What if someone wanted to see a classic film that had more than one or two screen “legends” in it.
Is that possible? Or, even desirable? (We think it definitely is.)
We can think of at least one film, 1942’s Tales of Manhattan from 20th Century Fox , which boasts several star luminaries in its cast. The film is actually five short stories about the effect of an “unlucky” dress tailcoat — that stylish garment worn on very formal occasions — has on its various wearers.
But the movie gives audiences a chance to see such stars as Rita Hayworth, Charles Boyer, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda and Edward G. Robinson in the same film. To sweeten the deal, we have in addition: Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester, George Sanders, Caesar Romero, Roland Young (think Topper), and Thomas Mitchell.
But wait. There’s more. It also stars legendary black performers Ethel Waters and Paul Robeson (seen below). And Eddie (Jack Benny’s Rochester) Anderson.
Rounding out the cast are such supporting players as Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Marion Martin, Harry Davenport (think Dr. Meade), Victor Francen, James Gleason and J. Carroll Naish (the Life With Luigi lead in Fifties tv).
If anyone out there knows a film with a cast equal to this one — that is, with this many screen luminaries in the cast — we’d like to hear from you.
If you don’t know the film seek it out. Tales Of Manhattan, it’s well worth a look.
Have never seen this movie but if it’s an anthology then I would question that the sheer number of leading actors is significant. Just as “Around the World in 80 Days” is star-studded, but most appearances are cameos with no interaction amongst them. Not that there aren’t a lot of fun scenes in that epic commercial for Cinerama. More persuasive as a star-studded epic might be “How the West Was Won”, where the cameos and small roles overlap and connect a bit more.
But movies with a lot of well-known folks playing off each other–all I can think of are “The Women”,
“Stage Door” and one of my favorites, “You Can’t Take it With You.” Only the top of my head.