THE TOAST OF NEW YORK (RKO Radio, 1937), an Edward Small Production, directed by Rowland V. Lee, stars Edward Arnold in a fictional account of the rise and fall of Wall Street financier, James "Jim" Fisk Jr. (1934-1872). Having already starred as multi-millionaire, "Diamond Jim" Brady in DIAMOND JIM (Universal, 1935), it seemed natural for Arnold to pursue another biographical story centering upon the life of another famous man called "Jim." While Jim Fisk isn't as better known as Diamond Jim Brady, it does leave one to ask, "Who is Jim Fisk?" Based on "The Book of Daniel Drew" by Bouck White, and the story "Robber Barons" by Matthew Josephson, the opening passage offers an brief explanation to whom Jim Fisk is: "Jim Fisk - half genius, half clown - began life with empty pockets, a pack on his back, and a Yankee gift of gab. Loving a uniform - always in front of every parade - he became the Barnum of peddlers and then skyrocketed into high finance in Wall Street where in a few brief years he started a Nation with his colorful career, but in 1861 - before the first guns of the Civil War were fired - he was still an obscure peddler - somewhere South of the Mason & Dixon line." Set during a span of ten years, the plot opens in 1861 where Jim Fisk (Edward Arnold), a medicine show impresario assisted by Nick Boyd (Cary Grant) and Luke (Jack Oakie), get chased out of town by an angry mob after being exposed as fakes. Once passing the boarder onto the next state, Jim next get-rich-quick scheme has him sending Luke to Boston where he's to open an office while he and Nick remain behind to smuggle Southern cotton to the Northern states. At the close of the Civil War where the trio reunite, Fisk discovers Luke converted their profits into worthless Confederate bonds. Coming up with another plan to make millions, Fisk sells his business to Daniel Drew (Donald Meek), and contrives a controlling interest in the Erie Railroad. Before becoming a wealthy financial wizard of New York's stock market, he encounters Josie Mansfield (Frances Farmer), a maid working for temperamental French actress Mademoiselle Fleurigue (Thelma Leeds), and through his philosophy to "think big, talk big and be big," he arranges for the ambitious actress who becomes Jim's mistress to succeed on stage, much to the displeasure of Nick, who believes in himself Josie could become the cause of his financial ruin.
With the champagne glasses and glittering lettering in the opening titles, THE TOAST OF NEW YORK appears to be an expensive lavish-scale production, and certainly is. With its large, impressive cast, THE TOAST OF NEW YORK is very much Edward Arnold's show from start to finish. Reuniting him for the second and final time with Frances Farmer (on loan from Paramount) from COME AND GET IT (Samuel Goldwyn, 1936), where her dual role characterization nearly overshadows Arnold's performance, this time it's Arnold who has the spotlight through his solid performance. Aside from appearing 22 minutes from the start of the story, Farmer's natural acting style which usually garners praise and attention spends much of her time in a Hollywood-ridden cliché pattern in a love/hate relationship with Cary Grant amounting to little challenge here. A fine performance on her part, Farmer's vocalization to the film's theme song is okay, but not as magical as her haunting rendition of "Aural Lee" from COME AND GET IT.
Other worthy offering involving Farmer is the montage in segments involving her stage performance of "Twelve Temptations." Jack Oakie, always good to have around for comic relief, resumes his duties here in a some notable scenes, especially one that has Luke drilling a regiment of soldiers where everything goes comically wrong, as observed in disbelief by the Top Sergeant (Stanley Fields). Thelma Leeds as the French actress gives a performance reminiscent to Luise Rainer's Anna Held from THE GREAT ZIEGFELD (MGM, 1936), but unlike Rainer, no Academy Award nomination.
During the course of 109 minutes, songs incorporated into the story include: "Opoh La La" (sung by Thelma Leeds); "The First Time I Saw You" (theme song sung by Frances Farmer); and "The Temptation Waltz." Others in the cast include Clarence Kolb (Cornelius Vanderbilt); Lionel Bellmore (President of the Board); and Mary Gordon (Mrs. Callahan). Look quickly for Hal Roach stock players of Laurel and Hardy comedies as James Finlayson and Billy Gilbert in smaller roles.
As a biography, THE TOAST OF NEW YORK disappoints in accuracy. As a motion picture overall, it's quite good even with expected results. Largely overlooked and forgotten until distributed to home video in the 1980s, DVD (Turner Entertainment) and broadcasts on cable television including USA (1986-87), American Movie Classics (prior to 2000), the story and the rise to power of Jim Fisk and his relationship with Josie Mansfield can be seen occasionally on Turner Classic Movies. (***1/2)
With the champagne glasses and glittering lettering in the opening titles, THE TOAST OF NEW YORK appears to be an expensive lavish-scale production, and certainly is. With its large, impressive cast, THE TOAST OF NEW YORK is very much Edward Arnold's show from start to finish. Reuniting him for the second and final time with Frances Farmer (on loan from Paramount) from COME AND GET IT (Samuel Goldwyn, 1936), where her dual role characterization nearly overshadows Arnold's performance, this time it's Arnold who has the spotlight through his solid performance. Aside from appearing 22 minutes from the start of the story, Farmer's natural acting style which usually garners praise and attention spends much of her time in a Hollywood-ridden cliché pattern in a love/hate relationship with Cary Grant amounting to little challenge here. A fine performance on her part, Farmer's vocalization to the film's theme song is okay, but not as magical as her haunting rendition of "Aural Lee" from COME AND GET IT.
Other worthy offering involving Farmer is the montage in segments involving her stage performance of "Twelve Temptations." Jack Oakie, always good to have around for comic relief, resumes his duties here in a some notable scenes, especially one that has Luke drilling a regiment of soldiers where everything goes comically wrong, as observed in disbelief by the Top Sergeant (Stanley Fields). Thelma Leeds as the French actress gives a performance reminiscent to Luise Rainer's Anna Held from THE GREAT ZIEGFELD (MGM, 1936), but unlike Rainer, no Academy Award nomination.
During the course of 109 minutes, songs incorporated into the story include: "Opoh La La" (sung by Thelma Leeds); "The First Time I Saw You" (theme song sung by Frances Farmer); and "The Temptation Waltz." Others in the cast include Clarence Kolb (Cornelius Vanderbilt); Lionel Bellmore (President of the Board); and Mary Gordon (Mrs. Callahan). Look quickly for Hal Roach stock players of Laurel and Hardy comedies as James Finlayson and Billy Gilbert in smaller roles.
As a biography, THE TOAST OF NEW YORK disappoints in accuracy. As a motion picture overall, it's quite good even with expected results. Largely overlooked and forgotten until distributed to home video in the 1980s, DVD (Turner Entertainment) and broadcasts on cable television including USA (1986-87), American Movie Classics (prior to 2000), the story and the rise to power of Jim Fisk and his relationship with Josie Mansfield can be seen occasionally on Turner Classic Movies. (***1/2)