Music in Manhattan
Encyclopedia
Music in Manhattan is a 1944 musical film
directed by John H. Auer. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Sound Recording (Stephen Dunn
).
) at a diner where Frankie has been washing dishes. Stanley asks Frankie out for dinner and a movie and convinces her to stay in Manhattan and take some classes at the local community college. Frankie tells Stanley that she is broke, and he suggests a way she can earn some extra money. She doesn't like the tone of Stanley's voice, but she is broke and has little choice, so she follows Stanley to his friend Johnny Pearson's place (played by Phillip Terry
). Johnny calls himself a manager, but Frankie immediately knows he is truly a pimp. He offers her an opportunity to earn some money and even gives her a room she can live in. Frankie wants to tell him where to go, but she is broke so she moves in to Johnny's apartment building and begins sleeping with men, for money, during the nights, and working with Johnny's mother, Mrs. Pearson (Jane Darwell) during the day in the family's bakery, which is nothing more than a cover business for tax purposes.
Stanley stays in touch with her and promises her that she can not do this all her life if she would just go to college. After much begging and pleading, Frankie enrolls at Harlem Community College where she meets Gladys (Patti Brill). They are both in a creative writing course taught by Professor Carl Roberti (Raymond Walburn
). For their first assignment, they must write about their most troubling experience, and Frankie writes about how Johnny is pimping her out. Concerned for her safety, Professor Roberti talks Frankie into leaving Johnny's place and hiding out with him in his house in Brooklyn. Afraid Johnny will have her killed for leaving him, Frankie refuses to leave and eventually stops attending class.
Frustrated but undeterred, Professor Roberti finds Frankie at Johnny's place and makes him a deal. He buys her from Johnny for $5000, freeing her from Johnny's control. Shortly afterwards, Professor Roberti dies after being attacked by a flock of seagulls while at Coney Island. Frankie is devastated, but lucky for her, at his funeral, she reunites with Stanley. He apologies for convincing her to become one of Johnny's ladies of the night. She forgives him and they leave Manhattan to start a new life together in Indiana Amish Country.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
directed by John H. Auer. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Sound Recording (Stephen Dunn
Stephen Dunn (sound engineer)
Stephen Dunn was an American sound engineer. He won two Academy Awards in the category Best Sound Recording and was nominated twice more in the same category.-Selected filmography:Won* This Land Is Mine...
).
Plot
The story begins as Frankie Foster (Anne Shirley) leaves home for Manhattan after graduating high school. With little money and no prospects, Frankie is just about to move back home when she meets Stanley Benson (Dennis DayDennis Day
Dennis Day born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, was an Irish-American singer and radio, television and film personality.-Early life:...
) at a diner where Frankie has been washing dishes. Stanley asks Frankie out for dinner and a movie and convinces her to stay in Manhattan and take some classes at the local community college. Frankie tells Stanley that she is broke, and he suggests a way she can earn some extra money. She doesn't like the tone of Stanley's voice, but she is broke and has little choice, so she follows Stanley to his friend Johnny Pearson's place (played by Phillip Terry
Phillip Terry
Phillip Terry was an American actor.He was born Frederick Henry Kormann in San Francisco, California, the only child of German Americans, Frederick Andrew Kormann and Ida Ruth Voll .He attended grade school in Glendale, California. His father was a chemical engineer in the oil fields who moved...
). Johnny calls himself a manager, but Frankie immediately knows he is truly a pimp. He offers her an opportunity to earn some money and even gives her a room she can live in. Frankie wants to tell him where to go, but she is broke so she moves in to Johnny's apartment building and begins sleeping with men, for money, during the nights, and working with Johnny's mother, Mrs. Pearson (Jane Darwell) during the day in the family's bakery, which is nothing more than a cover business for tax purposes.
Stanley stays in touch with her and promises her that she can not do this all her life if she would just go to college. After much begging and pleading, Frankie enrolls at Harlem Community College where she meets Gladys (Patti Brill). They are both in a creative writing course taught by Professor Carl Roberti (Raymond Walburn
Raymond Walburn
Raymond Walburn was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of Hollywood comedies and an occasional dramatic role during the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:...
). For their first assignment, they must write about their most troubling experience, and Frankie writes about how Johnny is pimping her out. Concerned for her safety, Professor Roberti talks Frankie into leaving Johnny's place and hiding out with him in his house in Brooklyn. Afraid Johnny will have her killed for leaving him, Frankie refuses to leave and eventually stops attending class.
Frustrated but undeterred, Professor Roberti finds Frankie at Johnny's place and makes him a deal. He buys her from Johnny for $5000, freeing her from Johnny's control. Shortly afterwards, Professor Roberti dies after being attacked by a flock of seagulls while at Coney Island. Frankie is devastated, but lucky for her, at his funeral, she reunites with Stanley. He apologies for convincing her to become one of Johnny's ladies of the night. She forgives him and they leave Manhattan to start a new life together in Indiana Amish Country.
Cast
- Anne Shirley as Frankie Foster
- Dennis DayDennis DayDennis Day born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty, was an Irish-American singer and radio, television and film personality.-Early life:...
as Stanley Benson - Phillip TerryPhillip TerryPhillip Terry was an American actor.He was born Frederick Henry Kormann in San Francisco, California, the only child of German Americans, Frederick Andrew Kormann and Ida Ruth Voll .He attended grade school in Glendale, California. His father was a chemical engineer in the oil fields who moved...
as Johnny Pearson - Raymond WalburnRaymond WalburnRaymond Walburn was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of Hollywood comedies and an occasional dramatic role during the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:...
as Professor Carl Roberti - Jane Darwell as Mrs. Pearson
- Patti Brill as Gladys
Music list
- It's time to grow up
- Manhattan, Manhattan
- Doin' the Dishes
- Stanley he's Manly
- Free rent? What's the catch?
- Oh, I'm a hooker now
- Slip your bun into my oven
- Back to School
- Teach me to Love Me
- How Much for the Girl?
- Funeral for a Lover
- Steve, you ignorant ass
- Amish Country Here we Come