The Whole Town's Talking

Modern life is rubbish. That's only part of what "The Whole Town's Talking" is trying to speak to. Director John Ford set his sights on satirizing the crime genre that helped shepherd into mainstream Hollywood with this gem from 1935. Starring Edward G. Robinson playing against type, this howler of a comedy penned by Jo Swerling and Robert Riskin helped revitalize Robinson's somewhat sagging career at the time with a film that's full of hilarious pleasures. And as is par for the course with Ford's mastery behind the camera, the film is breathlessly realized with genuine moments where you can only help but marvel at the technical mastery on display.

Arthur Ferguson Jones (Robinson), a clerk living a pretty mediocre life, is swept off of his feet into intrigue when a citywide manhunt is put out for his doppelganger, a mob heavy named Killer Mannion (also Robinson). Wrongfully accused of being Killer, Arthur has to clear his name and also deal with Killer showing up his life demanding he help him. There's also the problem of Arthur's desire for a fellow clerk, Miss Wilhelmina Clark (Jean Arthur), but he's much too shy to speak his feelings out loud. What ensues is a seemingly endless string of hijinks as Arthur, or "Jonesy" as Miss Clark likes to refer to him as has to think on his feet to survive a tricky situation.

I mentioned that Edward G. Robinson is playing against type in "The Whole Town's Talking," but for context: the actor was a huge star playing criminal types with his pale face and unconventional looks acting as the perfect vessel for evil to inhabit. In this, he proved that he's much more versatile than some gave him credit for. The Ford-directed film takes great pleasure in throwing Jonesy into incredible situations and watch him try or fail to get himself out of them. In one particular scene, he's held in police custody and attempts to acquit himself when the owner of the company he works for is called upon to identify Jonesy. Of course, the owner who had only heard of Jonesy before didn't know what he looked like. As much as Robinson is playing a bit of a simpering wimp, there's this sense of wanting to do right by everyone even if that means his own downfall. He doesn't harness the tools or know-how to navigate the situation, and putting trust in the social institutions we serve to save us is a giant folly.

With a beautiful transfer on this Twilight Time release, "The Whole Town's Talking" has never looked better. While there may not any special features on the disc, a really great booklet essay by Julie Kirgo makes this Blu-ray more than worth the purchase.

"The Whole Town's Talking"
Twilight Time Blu-ray
$29.95
https://www.twilighttimemovies.com/whole-towns-talking-the-blu-ray/