The Toast of New York

Infobox Film
name = The Toast of New York


image_size = 200px
caption = "The Toast of New York" theatrical release poster
director = Rowland V. Lee
producer = Edward Small
writer = Bouck White (Novel)
Matthew Josephson (Story)
Dudley Nichols (Screenplay)
John Twist (Screenplay)
Joel Sayre (Screenplay)
narrator =
starring = Edward Arnold
Cary Grant
Frances Farmer
music = Nathaniel Shilkret
Max Steiner (Uncredited)
Roy Webb (Uncredited)
cinematography = J. Peverell Marley
editing = Samuel E. Beetley
George Hively
distributor = RKO Pictures
released = July 30, 1937
runtime = 109 minutes
country = United States
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:50211
imdb_id = 0029675

"The Toast of New York" is a 1937 American biopic that starred Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, and Frances Farmer. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk and Edward S. Stokes. The screenplay was based on the books "The Robber Barons" by Matthew Josephson and "The Book of Daniel Drew" by Bouck White. [ [http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article.jsp?cid=76194&mainArticleId=76183 Turner Classic Movies: "The Toast of New York" Overview] ]

Plot summary

In post-Civil War America, unscrupulous, ambitious partners Jim Fisk (Arnold) and Nick Boyd (Grant) talk tight-fisted businessman Daniel Drew (Donald Meek) into selling them his shipping company, paying with worthless Confederate bonds. Later, worried that his longtime rival, Cornelius Vanderbilt (Clarence Kolb), is trying to take control of his railroad, Drew seeks help from Fisk, only to have him turn the situation to his own advantage. Fisk and Boyd eventually become powers to be reckoned with on Wall Street.

Meanwhile, both men fall in love with entertainer Josie Mansfield (Farmer). Mansfield agrees to marry Fisk out of gratitude, but really loves Boyd.

Fisk's greed grows beyond all reason and he tries to corner the market in gold. When Fisk ignores Boyd's warnings. Boyd turns against him, worried that the resulting panic threatens the financial system of the whole country. The federal government finally intervenes by releasing its gold reserves, bankrupting Fisk in the process.

Cast and characters

*Edward Arnold as James "Jim" Fisk, Jr.
*Cary Grant as Nicholas "Nick" Boyd
*Frances Farmer as Josie Mansfield
*Jack Oakie as Luke
*Donald Meek as Daniel Drew
*Thelma Leeds as Mademoiselle Fleurique
*Clarence Kolb as Commodore Cornelius "Corneel" Vanderbilt
*Billy Gilbert as Portrait photographer
*Russell Hicks as Fisk's lawyer
*Lionel Belmore as President of the board
*Dewey Robinson as "Beef" Dooley
*Dudley Clements as Jed Collins
*George Irving as Broker selling gold
*Robert McClung as Bellhop
*Robert Dudley as Sam the Janitor
*Stanley Fields as Militia top sergeant

References

External links

*imdb title|0029675|The Toast of New York
*amg movie|id=1:50211|title=The Toast of New York
*rotten-tomatoes|id=toast_of_new_york|title=The Toast of New York