- Title: F-A0401.1
- Summary: MANHATTAN TOWER: MOTION PICTURE TAKES PLACE ENTIRELY IN BUSINESS OFFICES OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING DURING A 9-5 BUSINESS DAY. WIFE CHEATING, CORRUPT EXECUTIVE, BROW BEATS OFFICE EMPLOYEE SWINDLES COMPANY OVER BAD STOCK INVESTMENTS, MEETS TRAGIC FATE. UNIQUE CAMERA VIEWS OF SKYSCRAPERS, VARIETY HIGH ANGLES OF PEOPLE IN STREETS. NEW YORK CITY. STARS MARY BRIAN, JAMES HALL, IRENE RICH, NOEL FRANCIS
- Description:00:01:34 - TWO DAREDEVIL WINDOW WASHERS LEANING BACK ON THEIR SAFETY BELTS, WASHING SKYSCRAPER WINDOWS. POV DIRECTLY BELOW THEM. 00:01:53 - PEOPLE SEATED IN OPEN TOUR BUS, LEANING BACK, LOOK UP AT EMPIRE STATE BUILDING FROM STREET, AS TOUR GUIDE DESCRIBES BUILDING TO THEM. POV DIRECTLY ABOVE. VARIOUS VIEWS OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AS SEEN FROM GROUND. UPPERMOST DOMED TOP OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, AS SEEN FROM OBSERVATION DECK LOOKING UP. 00:02:12 - DIRIGIBLE-ZEPPELIN-BLIMP PASSES VERY CLOSE OVER TOP OF BUILDING. POV OBSERVATION DECK. 00:02:21 - PEOPLE IN OPEN TOUR BUS, SLOWLY LOOK UPWARD, SOME SHADING THEIR EYES WITH HANDS, AT SKYSCRAPER. MONTAGE VARIETY OF VIEWS OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AS SEEN FROM BELOW. 00:02:29 - CU MAN IN BUS LEANING BACK ON SEAT, MOUTH OPEN, EYES HALF SHUT, BEGINS TO GET DIZZYING, DISTORTED DOUBLE VIEW OF BUILDING. WOMAN LEANING BACK IN SEAT, CHEWS GUM AS SHE LOOKS. POV DIRECTLY ABOVE. 00:02:47 - VIEW OF SKYSCRAPER AS SEEN BY WOMAN IN BUS. WOMAN GRABS HER THROAT AS SHE CHOKES ON GUM, QUICKLY SITS UP. 00:02:53 - FAST TILT DOWN OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING FROM DOMED TOP TO GROUND. 00:02:59 - ABOVE PAN FROM TOURISTS IN BUS TO PEDESTRIANS BUSILY GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. ABOVE SHOT TWO STYLISHLY DRESSED WOMEN CHATTING AS THEY WALK AMIDST CROWD. 00:03:13 - HIGH ANGLE MAN LOOKING THE OTHER WAY BUMPS INTO ANOTHER MAN WHO STOPS, MAKES ANGRY GESTURE, GOES ON HIS WAY. 00:03:19 - HIGH ANGLE STEADY FLOW MEN, WOMEN, ENTERING, EXITING OFFICE BUILDING. 00:03:32 - CROWDS OF PEOPLE COMING, GOING, IN SPACIOUS ELEVATOR LOBBY OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. PEOPLE ENTER, EXIT ELEVATORS. ANOTHER VIEW OF SPACIOUS, HIGH CEILING LOBBY. 00:04:04 - PLANT ENGINEER (JAMES HALL), BACK TO CAMERA, TAKES READINGS ON LONG LINE OF GAUGES ON WALL, JOTS THEM DOWN. WORKER (YOUNG WALTER BRENNAN) IN BKGD, WIPES THEM DOWN. 00:04:23 - WORKER IN OVERALLS (BRENNAN), WITH OBVIOUS SPEECH IMPEDIMENT (STUTTERING) SPEAKS TO MANAGER (HALL). WORKER MAKES FAST EXIT (TYPICAL BRENNAN HOP) WHEN HE SEES BOSS MAN (?) APPROACH. 00:05:51 - FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OF SEVERELY STUTTERING WORKER. 00:06:01 - MAN (HALL) WAITING IN BUSY ELEVATOR LOBBY, CHECKS TIME ON WRIST WATCH. 