Movie spotlight
The Whole Town's Talking
Ordinary man-in-the-street Arthur Ferguson Jones leads a very straightforward life. He's never late for work and nothing interesting ever happens to him. One day everything changes: he oversleeps and is fired as an example, he's then mistaken for evil criminal killer Mannion and is arrested. The resemblance is so striking that the police give him a special pass to avoid a similar mistake. The real Mannion sees the opportunity to steal the pass and move around freely and chaos results.
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Plot Summary
Ambitious but timid clerk Arthur P.
Critical Reception
The film was generally well-received by critics, with particular praise for Edward G. Robinson's performance and John Ford's direction. It was considered a solid entry in the crime-comedy genre, though some found its tonal shifts occasionally jarring.
What Reviewers Say
Praise for Edward G. Robinson's dual performance as the meek clerk and the ruthless gangster.
Appreciation for John Ford's skillful direction and handling of both comedic and dramatic elements.
Mixed reactions to the film's sometimes abrupt shifts in tone between lighthearted comedy and serious crime drama.
Google audience: Audience reception is not well-documented through aggregated online reviews for this older film, but contemporary reviews generally highlighted its engaging plot and strong performances.
Fun Fact
The film marked the first time Edward G. Robinson played two distinct characters in one movie, a performance that was widely acclaimed and demonstrated his range beyond his typical gangster roles.
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