Child of Manhattan
“The drama of a good girl with a bad name!”
Synopsis
Paul Vanderkill is extraordinarily wealthy because his grandfather happened to buy farmland in what was to become Midtown Manhattan. The Loveland Dance Hall is one of the tenants of the Vanderkill estates. To reassure his aunt Sophie, Vanderkill visits Loveland to determine whether it is as disreputable as Sophie suspects. There he meets a dime-a-dance girl, Madeleine MacGonagal, who charms him with her quaint proletarian accent. They begin a secret affair, which turns into a secret marriage when pregnancy ensues. When the baby fails to survive, Madeleine decides that since he had married her only for the baby's sake, she should make haste to Mexico to secure a divorce. There she meets Panama Canal Kelly, a former suitor who now owns a silver mine. Her plans for divorce and quick remarriage are complicated when Vanderkill arrives to confront her.
Top Cast
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Nancy Carroll
Madelaine McGonagle
John Boles
Paul Vanderkill
Buck Jones
"Panama Canal" Kelley
Jessie Ralph
Aunt Minnie
Clara Blandick
Aunt Sophie
Luis Alberni
Carlos Spumoni Bustamente
Warburton Gamble
Stephen Eggleston
Jane Darwell
Mrs. McGonagle
Garry Owen
Buddy McGonagle
Betty Grable
Lucy McGonagle
Nat Pendleton
Spyrene - Dance Hall Bouncer
Edward LeSaint
Dr. Schultz
Matthew Betz
Chet Watson (uncredited)
Tyler Brooke
Dulcey
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 11, 1933
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Edward Buzzell
- Screenplay & Story
- Gertrude Purcell, Maurine Dallas Watkins
- Original Title
- Child of Manhattan
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 10m
- Production Studios
- Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Edward Buzzell
Gertrude Purcell, Maurine Dallas Watkins, Preston Sturges
Ted Tetzlaff
Jack Dennis
Department Leadership Roster
Edward Buzzell
Director
Jack Dennis
Editor
Gertrude Purcell
Screenplay
Ted Tetzlaff
Director of Photography
Maurine Dallas Watkins
Screenplay
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Child of Manhattan.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Pre-Code Hollywood
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Frequently Asked Questions About Child of Manhattan
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Child of Manhattan about?
Paul Vanderkill is extraordinarily wealthy because his grandfather happened to buy farmland in what was to become Midtown Manhattan. The Loveland Dance Hall is one of the tenants of the Vanderkill estates. To reassure his aunt Sophie, Vanderkill visits Loveland to determine whether it is as disreputable as Sophie suspects. There he meets a dime-a-dance girl, Madeleine MacGonagal, who charms him with her quaint proletarian accent. They begin a secret affair, which turns into a secret marriage when pregnancy ensues. When the baby fails to survive, Madeleine decides that since he had married her only for the baby's sake, she should make haste to Mexico to secure a divorce. There she meets Panama Canal Kelly, a former suitor who now owns a silver mine. Her plans for divorce and quick remarriage are complicated when Vanderkill arrives to confront her.
Who directed Child of Manhattan?
Child of Manhattan was directed by Edward Buzzell.
Who stars in Child of Manhattan?
The principal cast of Child of Manhattan includes Nancy Carroll, John Boles, Buck Jones, Jessie Ralph, Clara Blandick.
When was Child of Manhattan released and how long is it?
Child of Manhattan was released in 1933 with a total runtime of 1h 10m.