Adventure in Manhattan

Adventure in Manhattan

Year: 1936

Runtime: 73 mins

Language: English

Director: Edward Ludwig

MysteryDramaComedyCrime

Art connoisseur crime writer George Melville is hired by newspaper editor Phil Bane to hunt a notorious art thief believed dead. Assisted by Claire Peyton, Melville falls for a young actress whose stage play hides a massive jewel robbery. The mastermind poses as a theatrical impresario, staging a war‑drama with explosions to distract while his gang cracks safes in the adjacent bank.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Adventure in Manhattan yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Adventure in Manhattan (1936)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Adventure in Manhattan (1936). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The story takes place in an era of rapid media growth and public intrigue, characteristic of the 1930s urban thrillers. Newsrooms, premieres, and social salons set the tempo, while financial nerves of the Depression era color the stakes. The time period highlights a tension between spectacle and crime, with public fascination fueling the mystery.

Location

Manhattan, New York

The action unfolds across a bustling Manhattan setting, moving between a stylish beauty salon, a grand mansion, a stage theater, and a bank vault. The city’s venues—sharp with glamour and danger—serve as the playground for masterminds and reporters alike. The urban backdrop amplifies the pace of deception, chase, and revelation that drives the plot.

🗽 Manhattan 🎭 Theater district 📰 Media circus

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:16

Main Characters – Adventure in Manhattan (1936)

Meet the key characters of Adventure in Manhattan (1936), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

George Melville - Joel McCrea

A conceited crime writer/criminologist hired to boost newspaper circulation through sensational stories. He boasts a sharp intellect and a knack for predicting the next move of a supposed mastermind, only to find himself entangled in a larger scheme. His confidence wavers as reality and theater blur, revealing both wit and vulnerability.

🧭 Detective 🖊️ Writer

Claire Peyton - Jean Arthur

An actress who stars in the production and doubles as a key observer of the unfolding scheme. She uses charm and wit to read people, uncovering layers of deception around the mysterious theft. Her performance in and out of the play becomes a crucial signal to Melville and Gregory.

🎭 Actress 🧠 Strategist

Blackton Gregory - Reginald Owen

A suave theater producer, secretly the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse. He toys with Melville, rewarding a worthy foe and manipulating events to stage a flawless robbery while preserving his own image. His restraint and theatrical flair make him the calm center of the storm.

🎩 Producer 🧠 Mastermind

Andre Berlea

A famed thief thought to be dead, whose legendary craving for beautiful objects drives the plot. His implied presence looms over the heists, influencing decisions and the ultimate pursuit of the Sunburst Diamond. His elusive nature fuels the detectives’ obsession with solving the case.

🧭 Mastermind

Dario - Robert Fiske

A henchman in Gregory’s circle, involved in the vault breach and the mob-like machinery behind the theft. His loyalty and readiness to act under pressure help move the plan from plan to execution. He embodies the risks of street-level violence within a high-society con.

🗡️ Henchman

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:16

Major Themes – Adventure in Manhattan (1936)

Explore the central themes of Adventure in Manhattan (1936), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗞️ Media Manipulation

Newspapers drive the plot as the editor uses crime stories to boost circulation, blurring truth and sensationalism. The play-within-a-film concept echoes how media can stage and shape reality. Characters exploit public appetite for spectacle to control outcomes and cast doubt on what is real.

🏙️ Crime Drama

The narrative weaves a web of theft, alibis, and henchmen, creating a classic urban crime melodrama. The theater world and the bank heist provide parallel stages where plans unfold and risks escalate. Suspense builds as clues align with the mastermind’s calculated moves.

✨ Destiny

Characters’ fates appear shaped by their choices and the objects central to the plot—the coveted jewels and the grand stage production. The repeating pursuit of beautiful things suggests a recurring pattern of desire that drives the mastermind. The ending reframes fortune as a result of wit, timing, and manipulation rather than pure luck.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:16

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Witty Crime Capers like Adventure in Manhattan

Clever heists and charming cons executed with playful banter and style.If you enjoyed the clever deception and charming style of Adventure in Manhattan, explore more movies like it. This collection features playful heist films and witty detective stories where the focus is on intellectual gamesmanship and romantic banter over dark violence.

wittyplayfulsuspensefulcharmingcleverupbeatdeceptiveromantic

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a clever protagonist—a detective, a thief, or a journalist—who must outsmart an equally brilliant antagonist. The plot revolves around an elaborate scheme or investigation, filled with twists, double-crosses, and a central ‘game’ of cat and mouse. A romantic subplot often develops through witty repartee between the main characters.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared light tone, fast pacing, and focus on intellectual cleverness over physical danger. They blend mystery and comedy with a dose of romance, creating an experience that is suspenseful yet consistently charming and fun.

Charming Romances Amidst Intrigue like Adventure in Manhattan

Love blossoms unexpectedly during a high-stakes investigation or adventure.For viewers who loved the romantic banter between the leads in Adventure in Manhattan, this list highlights similar movies where a clever, fast-paced mystery provides the perfect setting for a charming love story to unfold.

romanticwittysuspensefulcharmingupbeatplayfuldeceptiveengaging

Narrative Summary

The narrative intertwines a professional investigation or adventure with a personal romantic arc. The two leads often start at odds or with conflicting goals, but are forced to work together. Their relationship deepens through a series of thrilling events and clever dialogue, with the external conflict resolving just in time to affirm their new-found romance.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific blend of genre elements: a medium-intensity mystery plot provides the engine, while a light emotional weight and witty tone allow a charming romance to take center stage. The happy ending satisfies both the plot and the romantic arc.

Unlock the Full Story of Adventure in Manhattan

Don't stop at just watching — explore Adventure in Manhattan in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Adventure in Manhattan is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Adventure in Manhattan Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Adventure in Manhattan, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Adventure in Manhattan Summary

Adventure in Manhattan Timeline

Track the full timeline of Adventure in Manhattan with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Adventure in Manhattan Timeline

Adventure in Manhattan Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Adventure in Manhattan that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Adventure in Manhattan Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Adventure in Manhattan

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Adventure in Manhattan: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Adventure in Manhattan

Similar Movies to Adventure in Manhattan

Discover movies like Adventure in Manhattan that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.