heaven" amongst his needy neighbors. At the end, the tattered coat adorns the shoulders of a scarecrow. Tales of Manhattan is one of the best "portmanteau" dramas turned out by Hollywood; it was directed by French expatriate Julien Duvivier, a past master of the multi-story technique. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Julien Duvivier
- Written By
- Henry Blankfort, Alan Campbell, Samuel Hoffenstein
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Sep 24, 1942 Wide
- On DVD
- May 7, 1996
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Charming episodic urban comedy drama.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Charles Boyer
as Paul Orman
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Rita Hayworth
as Ethel Halloway
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Ginger Rogers
as Diane
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Henry Fonda
as George
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Charles Laughton
as Charles Smith
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Edward G. Robinson
as Avery "Larry" L. Browne
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Paul Robeson
as Luke
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Ethel Waters
as Esther
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Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
as Rev. Lazarus
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Thomas Mitchell
as John Halloway
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Eugene Pallette
as Luther
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Cesar Romero
as Harry Wilson
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Gail Patrick
as Ellen
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Roland Young
as Edgar the Butler
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Marion Martin
as Squirrel
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Elsa Lanchester
as Elsa Smith
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Victor Francen
as Arturo Bellini
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George Sanders
as Williams
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James Gleason
as Father Joe
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Harry Davenport
as Professor Lyons
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James Rennie
as Hank Bronson
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J. Carrol Naish
as Costello
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Frank Orth
as Secondhand Clothes Dealer
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Christian Rub
as Wilson
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Sig Arno
as Piccolo Player
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Harry Hayden
as Soupy Davis
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Morris Ankrum
as Judge Barnes
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Donald Douglas
as Henderson
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Mae Marsh
as Molly
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Clarence Muse
as Grandpa
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George H. Reed
as Christopher
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Cordell Hickman
as Nicodemus
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Barbara Lynn
as Mary
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Adeline de Walt Reynolds
as Grandmother
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Helene Reynolds
as Actress
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Archie Savage
as Man
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Olive Ball
as Woman
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Don Beddoe
as Whistler
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Don Brady
as Whistler
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Jack Chefe
as Tailor
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Gino Corrado
as Spectator
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Frank Dae
as Elderly Man
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Frank Darien
as Grandpa
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W.C. Fields
as (in restored episode) (uncredited)
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Charles Gray
as Rod
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Robert Greig
as Lazar
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The Hall Johnson Choir
as Themselves
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William Halligan
as Oliver Webb
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Esther Howard
as Woman
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Philip Hurlic
as Jeff
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Frank Jaquet
as Musician
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Johnny Lee
as Carpenter
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Connie Leon
as Mary
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Forbes Murray
as Dignified Man
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Alex Pollard
as Waiter
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Dewey Robinson
as Bar Proprietor
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Ted Stanhope
as Chauffeur
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Charles Tannen
as Pilot
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Blue Washington
as Black Man
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Eric Wilton
as Halloway's Butler
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Will Wright
as Skeptic
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John Kelly
as Monk
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Charles Williams
as Paul's Agent
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Tom O'Grady
as Latecomer
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Buster Brodie
as Call Boy
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Rita Christiani
as Woman
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Joseph E. Bernard
as Postman