The Whole Town's Talking (Passport to Fame) (1935)
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100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
76% of users liked it
(317 ratings)
The film that revived Edward G. Robinson's career after a string of flops, along with A Slight Case of Murder (1938), it was one of the few comedies on his lengthy list of credits. The gangster-comedy was unusual in the composition of its writing staff, which included frequent Frank Capra… More The film that revived Edward G. Robinson's career after a string of flops, along with A Slight Case of Murder (1938), it was one of the few comedies on his lengthy list of credits. The gangster-comedy was unusual in the composition of its writing staff, which included frequent Frank Capra collaborators Robert Riskin and Jo Swerling, as well as tough-guy scribe W.R. Burnett, who wrote Little Caesar (1931) and High Sierra (1941). The plot centers on the confusion surrounding the uncanny resemblance of a mild-mannered advertising clerk, Arthur Jones (Robinson), to escaped convict "Killer" Mannion. After the police mistakenly arrest the clerk, they give him a passport to avoid repeating the error. As a novelty, newspaper man Healy (Wallace Ford) hires the clerk, an aspiring writer, to do a series on his impressions of Mannion. But later, the convict appears at Jones' apartment and demands the passport for his own protection, threatening the fearful clerk if he reveals anything about his visit. The criminal also orders Jones to write the series of articles based on his reminiscences, which alerts the police that something strange is going on. Although the district attorney finally places Jones in jail under protective custody, for his safety, Mannion switches places with him in order to kill another inmate. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Ford
- Written By
- Jo Swerling, Robert Riskin
- Genres
- Drama, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Feb 22, 1935 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Richard Brody, New Yorker
Satirically yet trenchantly embraces a wide range of modern experience, from the political to the intimate.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...generally an amiable little comedy that benefits greatly from the charisma of its two leads.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A sheer joy to watch.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Great gangster comedy . Classic Eddie G.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Edward G. Robinson
as Arthur Ferguson Jones, Killer Mannion
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Jean Arthur
as Wilhelmina "Bill" Clark
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Wallace Ford
as Mr. Healy
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Arthur Hohl
as Detective Sgt. Mike Boyle
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Arthur Byron
as Mr. Spencer
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Donald Meek
as Mr. Hoyt
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Etienne Girardot
as Mr. Seaver
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Paul Harvey
as J.G. Carpenter
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Edward S. Brophy
as "Slugs" Martin
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James Donlan
as Detective Sgt. Pat Howe
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John Farrell MacDonald
as Warden
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John Wray
as Henchman
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Effie Ellsler
as Aunt Agatha
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Lucille Ball
as Girl
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A.S. Byron
as District Atty. Spencer
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Gordon De Main
as Man
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Sam Flint
as City Official
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Bess Flowers
as Secretary
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Mary Gordon
as Landlady
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Grace Hayle
as Sob Sister
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Al Hill
as Gangster
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Robert E. Homans
as Detective
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Cornelius Keefe
as Radio Man
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Tom London
as Guard
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Walter Long
as Convict
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Philip Morris
as Detective
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Ferdinand Munier
as Mayor
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Robert E. O'Connor
as Police Lt. Mac
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Ralph M. Remley
as Ribber
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Frank Sheridan
as Russell
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Ben Taggart
as Traffic Cop
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Emmett Vogan
as Reporter
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Clarence H. Wilson
as President of the Chamber of Commerce
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Francis Ford
as Reporter at Dock
- Charles King
- Robert Parrish
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Joe Sawyer
as Mannion's Henchman
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Virginia Pine
as Seaver's Private Secretary
