The Whole Town’s Talking (1935) in Color — Starring Edward G. Robinson & Jean Arthur

The Whole Town’s Talking (1935) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Whole Town’s Talking, the 1935 crime comedy directed by John Ford and starring Edward G. Robinson in a dual role, now available as a professionally colorized version. At an advertising firm, office manager Seaver is instructed by the boss, J.G. Carpenter, to fire the next employee who shows up late and to reward meek clerk Arthur Ferguson Jones with a raise, as he is never late. That morning, when Jones oversleeps and shows up late for work for the first time, his brash co-worker Wilhelmina Clark is fired instead. Seeing a picture of escaped convict “Killer” Mannion in the newspaper, Wilhelmina points out that he bears a striking resemblance to Jones. While having lunch, Jones is mistaken for Mannion and turned over to the police, hoping for the $25,000 reward. After the real Mannion robs a bank, Jones becomes a local celebrity and is given a special passport to prevent mistaken arrests. That night, Jones returns home to find Mannion at his apartment, demanding to use the passport at night for criminal undertakings while Jones uses it during the day. This comedy thriller features Edward G. Robinson in a remarkable dual performance as both the meek clerk and the ruthless gangster, with Jean Arthur as his love interest. Own this classic crime comedy in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

At an advertising firm, office manager Seaver is instructed by the boss, J.G. Carpenter, to fire the next employee who shows up late and to reward meek and mild-mannered clerk Arthur Ferguson Jones with a raise, as he is never late. That morning, when Jones oversleeps and shows up late for work for the first time, Seaver is unsure whether to fire him or give him a raise. Shortly afterwards, Wilhelmina Clark, Jones’ brash co-worker with whom he is secretly infatuated, also comes in late and is fired by Seaver. Seeing a picture of escaped convict “Killer” Mannion in the newspaper, Wilhelmina points out to the staff that he bears a striking resemblance to Jones.

While having lunch at a restaurant, Jones is approached by Wilhelmina, and as they talk, he reveals he is an aspiring writer and dreams of going to Shanghai. Upon seeing Mannion’s picture in the newspaper, a fellow patron spots Jones and turns him over to the police, hoping for the $25,000 reward. Jones and Wilhelmina are both taken into custody and interrogated at the police station, where a nervous Jones protests his innocence. While Jones is still at the station, the real Mannion robs a bank. After Seaver arrives to establish Jones’ identity, the district attorney gives Jones a special passport identifying him as not Mannion to prevent another mistaken arrest.

As Jones becomes a local celebrity, J.G. gets him to sign a contract with newspaperman Healy to be credited as the author of a series of ghostwritten articles on Mannion. After the three men get drunk in J.G.’s private office, Jones kisses Wilhelmina and orders Seaver to rehire her. That night, Jones returns home to find Mannion at his apartment, demanding to let him use the passport at night to protect him during criminal undertakings, while Jones will have it during the day. In the morning, Mannion returns to the apartment, and Jones leaves for work, where Wilhelmina volunteers to be Jones’ agent to ensure that he gets paid.

When the first installment of the newspaper series is published, Mannion orders Jones to have the series be turned into his reminiscences of the prison break. Jones’ next article raises the suspicion of the police, as it includes details only the guards involved and Mannion would know. Wilhelmina visits Jones’ apartment to bring him his first paycheck as an author, initially failing to recognize Mannion. Noticing Mannion’s gun, Wilhelmina flees the apartment but is caught by Mannion before she can contact the police. The police complain that with “Jones” using his passport at night, they cannot stop Mannion from committing crimes, so the district attorney orders that Jones be placed under protective custody in prison.

After learning that “Slugs” Martin, a fellow gangster who informed on Mannion, is also in protective custody, Mannion masquerades as Jones and kills Martin. Seaver picks Mannion up from prison, believing him to be Jones, only to be kidnapped and taken to Mannion’s hideout with his other hostages, Wilhelmina and Jones’ visiting aunt. Mannion schemes to have Jones killed in a police ambush by sending him to the bank disguised in a mustache to deposit money for his mother, thus convincing the police that Mannion is dead. He then has a henchman call the police with a tip-off that Mannion is about to rob the bank with a mustache on.