00:06:26 - MAN WITH HAND UNDER WOMAN'S (MARY BRIAN) ARM, WALK TOWARDS CAMERA IN LOBBY OF SKYSCRAPER. BUSY CROWDS COMING, GOING IN & OUT OF DOORS IN BKGD 00:08:00 - CU ZOOM IN SIGN: "YOUR NEW HOME IN KEW GARDENS, ONLY $1500 DOWN. MINIATURE MODEL OF HOUSE WITH LIVE BABY CHICKS ON "LAWN". 00:08:20 - ARGUING LOVERS, FACING CAMERA AS THEY VIEW MINIATURE HOUSE, TURN TO EACH OTHERS, SMILE, MAKE UP. SHE LOOKS UP AT LARGE ART DECO CLOCK SHOWING NINE O'CLOCK, RUNS HASTILY TO ELEVATOR, BLOWS A KISS TO LOVER, ENTERS CROWDED ELEVATOR. HE BLOWS BACK A BIG KISS, ALMOST HITS WOMAN IN FACE. 00:09:08 - DARKENED ELEVATOR SHAFT AS SEEN FROM TOP OF MOVING ELEVATOR AS IT SPEEDS UPWARDS. 00:09:27 - WOMAN ENTERS OFFICE, "NATIONAL PRODUCTS CORPORATION, NEW YORK SALES OFFICE" PASSES SEVERAL MEN, WOMEN, BUSY AT THEIR DESKS. SHE GOES TO HERS. CHATS WITH TELEPHONE OPERATOR WHO WEARS HEAD SET, PHONE PIECE ATTACHED TO CHEST 00:11:42 - ROW OF MALE OFFICE WORKERS LIFT THEIR HEADS IN UNISON, GIVE SHEEPISH GRINS AS THEY WATCH SECRETARY FIXING SKIRT, LIFT IT ABOVE KNEES. SHE WAVES THEM OFF, THEY GO BACK TO WORK, IN UNISON. 00:12:57 - CORPORATE EXECUTIVE IN HIS PLUSH OFFICE SITS BEFORE STOCK TICKER TAPE MACHINE. HUGE WINDOW OVERLOOKING ROOFS OF SKYSCRAPERS IN BKGD. EXECUTIVE WALKS TO DESK, ANSWERS PHONE. TOUGH-LOOKING STOCK BROKER ON PHONE TELLING BAD NEWS TO EXECUTIVE. 00:14:01 - SECRETARY WALKS INTO OFFICE, PAD, PENCIL IN HAND. SUAVE EXECUTIVE SIGNALS HER TO SITS BY HIM AT DESK. 00:16:48 - DISTINGUISHED WHITE HAIRED GENTLEMAN WALKS INTO OFFICE WIPING HIS BROW WITH HANDKERCHIEF. SITS WITH EXECUTIVE AT DESK HAS ERNEST CONVERSATION. 00:20:17 - SECRETARY READS PAPERS AS SHE STANDS BY GUM CHEWING, TOUGH-TALKING (NO SOUND) TELEPHONE OPERATOR. 00:20:30 - DRUNKEN PLAYBOY, WEARING TOP HAT AND TAILS, GIFT BOX UNDER HIS ARM, STAGGERS INTO LOBBY, SPEAKS TO UNIFORMED RECEPTIONIST-DOORMAN SEATED AT DESK. 00:21:49 - WOMAN (CORPORATE LAWYER'S WIFE) APPROACHES HIS PILL POPPING SECRETARY, HOLDS HAND TO HEAD (INDICATING SEVERE HEADACHE). SECRETARY REACHES INTO HER DRAWER CONTAINING ALL SORTS OF PILLS, OFFERS WOMAN PILL. SHE REFUSES. 00:22:30 - SECRETARY (PILL HEAD) TAKES THE PILL HERSELF. 00:22:42 - DRUNKEN PLAYBOY STAGGERS OUT OF ELEVATOR, HAS DIFFICULTY STANDING ON FEET. OPENS DOOR TO DENTIST'S OFFICE, LOOKS IN ON DENTIST WORKING ON A WOMAN,S MOUTH. CLOSES DOOR, STAGGERS ON TOWARDS CAMERA. 00:23:31 - MALE OFFICE WORKER WATCHES SECRETARY ADJUST HER SKIRT SMILES SHEEPISHLY, NUDGES MALE WORKER NEXT TO HIM WHO NUDGES ANOTHER UNTIL ROW OF SIX MEN TAKE LOOK. 00:24:02 - SECRETARY, NOTEPAD IN HAND, APPROACHES EXECUTIVE AT HIS DESK, FLIRTS WITH HIM. HE LOOKS HER OVER, STANDS, MAKES PASS AT HER. SHE WILLINGLY GOES ALONG WITH IT. PICTURE OF EXECUTIVE'S WIFE ON DESK IS SEEN AS THEY HOLD HANDS EMBRACE PASSIONATELY. AS THEY EMBRACE, SECRETARY REACHES DOWN, PLACES PHOTO OF WIFE FACE DOWN ON DESK.. 00:32:54 - CORRUPT EXECUTIVE AND CORPORATE LAWYER'S WOMAN GET INTO HEATED ARGUMENT IN HIS OFFICE AS SHE REVEALS KNOWLEDGE OF SCHEME. HE THREATENS HER, SHE SLAPS HIS FACE, EXPRESSES DISBELIEF OF HER ACTION, BOWS HER HEAD, WALKS OUT. 00:33:25 - GUM CHEWING OPERATOR, WITH HEAD PHONES, SPEAKS OVER MOUTH PIECE ATTACHED TO CHEST. 