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The Toast of New York

The Toast of New York
The Toast of New York Film Poster.jpg
The Toast of New York theatrical release poster
Directed by Rowland V. Lee
Produced by Edward Small
Screenplay by
Based on The Book of Daniel Drew
by Bouck White and "Robber Barons"
by Matthew Josephson
Starring
Music by Nathaniel Shilkret
Cinematography Peverell Marley
Edited by George Hively
Samuel E. Beetley
Distributed by RKO Pictures
Release date
  • July 22, 1937 (1937-07-22)
Running time
109 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1.07 million
Box office $1.05 million

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 book The Book of Daniel Drew by Bouck White and the story "Robber Barons" by Matthew Josephson.

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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