On Saturday, September 21st, our not-so-secret Speakeasy Cinema series, curated by Raul Benitez, invites you to a special screening of W.S. Van Dyke’s 1934 classic Manhattan Melodrama.   

Tickets include one free cocktail and a live set by Alchemist Connections! 

This film tells the gripping story of Jim Wade and Blackie Gallagher, two boys orphaned by a tragic shipwreck. As they grow up, their lives take dramatically different paths—Jim (William Powell) becomes a successful politician, while Blackie (Clark Gable) becomes a notorious casino owner and killer. Despite their contrasting lives, their deep bond endures, but when Jim runs for governor, his connection to Blackie threatens to derail his political aspirations. 

Manhattan Melodrama faced scrutiny from the Hays Code, which objected to perceived “anti-police” sentiments and took issue with a riot scene during a Leon Trotsky speech. The Hays Office also required changes to Myrna Loy’s character, insisting that she be portrayed as a “sweetheart” rather than a “moll” or “mistress.” 

This film was a major success for MGM, earning widespread acclaim and appearing on many “Best of 1934” lists. It also marked the first time Myrna Loy appeared onscreen with either Gable or Powell, both of whom she would star alongside in numerous films throughout the following decade. Notably, it’s the only film where Gable and Powell co-starred together. The film’s screenplay, written by Arthur Caesar, won the Academy Award for Best Story. 

Adding to its historical significance, Manhattan Melodrama was the film playing at the Biograph Theater on the night notorious gangster John Dillinger was shot.