Never mind the overworked plot formula of the two boyhood pals who grow up to come into conflict as suave gangster (Clark Gable) and crusading DA (William Powell), clashing over both the law and the same woman (Myrna Loy). MGM gave tremendous production backing to this tongue-in-cheek big city melodrama. W.S. "Woody" Van Dyke directed with his customary slickness, but special praise must to to the outstanding visuals created by cameraman James Wong Howe and special effects supervisor Slavko Vorkapich. Manhattan Melodrama was a raging success -- drawing the likes of John Dillinger himself (and Melvin Purvis to catch Dillinger, but that's another movie...).