MANHATTAN MELODRAMA (1934) 19669

Original MGM insert poster (14x36) for the W.S. Van Dyke excellent crime drama, MANHATTAN MELODRAMA (1934) starring Clark Gable, William Powell, and Myrna Loy in her first significant role. This was the first of 14 pairings of Powell and Loy, and the new partnership saved Powell's career by making him a superstar all over again. Gable, who was the king of MGM at this time, gives a memorable performance as the tough, callous, and fatalistic gangster whose only soft spot is for his boyhood friend, Powell. Loy plays Gable's girlfriend, who is educated, refined, and witty—but not very impressed with Gable's gangster ways. Powell effectively prosecutes his boyhood friend for murder, is elected governor, and then offers to commute Gable's death sentence. But Gable refuses clemency and swaggers to the electric chair. MANHATTAN MELODRAMA was the film that gangster John Dillinger immediately previous to being gunned down by federal agents in front of Chicago's Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934. He was set up by Anna Sage, the madam of a popular brothel, who told the FBI that she would be wearing red, thus being dubbed "The Woman in Red." This poster was featured prominently in the climactic scene of Michael Mann's 2009 film PUBLIC ENEMIES. This original insert poster of this historic film is in very fine plus condition. There is some writing on the reverse side of the poster, but the overall condition is really quite great. RARE.