Based on a Preston Sturges stage play, Child of Manhattan invests the rags-to-riches theme of thirties films with twists of irony. Nancy Carroll sparkles as Madeleine McGonegal, a Manhattan taxi-dancer whose romance with wealthy scion Paul Vanderkill (John Boles) promises a way out, until she discovers that she is with child. They marry, she loses the baby and then runs off in search of a Mexican divorce to relieve her husband of his marital responsibilities. He follows her into the melee of misunderstanding. William K. Everson writes, “Reviews at the time were exceptionally good, as they deserved to be, praising the film both for Nancy Carroll's excellent performance and for the film's careful adherence to the popular Preston Sturges play. And director Edward Buzzell...comes through equally well, taking good material and turning it into a very warm and moving little film. Preston Sturges gets in some typical brittle one-liners, but the film also reminds us how well he wrote emotional material too, an aspect of his talents somewhat subdued after he became established in comedy.”