00:33:55 - JANITOR WITH BROOM FOLLOWS BEHIND DRUNKEN PLAYBOY WHO CANNOT FIND GIRL FRIEND'S OFFICE. JANITOR TAPS DRUNK ON SHOULDER, THEY CHAT. DRUNK WALKS AWAY TOWARDS CAMERA. CARRYING LARGE SUIT BOX UNDER HIS ARM. 00:35:38 - ROOM SERVICE WAITER ENTERS SECRETARY'S OFFICE WITH TRAY OF FOOD, DRINK, IS DIRECTED INTO EXECUTIVE OFFICE. TELEPHONE OPERATOR FOLLOWS. 00:36:39 - TROUBLED LOOKING MAN OPENS HIS BROWN BAG LUNCH LAYING ON WAIST HIGH LEDGE OF OBSERVATION DECK, LOOKS DOWN AT DIZZYING VIEW OF STREET, ROOFTOPS BELOW, CONTEMPLATES SUICIDE (?). IS DISTRACTED BY FRIEND (RICH). PLACES HAND ON HEAD AS IF THINKING, WHAT WAS I DOING? 00:38:03 - MAN, FIANCEE, TAKING LUNCH BREAK ON OBSERVATION DECK, TAKES BITE OUT OF HER POUND CAKE, MAKES SOUR FACE. PLACES IT DOWN ON LEDGE, SNEAKILY PUSHES IT OVER WHEN WOMAN IS NOT LOOKING. PEDESTRIAN IN STREET REMOVES HAT TO WIPE BROW. POUND CAKE GOES RIGHT THROUGH HAT. MAN PLACES REMAINING BRIM ON HIS BALDING HEAD. POV DIRECTLY ABOVE. 00:39:04 - MAN (JAMES HALL) AND WOMAN (IRENE RICH) EAT REST OF SANDWICHES FROM BROWN BAG. TELESCOPE ON TRIPOD IN BKGD. 00:40:09 - MAN, WOMAN HAVE LOVERS QUARREL ON OBSERVATION DECK SHE WALKS AWAY. HE THROWS REMNANTS OF BROWN BAG LUNCH IN TRASH CAN. 00:42:01 - PILL POPPING SECRETARY REACHES INTO DRAW, TAKES ANOTHER PILL. OPENS HER BAG LUNCH CONTAINING SANDWICH LARGE PICKLE, AS SHE IS ABOUT TO BITE INTO IT, HER BOSS ASKS HER TO GO INTO HIS OFFICE. SHE GRABS PAPERS, HESITATES, TAKES BITE FROM PICKLE. 00:42:53 - DRUNK OPENS LAWYER'S OFFICE, SEES SANDWICH WITH PICKLE ON DESK, WALKS OUT WITH PICKLE. TAKES BITE, MAKES SOUR FACE. PUTS PICKLE IN POCKET. 00:43:54 - GUM CHEWING MAN ENTERS OFFICE, IS DIRECTED BY PILL HEAD SECRETARY INTO EXECUTIVE OFFICE. SHE DISCOVERS HER PICKLE MISSING, THINKS GUM CHEWING MAN WAS EATING IT. TAKES ANOTHER PILL. 00:44:10 - SEVERAL DISTINGUISHED MEN ENTER OFFICE, SECRETARY DIRECTS THEM TO EXECUTIVE OFFICE. 00:45:55 - SECRETARY WALKS INTO OFFICE OF SUAVE EXECUTIVE HAVING PRIVATE LUNCHEON, HOLDING HANDS, WITH WOMAN. CITY SKYSCRAPERS SEEN IN BKGD WINDOW. 00:47:06 - FIVE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN, TWO STANDING, HAVING MEETING IN PLUSH OFFICE. LEGAL BOOKS ON SHELVES IN BKGD ZOOM IN ON ONE SPEAKING, USING HAND GESTURES. 00:48:05 - SECRETARY SEATED AT DESK BITING INTO SANDWICH, ANSWERS UPRIGHT PHONE (CIRCA 1930s) ON DESK. 00:48:54 - MAN SEATED AT DESK IN MAIN BOILER ROOM OF BUILDING. GAUGES, VALVES IN BKGD. PICKS UP PHONE TO MAKE CALL. CU GUM CHEWING TELEPHONE OPERATOR ANSWERS CALL. 00:50:14 - PILL POPPING SECRETARY ANSWERS PHONE, MAKES THEM HOLD, POPS A HAND FULL OF PILLS, GOES BACK TO CALL. 00:51:06 - CU SECRETARY'S FACE SHOWS ASTONISHMENT AS SHE HEARS WHAT IS BEING SAID AT MEETING WITH EXECUTIVES. SHE GOES TO DESK, TAKES OUT LITTLE BLACK BOOK, LEAVES OFFICE. 