''Dr. Broadway'' is a 1942 American

mystery film A mystery film is a film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, ...

directed by

Anthony Mann Anthony Mann (born Emil Anton Bundsmann; June 30, 1906 – April 29, 1967) was an American film director and stage actor. He came to prominence as a skilled director of ''Film noirs, film noir'' and Western film, Westerns, and for his Epic film ...

(as his directorial debut) and written by Borden Chase and Art Arthur. The film stars

Macdonald Carey Edward Macdonald Carey (March 15, 1913 – March 21, 1994) was an American actor, best known for his role as the patriarch Dr. Tom Horton on NBC's soap opera '' Days of Our Lives''. For almost three decades, he was the show's central cast membe ...

, Jean Phillips, Eduardo Ciannelli, Richard Lane, J. Carrol Naish, Joan Woodbury and Arthur Loft. The film was released on May 9, 1942, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

Plot

After foiling a phony suicide attempt by Connie Madigan, an aspiring actress seeking publicity by stepping onto a ledge, Dr. Tim Kane, who practices medicine in the Broadway district of

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, vouches for her to keep Connie from being arrested and hires her as his assistant. Doc is warned by his Broadway cronies about gangster Vic Telli being released from prison. Doc's testimony had put Vic behind bars. Vic turns up, but impressed by Doc's honesty, says he is dying and asks Doc to find his long-missing daughter, Margie Dove, so he can bequeath her his fortune. Vic ends up dead with rival racketeer Jack Venner trying to get his money, assisted by a woman pretending to be Margie. In the end, Doc's life is saved by Connie going back out onto the ledge, tossing a shoe at the people below. The police nab the villain and Doc helps Connie back inside, but not before kissing her.

Cast

as Dr. Timothy Kane / Dr. Broadway *Jean Phillips as Connie Madigan * Eduardo Ciannelli as Vic Telli * Richard Lane as Police Sgt. Patric * J. Carrol Naish as Jack Venner * Joan Woodbury as Margie Dove * Arthur Loft as Capt. Mahoney * Warren Hymer as Maxie the Goat *Frank Bruno as Marty Weber * Sid Melton as Louie La Conga *

Olin Howland Olin Ross Howland (February 10, 1886 – September 20, 1959) was an American film and theatre actor. Life and career Howland was born in Denver, Colorado, to Joby A. Howland, one of the youngest enlisted participants in the Civil War, an ...

as Professor *

Gerald Mohr Gerald Mohr (June 11, 1914 – November 9, 1968) was an American radio, film, and television character actor and frequent leading man, who appeared in more than 500 radio plays, 73 films, and over 100 television shows. Early years Mohr wa ...

as Red *Abe Dinovitch as Benny *Thomas W. Ross as Magistrate * Charles C. Wilson as Dist. Atty. McNamara *

Spencer Charters Spencer Charters (March 25, 1875 – January 25, 1943) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 220 films between 1920 and 1943, mostly in small supporting roles. Biography Charters was born in Duncannon, Pennsylvania. Until aroun ...

as Oscar Titus * Mary Gordon as Broadway Carrie *

Jay Novello Jay Novello (born Michael Romano, August 22, 1904 – September 2, 1982) was an American radio, film, and television character actor. Radio career Novello began his 47-year acting career in the 1930s, performing as a character on radio. ...

as Greeny *John Gallaudet as Al * Al Hill as Jerry * Edward Earle as Hayes (uncredited) * John Hamilton as Joe (uncredited)

Production

Mann agreed to direct the film on the encouragement of

Preston Sturges Preston Sturges (; born Edmund Preston Biden; August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He is credited as being the first screenwriter to find success as a director. Prior to Sturges, other ...

who worked with Mann on ''Sullivan's Travels''. Sturges said Mann should direct any film he could if the opportunity came up. Mann later said of the film "I think it had some good things in it. I remember very warmly the cameraman, an oldtimer name of Spatkuhl, who had done many films for UFA and Lubitsch, and he was a great help. Nobody else cared a damn about the picture. They said: ‘Don’t build sets; don’t do anything. You have to get finished in i8 days and, if you don’t, the cameras are taken from you and OUT’."

References

External links

* 1942 films 1940s crime comedy films American crime comedy films American comedy mystery films American black-and-white films 1940s comedy mystery films 1940s English-language films Films directed by Anthony Mann Films set in New York City Paramount Pictures films Films produced by Sol C. Siegel 1942 directorial debut films 1942 comedy films Films scored by Paul Sawtell 1940s American films English-language crime comedy films English-language comedy mystery films {{1940s-adventure-film-stub