The Mayor of 44th Street

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Movie
Original title The Mayor of 44th Street
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1942
length 85 minutes
Rod
Director Alfred E. Green
script Lewis R. Foster
Frank Ryan
production Cliff Reid
music C. Bakaleinikoff
Mort Greene
Harry Revel
camera Robert De Grasse
cut Irene Morra
occupation

The Mayor of 44th Street is a 1942 American musical - drama directed by Alfred E. Green from RKO Pictures . George Murphy plays a music manager who is troubled by a gangster with his gang. The appearance of a gang of children and a falling out with his girlfriend, played by Anne Shirley , make his situation even worse.

The script is based on the short story of the same name by Robert Hardy Andrews, recommended by Luther Davis and John Cleveland on December 14, 1940 in Collier’s Weekly magazine .

action

Joe Jonathan, a dance music organizer and manager of a club, is warned by shady detective Tommy Fallon that Ed Kirby is about to be released on parole and has hinted that he will visit him. Kirby has earned the nickname “Mayor of 44th Street” because he spread fear and terror in 44th Street by blackmailing and controlling various clubs. Joe always refused to pay Kirby's collector. When tried again on him, he is surprised to see a troop of thick-skinned, jaded children led by the teenage Bitz. Joe offers Bitz to work as his assistant and warns him urgently not to continue like this. The offer is a thorn in the side of Jessie Lee, Joe's dance partner and current assistant and friend, and so she tries to denigrate Bitz at Joe. She reacts even more exasperated when Joe even invites Bitz to live with him in his penthouse .

Soon after, Kirby's lawyer Shoemaker visits Joe and tells him on behalf of his client that he has decided to earn his money honestly and therefore needs a job. When Joe agrees to hire Kirby, Jessie decides to go and look for a new dance partner. Before that, however, she warns Joe urgently that she doesn't believe that Kirby really means it, in her eyes he is a born gangster . How correct Jessie's assessment is, it turns out when Kirby arrives, when he marches into Joe's office and tells him that he plans to take over this shortly. Joe warns him strongly that his business will be conducted legally and without breaking the law and that it should stay that way. When Joe has to go on a business trip to San Francisco , Kirby takes the opportunity to undermine his authority. Since he wants the band leader Lew Luddy, who is acting in his sense, as managing director, he causes Bitz and his gang to take action until the management agrees to fill the position with Luddy. When Kirby undertakes further activities to get his hands on the club, Jessie interferes and tries to fire Kirby. Even Bitz, who left Joe to work for Kirby, is anything but enthusiastic about his methods.

As a result, Kirby does a lot to get his plans through. When he orders his men to attack Joe after he has returned, Bitz calls his gang of children together to stand by Joe, which works well. The approaching police find Kirby and his men hanging from the ceiling and only have to collect them.

Now that Joe can go back to his job in peace, Jessie also returns and she and Joe decide to get married and Bitz has also realized that he is better off at Joe's side.

Production and Background

Filming began at the beginning of November 1941 and lasted until mid-December 1941. On May 15, 1942, the film was shown in American cinemas .

According to the Hollywood Reporter and Los Angeles Times , Luther Davis and John Cleveland received $ 20,000 for their factual article in Collier’s . Jackie Cooper was in discussion for the role of Bitz; Ray Collins , George Raft and Brian Donlevy were scheduled for other roles. RKO was so impressed by Joan Merrill's test recordings that her initially small role was rewritten into a larger one. For Clem Beauchamp , assistant director at the time , The Mayor of 44th Street marks RKO's support in the transition from short to feature-length films. George Murphy, who plays the male lead, has been loaned from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .

For silent film star Richard Barthelmess was The Mayor of 44th Street his last film, then he retired into private life.

Soundtrack

- Text and music by Mort Greene and Harry Revel each -

  • Heavenly, Isn't It?
  • You're Bad For Me
  • When There's a Breeze on Lake Louise , performed by Freddy Martin and his orchestra and Ann Shirley
  • A Million Miles From Manhattan , performed by George Murphy
  • Tonight We Love , Freddy Martin and his orchestra
  • Your Face Looks Familar
  • Let's Forget It

Awards

1943 were Harry Revel and Mort Greene with the song When There's a Breeze on Lake Louise in the category "Best Song" for a Oscar nomination, but had to Irving Berlin and his song White Christmas from the music film music, music admit defeat.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Mayor of 44th Street (1942) Screenplay Info at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  2. ↑ The Mayor of 44th Street (1942) Original Print Information at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  3. ↑ The Mayor of 44th Street (1942) Notes at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)