John Dillinger and ‘Manhattan Melodrama’

Gangster John Dillinger was shot down by G-Man Melvin Purvis outside of Chicago’s Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934, after watching a movie — naturally, it was a gangster flick, “Manhattan Melodrama.” MGM was quick to capitalize on the Dillinger connection to publicize the film. But “Manhattan Melodrama” caught audiences’ and critics’ attention even before Dillinger was gunned down. Clark Gable and William Powell play lifelong friends on opposite sides of the law. Available on DVD, “Manhattan Melodrama” is fast-paced summer entertainment.