IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
A formal tailcoat that gets passed from one owner to another affects each life in a significant way.A formal tailcoat that gets passed from one owner to another affects each life in a significant way.A formal tailcoat that gets passed from one owner to another affects each life in a significant way.
- Awards
- 1 win
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaW.C. Fields appeared in a chapter which was cut from the final theatrical version. It had been restored to the 1996 VHS version. Also in the segment are Margaret Dumont Marcel Dalio, and Phil Silvers. However, when it was later on released in DVD, the Fields segment was deleted again.
- GoofsEven though the audience has seen a close-up of Charles Boyer's bullet wound behind the left side of his jacket, when he turns to say goodbye to Mitchell and Hayworth the left side of the jacket lifts, and there is no bloodstain.
- Quotes
Paul Orman: What did you want to say about guns, Mr. Halloway?
John Halloway: Ever use 'em?
Paul Orman: Yes, on the stage.
Paul Orman: Shoot 'em?
John Halloway: On the stage.
John Halloway: Not real bullets?
Paul Orman: No.
John Halloway: Just blanks, eh?
Paul Orman: Yes, only blanks. We actors prefer them.
- Crazy creditsThe following contains a restored sequence starring W.C. Fields which was not included in the original theatrical release of "Tales of Manhattan."
- Alternate versionsSome scenes featuring W.C. Fields were filmed but cut from the movie before release. The US video version restores this unseen footage. In this 9 minute sequence, Phil Silvers and Marcel Dalio played the Santelli Brothers who owned the used clothing store where Fields bought the dinner jacket. Margaret Dumont played a wealthy woman who hired Fields to give a lecture on the evils of alcohol. The J. Carroll Naish episode was filmed and substituted for the longer Fields episode after it was cut.
- ConnectionsFeatured in M*A*S*H: Morale Victory (1980)
- SoundtracksPerpetual Motion (Perpetuum mobile, Op. 257)
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauss
Played at the concert hall rehearsal
Featured review
I've never seen this film in a TV listing that I can remember, which is amazing considering the magnitude of its cast. Probably the best segment is the opening one, with Rita Hayworth (at her most glamorous), Charles Boyer (who is a bit too dramatic), & the ever effective Thomas Mitchell. The Ginger Rogers/ Henry Fonda/ Cesar Romero segment is OK. The Charles Laughton/ Elsa Lanchester segment is pretty good. Although I'm a big WC Fields fan, this was not his best work, although it had a couple of very funny moments (I'm surprised that I've never seen clips from this film on any of the bios about him). The Edward G. Robinson/ George Sanders segment was a bit too intellectual, but well acted (& it was great seeing a young Robinson do scenes I've never seen before). The film ended strongly with an all-black segment featuring Paul Robeson/ Ethel Waters/ Rochester, with the great Clarence Muse in a small part. As an extra treat, this last segment contained a song by Robeson, but the sets for this segment were Broadway stage-like, & not realistic looking like the rest of the film (compare the painted back-drops here with the realism of the Robinson alleyway in an earlier segment). Even if you don't enjoy the story segments, anyone who likes great actors/actresses of the 1930s - 1940s must see this film. I rate it 8/10.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Stars Over Manhattan
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 58 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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