As Jones is about to walk into the bank, he realizes he has forgotten to bring the check and unwittingly leads the police back to the hideout while Mannion is out with a girlfriend. Upon his arrival, Jones is mistaken for Mannion by the waiting henchmen, who inadvertently reveal Mannion’s plan to have Jones killed by the police. When the real Mannion returns unexpectedly, his gang kills him with a machine gun, thinking he is Jones. Jones then grabs the machine gun, locks up the gangsters, and frees the hostages. The police arrive to arrest the remaining gangsters. With Mannion dead, Jones collects the $25,000 reward and takes a cruise to Shanghai with Wilhelmina.

Cast & Crew

Director: John Ford

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Jean Arthur, Arthur Hohl, James Donlan, Arthur Byron, Wallace Ford, Donald Meek, Etienne Girardot, Edward Brophy, Paul Harvey

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Whole Town’s Talking was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the contrast between the meek clerk and the ruthless gangster through innovative dual-role photography. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the office comedy sequences to the tense gangster confrontations. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the 1930s advertising office, the newspaper offices, and Mannion’s hideout gain authenticity that transports viewers to Depression-era America. Edward G. Robinson’s legendary dual performance gains additional dimension in color, his ability to differentiate between the timid Jones and the menacing Mannion becoming even more striking as color highlights the subtle differences in his characterization. Jean Arthur’s performance as the spunky Wilhelmina Clark benefits from colorization, her expressive face and distinctive style becoming even more vibrant. The film’s trick photography, which allowed Robinson to play both roles simultaneously, becomes even more impressive in color, the visual effects seamlessly blending the two characters in shared scenes. Now also available in colour.

Buy The Whole Town’s Talking in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1935, The Whole Town’s Talking represents a unique collaboration between director John Ford and star Edward G. Robinson, combining Ford’s directorial skill with Robinson’s gangster persona in a comedy context. Columbia Pictures borrowed Robinson from Warner Bros. for this film—at the time Robinson’s career was somewhat moribund and the star was tired of playing only gangsters. He was initially opposed to the project but changed his mind after reading the script. In retrospect, The Whole Town’s Talking has been seen as a turning point for Robinson, reviving his cinematic fortunes.

The film was based on a story by W.R. Burnett, who also wrote Little Caesar, which catapulted Robinson to stardom, and High Sierra, which was a significant step for Humphrey Bogart in moving from playing gangsters to romantic lead. This connection to key gangster film writers gives The Whole Town’s Talking its place in the evolution of the crime genre, even as it parodies the very conventions that made Robinson famous.

Contemporary reviews were overwhelmingly positive, with critics generally emphasizing the impressive dual performance from Edward G. Robinson as well as the trick photography from Joseph August. The Hollywood Reporter called it “one of Robinson’s best screen performances,” dubbing it a “riotous satire” with “topnotch” writing. Later reviewers have remained very kind to the film. Film critic and historian Jean Mitry said of the film that it is “…wonderfully cut and mounted, supercharged, taut like a spring, it is a work of total perfection in its genre.”

The film incorporated some footage originally shot for Columbia’s 1931 film The Criminal Code, demonstrating the studio’s resourcefulness during the Depression era. Along with 1933’s The Little Giant, 1938’s A Slight Case of Murder, 1940’s Brother Orchid, and 1942’s Larceny, Inc., The Whole Town’s Talking was one of the few comedies Robinson made, making it a rare example of the actor’s versatility beyond his gangster roles. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an aggregate score of 100% based on 13 critic reviews, testifying to its enduring appeal. Through modern colorization, this crime comedy reaches new audiences who can appreciate Robinson’s remarkable dual performance, Ford’s direction, and its place in the history of American cinema. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 93 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in The Whole Town’s Talking?
A: Edward G. Robinson stars in a dual role as Arthur Ferguson Jones and “Killer” Mannion, with Jean Arthur as Wilhelmina Clark, Arthur Hohl as Detective Sergeant Boyle, and James Donlan as Detective Sergeant Howe.

Q: Is The Whole Town’s Talking a comedy?
A: Yes, The Whole Town’s Talking is a crime comedy directed by John Ford, featuring Edward G. Robinson in a rare comedic dual role.

Q: What is the plot of The Whole Town’s Talking?
A: A meek clerk is mistaken for a gangster lookalike and becomes a local celebrity, but complications arise when the real gangster shows up and demands to use his identity for criminal activities.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Outrage (1964)
• A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
• Brother Orchid (1940)
• Seven Thieves (1960)
• Ladies of the Big House (1931)
• Scarface (1932)
• The Public Enemy (1931)