Directed by:
Julien DuvivierCinematography:
Joseph WalkerComposer:
Sol KaplanCast:
Charles Boyer, Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Edward G. Robinson, Paul Robeson, Ethel Waters, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Pallette (more)Plots(1)
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. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Frank Orth](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/462/161462958_6a50f4.png)
Frank Orth
USA
Best movies:
The Lost Weekend (1945)
His Girl Friday (1940)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
Manuel París
Spain
Best movies:
The Great Dictator (1940)
Casablanca (1942)
Midnight (1939)
![Adeline De Walt Reynolds](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/757/161757094_d485bf.jpg)
Adeline De Walt Reynolds
USA
Best movies:
Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
George Reed
USA
Best movies:
After the Thin Man (1936)
Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
Show Boat (1936)
Sayre Dearing
USA
Best movies:
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
The Roaring Twenties (1939)
All About Eve (1950)
Blue Washington
USA
Best movies:
Beggars of Life (1928)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
King Kong (1933)
Connie Leon
UK
Best movies:
The Song of Bernadette (1943)
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
The Rains Came (1939)
Joseph E. Bernard
USA
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Action in the North Atlantic (1943)
History Is Made at Night (1937)
Ted Billings
UK
Best movies:
The Invisible Man (1933)
The Song of Bernadette (1943)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
![Charles H. Gray](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/352/162352523_788e95.jpg)
Charles H. Gray
USA
Best movies:
Sleeper (1973)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
Bless the Beasts & Children (1971)
![Helene Reynolds](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/857/162857249_175200.jpg)
Helene Reynolds
Belgium
Best movies:
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
Bonnie Bannon
USA
Best movies:
Adam's Rib (1949)
The Flying Deuces (1939)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
Count Stefenelli
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Edison, the Man (1940)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Gentleman Jim (1942)
Jerry Bergen
Russia
Best movies:
Lust for Life (1956)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
The Pirate (1948)
Frank Jaquet
USA
Best movies:
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)
Rondo Hatton
USA
Best movies:
Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
Archie Savage
USA
Best movies:
The Sweet Life (1960)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
Johnny Lee
USA
Best movies:
The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
Tales of Manhattan (1942)
The Narrow Margin (1952)