00:51:23 - SECRETARY, BACK TO CAMERA, RUNS HYSTERICALLY TOWARDS ELEVATORS. PUSHES ALL BUTTONS, GETS ON ELEVATOR. DARKENED ELEVATOR SHAFT AS SEEN FROM ELEVATOR SPEEDING DOWN. 00:51:47 - SECRETARY BUMPS INTO DOORMAN AS SHE RUNS OUT OF ELEVATOR. CROWD GETTING OFF ELEVATOR IN BKGD 00:52:04 - ELDERLY MAN GETS INTO TELEPHONE BOOTH, PUTS IN COIN. 00:52:47 - MEEK OFFICE MANAGER ENTERS OFFICE STANDS UP TO EXECUTIVE, HAS ARGUMENT AS SECRETARY WATCHES. EXECUTIVE GRABS OFFICE MANAGER BY LAPELS, THROWS HIM TO FLOOR. OPENS DOOR, TELLS MANAGER TO GET OUT, STOPS SECRETARY WHO TRIES TO FOLLOW. 00:53:50 - SLICK MALE THIEF BUNKS INTO SECRETARY IN LOBBY. SHE DROPS HER PURSE, HE PICKS IT UP, (CU) PALMS SOMETHING BEFORE GIVING PURSE TO HER. 00:54:06 - MONTAGE FRANTIC TELEPHONE OPERATORS (HEADPHONES) AT HUGE SWITCHBOARD PLUGGING AND UNPLUGGING CALLS. 00:54:44 - DRUNKEN PLAYBOY IN TOP HAT AND TAILS, OPENS OFFICE DOOR, MAN ON PHONE IN FRGD TURNS TO LOOK, IGNORES DRUNK, WHO CLOSES DOOR, WALKS AWAY. 00:55:08 - DISTINGUISHED MEN IN LAWYERS OFFICE FINISH MEETING, STAND AND SHAKE HANDS. 00:57:37 - PILL POPPING SECRETARY AT DESK REALIZES HER PURSE CONTENTS HAD BEEN PICKED GETS PANICKY, TAKES HAND FULL OF PILLS, FAINTS IN HER CHAIR. 00:58:03 - MEEK OFFICE MANAGER, IN DEEP THOUGHT, REALIZING CORRUPTION OF HIS BOSS, POUNDS FISTS ON DESK AS HE CONTEMPLATES HIS NEXT MOVE. 00:58:12 - SECRETARY TRIES TO RUN OUT OF CORRUPT EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE, HE GRABS HER ARMS THREATENS HER, SITS HER DOWN HARD IN CHAIR. 01:00:09 - SECRETARY'S FIANCEE WALKS INTO OFFICE AS EXECUTIVE STRUGGLES WITH HER. MAN CALMLY SHOWS HIS FIANCEE OUT DOOR, CLOSES IT BEHIND HER, CONFRONTS EXECUTIVE. 01:01:54 - TWO MEN GET INTO FIERCE BRAWL JUST AS TWO OTHER MEN WALK IN, FOLLOWED BY SECRETARY. 01:02:31 - MAN GRABS GUN FROM DRAWER, THE TWO STRUGGLE OVER GUN. 01:02:38 - BRAWL ENDS AS CORRUPT EXECUTIVE SLIPS, FALLS BACKWARD OUT OF SKYSCRAPER WINDOW. AERIAL SHADOWY OBJECT HEADING TOWARDS STREET, CROWDED WITH PEDESTRIANS. SECRETARY RUNS IN HORROR INTO ARMS OF FIANCEE. 01:02:45 - MONTAGE FACE SHOTS OF MEN, WOMEN SHOWING, HORROR, TERROR, FEAR. 01:03:16 - DISTINGUISHED MAN PLACES GUN BACK IN DRAWER, CALLS POLICE ON DESK PHONE. 01:04:27 - LOBBY CLOCK SHOWS 5PM PEOPLE IN DROVES WALKING IN LOBBY TOWARDS DOOR, OTHERS EXITING ELEVATOR, AS DAY OF WORK ENDS. 01:05:51 - EMPIRE STATE TOWERING HIGH AT DUSK. TOWER LIGHTS UP AT TOP AS NIGHT FALLS. "THE END". 01:06:02 - END
- Collection: Historic Films
- Producer:Historic Films
- Transmission Date:01/01/1932
- Rights:On request
- Decade: 1930s
- File Name: F-A0401.1