There were two big-time money men in New York of the mid to late 19th century who had the moniker, "Diamond Jim." The more familiar one in recent times was James Buchanan Brady (1856-1917) whose reputation was more above board than was that of James Fisk (1835-1872). Both men lived flamboyant lives and were much in the spotlight. Brady was known for his gargantuan appetite and eating contests. He was a close friend of singer and actress Lillian Russell, and he was a philanthropist. Fisk, on the other hand, was known for his cunning and underhanded methods of acquiring wealth.
I mention all of this about the two Diamond Jims because Edward Arnold played both of them, including Jim Brady twice The first was in the 1935 biopic, "Jim Brady," and the second in the biopic of "Lillian Russell." Arnold's role in the latter propelled that film some. Lilliam Russell had a great voice and was a beloved performer; but that biopic was so fictionalized that it was a terrible picture of Russell. On top of that, the usually good and talented Alice Faye played Russell, with very little singing. That's because her voice was so low compared to Russell's. That was a real example of miscasting and fictional garbage. But, it was Arnold who saved that picture from being a total loss.
While Diamond Jim Brady was a sort of darling of Wall Street and the New York social scene, Diamond Jim Fisk was considered a renegade of the New York Stock Market. He also had the moniker of "Jubilee Jim" by the press, for his celebrations when he had a great success or conquest. And, in this film, Edward Arnold plays Fisk to the hilt. It's a fictionalized account of Fisk and his partner, Edward Stiles Stokes. Nick Boyd is his name in the movie, and the film captures the major shenanigans that Fisk pulled off, including capture of Daniel Drew's company, his railroad deals, effort to corner the gold market, and his flamboyant New York National Guard maneuvering. Arnold plays Fisk superbly; and Cary Grant plays Nick Boyd. But, his part seems reticent - probably due to the script, because Grant's amiable and energetic persona had already come out a couple years before. Jack Oakie plays Luke, another member of Fisk's group. They get their start during the Civil War, with flim-flam operations like the old-fashioned medicine shows with wagons that moved from town to town.
Frances Farmer plays Josie Mansfield, in the necessary female role for a film like this. She was a real person in Fisk's life. But some other golden era stalwarts for comedy also add to this film Donald Meek plays Daniel Drew, Clarence Kolb is Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Billy Gilbert plays a photographer.
This film is more fun than fact, but it does have some history in it, and a very good portrayal of an historical figure of the 19th century. But, to keep the facts straight - Fisk was married, and Josie Mansfield was a has-been on the stage, but a performer in a popular bordello of the time. The change in character, from Stokes to Boyd for Grant's part seemed obvious, since Fisk's one-time partner Stokes was his killer. He is the one who shot Fisk on January 6, 1872 in the Grand Central Hotel.
Critics overall didn't rate this movie very highly and it lost money. Where comedy and romance films of the rich and famous were popular throughout the Great Depression, this film's focus on the greed and graft of Fish's methods may have undermined it. But, n real life, in the mid-19th century, Fisk was much loved by the general public, in contrast to his standing in the financial and blue-blood circles of New York.
I mention all of this about the two Diamond Jims because Edward Arnold played both of them, including Jim Brady twice The first was in the 1935 biopic, "Jim Brady," and the second in the biopic of "Lillian Russell." Arnold's role in the latter propelled that film some. Lilliam Russell had a great voice and was a beloved performer; but that biopic was so fictionalized that it was a terrible picture of Russell. On top of that, the usually good and talented Alice Faye played Russell, with very little singing. That's because her voice was so low compared to Russell's. That was a real example of miscasting and fictional garbage. But, it was Arnold who saved that picture from being a total loss.
While Diamond Jim Brady was a sort of darling of Wall Street and the New York social scene, Diamond Jim Fisk was considered a renegade of the New York Stock Market. He also had the moniker of "Jubilee Jim" by the press, for his celebrations when he had a great success or conquest. And, in this film, Edward Arnold plays Fisk to the hilt. It's a fictionalized account of Fisk and his partner, Edward Stiles Stokes. Nick Boyd is his name in the movie, and the film captures the major shenanigans that Fisk pulled off, including capture of Daniel Drew's company, his railroad deals, effort to corner the gold market, and his flamboyant New York National Guard maneuvering. Arnold plays Fisk superbly; and Cary Grant plays Nick Boyd. But, his part seems reticent - probably due to the script, because Grant's amiable and energetic persona had already come out a couple years before. Jack Oakie plays Luke, another member of Fisk's group. They get their start during the Civil War, with flim-flam operations like the old-fashioned medicine shows with wagons that moved from town to town.
Frances Farmer plays Josie Mansfield, in the necessary female role for a film like this. She was a real person in Fisk's life. But some other golden era stalwarts for comedy also add to this film Donald Meek plays Daniel Drew, Clarence Kolb is Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Billy Gilbert plays a photographer.
This film is more fun than fact, but it does have some history in it, and a very good portrayal of an historical figure of the 19th century. But, to keep the facts straight - Fisk was married, and Josie Mansfield was a has-been on the stage, but a performer in a popular bordello of the time. The change in character, from Stokes to Boyd for Grant's part seemed obvious, since Fisk's one-time partner Stokes was his killer. He is the one who shot Fisk on January 6, 1872 in the Grand Central Hotel.
Critics overall didn't rate this movie very highly and it lost money. Where comedy and romance films of the rich and famous were popular throughout the Great Depression, this film's focus on the greed and graft of Fish's methods may have undermined it. But, n real life, in the mid-19th century, Fisk was much loved by the general public, in contrast to his standing in the financial and blue-blood circles of New York.