MINOR SPOILERS
Warner Brothers celebrated the dedication and bravery of power line repair crews. In the U.S. of 1942 with prosperity emerging from the Depression, tough, brawling but brave civilian workers were a cinematic counterpart to the expanding roster of military action films.
In "Manpower" a naive and essentially softhearted Edward G. Robinson is a line repairman promoted to gang foreman. His best friend on the crew is George Raft. Robinson falls head-over-heels in love with the getting-older-but still-sensuous Marlene Dietrich, soon to begin her own conquest of American forces in Europe. Raft, at first dismissive of clip joint Dietrich's marriage to Robinson, falls in love with her. No surprise here.
With a good supporting cast including pre-"Wagon Train" Ward Bond and pre-"Our Miss Brooks" Eve Arden, the film has both humor and action. Can you imagine a film today highlighting, in a serious vein, a crew of utility workers?
The best scene: Robinson's astonishment when he realizes he's been taken for a sucker at Dietrich's clip joint. How does he know? The bill is for $4.12!!!
The story is predictable but it's one more movie showcasing some remarkable talent. And there is a good shot of Dietrich's legs.
Warner Brothers celebrated the dedication and bravery of power line repair crews. In the U.S. of 1942 with prosperity emerging from the Depression, tough, brawling but brave civilian workers were a cinematic counterpart to the expanding roster of military action films.
In "Manpower" a naive and essentially softhearted Edward G. Robinson is a line repairman promoted to gang foreman. His best friend on the crew is George Raft. Robinson falls head-over-heels in love with the getting-older-but still-sensuous Marlene Dietrich, soon to begin her own conquest of American forces in Europe. Raft, at first dismissive of clip joint Dietrich's marriage to Robinson, falls in love with her. No surprise here.
With a good supporting cast including pre-"Wagon Train" Ward Bond and pre-"Our Miss Brooks" Eve Arden, the film has both humor and action. Can you imagine a film today highlighting, in a serious vein, a crew of utility workers?
The best scene: Robinson's astonishment when he realizes he's been taken for a sucker at Dietrich's clip joint. How does he know? The bill is for $4.12!!!
The story is predictable but it's one more movie showcasing some remarkable talent. And there is a good shot of Dietrich's legs.