| The Toast of New York | |
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The Toast of New York theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Rowland V. Lee |
| Produced by | Edward Small |
| Written by | Bouck White (Novel) Matthew Josephson (Story) Dudley Nichols (Screenplay) John Twist (Screenplay) Joel Sayre (Screenplay) |
| Starring | Edward Arnold Cary Grant Frances Farmer Jack Oakie |
| Music by | Nathaniel Shilkret Max Steiner (Uncredited) Roy Webb (Uncredited) |
| Cinematography | J. Peverell Marley |
| Editing by | Samuel E. Beetley George Hively |
| Distributed by | RKO Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 30, 1937 |
| Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Toast of New York is a 1937 American biopic starring Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, and Jack Oakie. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk and Edward S. Stokes. The screenplay was based on the books The Robber Barons by Matthew Josephson and The Book of Daniel Drew by Bouck White.[1]
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In post-Civil War America, unscrupulous, ambitious partners Jim Fisk (Arnold) and Nick Boyd (Grant) talk tight-fisted businessman Daniel Drew (Donald Meek) into selling them his shipping company, paying with worthless Confederate bonds. Later, worried that his longtime rival, Cornelius Vanderbilt (Clarence Kolb), is trying to take control of his railroad, Drew seeks help from Fisk, only to have him turn the situation to his own advantage. Fisk and Boyd eventually become powers to be reckoned with on Wall Street.
Meanwhile, both men fall in love with entertainer Josie Mansfield (Farmer). Mansfield agrees to marry Fisk out of gratitude, but really loves Boyd.
Fisk's greed grows beyond all reason and he tries to corner the market in gold. When Fisk ignores Boyd's warnings. Boyd turns against him, worried that the resulting panic threatens the financial system of the whole country. The federal government finally intervenes by releasing its gold reserves, bankrupting Fisk in the process.
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