The Toast of New York

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Movie Info

Allegedly based on two factual works, Bouck White's The Book of Daniel Drew and Matthew Josephson's The Robber Barons, RKO's The Toast of New York is a largely fanciful account of the career of 1870s financier "Jubilee Jim" Fisk. As played by Edward Arnold in his usual "tycoon" mode, Fisk was a likable scoundrel who finagled his way into the upper rungs of Wall Street as much for fun as for profit. The film conveniently ignores Fisk's involvement with the infamous Tweed Ring, and skims over his complicity in 1869's "Black Friday," one of the most disastrous events in American economic history. We are also offered a sanitized version of Fisk's notorious mistress Josie Mansfield, who as played by Frances Farmer is an apple-cheeked lass who regards Fisk only as a loyal friend. Cary Grant is along for the ride as "Nick Boyd," a thinly disguised version of Fisk's actual partner in crime Ned Stokes. Too costly to post a profit, Toast of New York is nonetheless fine non-think entertainment, kept alive by a superb supporting cast ranging from Donald Meek as Daniel Drew and Clarence Kolb as Cornelius Vanderbilt to such bit players as Laurel & Hardy perennial James Finlayson, who plays the inventor of a self-tipping hat!

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Cast

Edward Arnold
as James 'Jim' Fisk Jr.
Cary Grant
as Nick Boyd
Frances Farmer
as Josie Mansfield
Jack Oakie
as Luke
Donald Meek
as Daniel Drew
Thelma Leeds
as Fleurique
Clarence Kolb
as Cornelius Vanderbilt
Bob McClung
as Bellhop
Dudley Clements
as Collins
Marie Marks
as Check Room Girl
Frank M. Thomas
as Lawyer
Ginger Connolly
as Call Boy
Joseph De Stefani
as Headwaiter
George Offerman Jr.
as Usher
Lloyd Ingraham
as Man in Restaurant
Ted Thompson
as Man in Restaurant
Jack Luden
as Man in Restaurant
Reed Howes
as Man in Restaurant
Wally Dean
as Man in Restaurant
Jay Eaton
as Man in Restaurant
Fred Lee Own
as Bostonian in Restaurant
Crauford Kent
as Board of Director
Otto Hoffman
as Board of Director
Winter Hall
as Board of Director
Frank Darien
as Board of Director
Earl Dwire
as Board of Director
George Cleveland
as Secretary
Ben Hall
as Inventor
James Finlayson
as Inventor
Frank Swales
as Inventor
Foy Van Dolsen
as Inventor
Lon Poff
as Mountaineer
Frank Hammond
as Mountaineer
Nelson McDowell
as Panhandler
Clem Bevans
as Panhandler
Daisy Bufford
as Maid
Stanley Blystone
as Sheriff
Jack Kenney
as Deputy Sheriff
Christian J. Frank
as Deputy Sheriff
Frank Rasmussen
as Clerk
Robert Dudley
as Janitor
Mary Gordon
as Charwoman
Dewey Robinson
as Beefy Dolan
Reginald Barlow
as Hotel Proprietor
Stanley Fields
as Top Sergeant
Jack Egan
as Reporter
Mike Jeffries
as Reporter
Lynton Brent
as Reporter
Max Wagner
as Reporter
Jack Carson
as Reporter
Eddie Hart
as Reporter
Bentley Hewlett
as Reporter
Homer Dickinson
as Toastmaster
Margaret Morris
as Woman
Isabelle La Mal
as Woman
Pete Gerrard
as Painter
Ed Heim
as Painter
Sidney Bracey
as Waiter
Maxine Hicks
as Mother
William Gould
as Bit
Don Brodie
as Bit
Tom Brewer
as Bit
Bradley Page
as Bit
Francis Palmer Tilton
as Artist
Oscar Apfel
as Wallack
George Irving
as Broker
James Barnes
as Broker
William Jeffrey
as Broker
Walter Murray
as Broker
Robert Brister
as Broker
Tom O'Grady
as Broker
Jack Mulhall
as Broker
Hal Craig
as Broker
William Lemuels
as Broker
William Arnold
as Broker
James Carlisle
as Broker
Gavin Gordon
as Southern Major
Edward Peil Sr.
as Gentleman
Ted Offenbecker
as Usher
Malcolm Graham
as Gentleman
Gladden James
as Gentleman
Allan Cavan
as Board of Director
Clarence Harvey
as Board of Director
Lionel Belmore
as Board of Director
Tom Ricketts
as Board of Director
Edward J. Le Saint
as President of the Board
Harvey Clark
as Tailor
Frank Hall Crane
as Tailor
Russell Hicks
as Lawyer
Nick Thompson
as Italian Driver
Frank Mills
as Mug
Russ Powell
as Mug
Ethan Laidlaw
as Mug
Joyce Compton
as Southern Girl
Virginia Carroll
as Southern Girl
Allen Greer
as Southern Cracker
Tyrone Brereton
as Southern Cracker
Frank Hemphill
as Stage Hand
Tom Chatterton
as Fisk Broker
John Marshall
as Fisk Broker
Emile Durelle
as Buyer
Larry Steers
as Buyer
J.C. Fowler
as Buyer
Cameron Smith
as Buyer
Ernie Shield
as Clerk
Jerome Storm
as Little Broker
William Worthington
as Judge
John Maurice Sullivan
as President of Exchange
James Quinn
as News Butcher
Tom Coleman
as Sergeant
Richard Kipling
as Southerner
Billy Gilbert
as Portrait Photographer
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Critic Reviews for The Toast of New York

All Critics (1) | Fresh (1)

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Audience Reviews for The Toast of New York

  • Jan 16, 2010
    This was a decent film starring Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer and Jack Oakie. The story is set just before the Civil War. Three con men make money during the war. Once the war is over they head to New York to make even more money. Friendships are tested through deals, swindles and love. Edward Arnold and Cary Grant both give great performances. The film is fun. It has that nice mix of comedy and drama. If your a Cary Grant or Edward Arnold fan then check this out. Well worth the watch.
    Corey n Super Reviewer
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