ROMANCE IN MANHATTAN (1935)

Despite the title, this is nowhere near being a definitive Big Apple love story--THE CLOCK, ON THE TOWN, or even SERENDIPITY come much closer to that. In fact, it's the romance element that is sorely lacking here. Francis Lederer plays a Czech immigrant who arrives in New York with 50 bucks and no immediate job prospects; the immigration officials tell him he must have at least $200, so he is put on the next boat back to Europe. However, he manages, rather too easily, to jump ship and make it back to the city. Roaming the streets, he sneaks into a theater during a rehearsal and takes some of the backstage food spread. Chorus girl Ginger Rogers, who already has her hands full taking care of her little brother (Jimmy Butler, from MRS. WIGGS OF THE CABBAGE PATCH), befriends him, not knowing he is illegally in the country. Rather by rote, they fall in love, but that is a side plot compared to 1) Lederer's situation, and 2) Rogers' problems when her show closes and she is considered not fit to raise her brother. With Lederer's proposal of marriage and the help of a friendly Irish cop (J. Farrell McDonald), everything works out in the end. Lederer spouts many cooing love speeches to New York and America, and he and Rogers do get a little chemistry going, but they never really seem to be in love. The happy ending comes about even though many people flout many laws. For me, the most romantic moment is when Lederer sleeps on the roof of Rogers' building and rhapsodizes about the (patently false) Manhattan skyline. Also with Sidney Toler, Donald Meek, and Eily Malyon, the ubiquitous landlady/maid of 30's movies. [TCM]