The Toast of New York *** (1937, Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, Jack Oakie, Donald Meek) – Classic Movie Review 7180

Director Rowland V Lee’s ambitious 1937 RKO Radio Pictures black and white comedy drama tackles the lively subject of 19th-century tycoonery in a fairy tale poor-man-makes-good biopic of Wall Street’s Jim Fisk – not a name on everybody’s lips these days.

The main assets are a gripping yarn (based on the story Robber Barons by Matthew Josephson) and Edward Arnold’s rousing performance as the robber baron tycoon. The drawbacks are the top-heavy period atmosphere and an unusually slightly ill-at-ease Cary Grant as Fisk’s partner, Nick Boyd.

It is an unusual, interesting movie, neatly directed by Lee – and there is a lively, attractive performance by the doomed star Frances Farmer, as Josie Mansfield, her beauty and personality prompting a love triangle with Fisk and Boyd.

Also in the cast are Jack Oakie, Donald Meek, Clarence Kolb, Billy Gilbert, Stanley Fields, Thelma Leeds, Ocar Apfel, Lionel Belmore, Clem Bevans, Stanley Blystone, Sidney Bracey, Don Brodie, Jack Carson, Dudley Clements, George Cleveland, Tom Coleman, Joyce Compston, Hal Craig, Frank Darien, Robert Dudley, James Finlayson, Gavin Gordon, Mary Gordon, William Gould, Eddie Hart, Clarence Harvey, Russell Hicks, Otto Hoffman, Lloyd Ingraham, George Irving, Gladden James, Jack Kenney, Crauford Kent, Ethan Laidlaw, Edward Le Saint, Frank Mills, Walter Murray, George Offerman, Edward Peil Sr, Tom Ricketts, Dewey Robinson, Larry Steersand Max Wagner.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7180

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