Tales of Manhattan (1942)

Introduction
"Tales of Manhattan" is an American anthology film directed by Julien Duvivier in 1942. Its distinct storytelling approach weaves together five different stories interconnected by a single object, a formal tailcoat cursed by its original designer. The movie was distributed by Twentieth Century Fox and features an all-star ensemble cast including Charles Boyer, Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda, and Edward G. Robinson.

Plot Overview
The film's premise focuses on a tailcoat that starts its journey in a ritzy New York clothing store. The first story embarks when the tailcoat is bought by actor Paul Orman (Charles Boyer), who wears it while pursuing an affair with his best friend's better half, Ethel Halloway (Rita Hayworth). The night takes an unanticipated twist when Orman's plan to convince Ethel to leave her hubby ends suddenly with him dead of a cardiac arrest.

Extension of the Tale
In the 2nd tale, the coat gets to a pre-owned shop and ends up in the hands of down-on-his-luck law school graduate, Larry Browne (Henry Fonda). Browne wears the coat to impress his girlfriend (Ginger Rogers), however his ploy is found and eventually leads to a tearful parting.

The Third and Fourth Tale
The third story sees the coat auctioned off to a forgotten composer named Charles Smith (Charles Laughton). Smith, empowered by the sophisticated coat, directs an amateur orchestra in a fantastic performance. The 4th tale takes a darker turn, as the coat, now worn by a down-and-out bum known as Professor Higgins (Edward G. Robinson), ironically winds up being the device that links him with a homeless male who ends up being a past acquaintance possessing a secret that vindicates Higgins' disgraceful past.

Resolution
In the film's final segment, the coat discovers its method to a southern sharecropper's household, the Smiths. The father of the family (Paul Robeson) finds an invitation in the pocket, causing an unexpected windfall for the impoverished household. Nevertheless, fearful the money was dishonestly gotten, the family decides to burn the coat, ending its odyssey. The money is later used to construct a church and much better the entire neighborhood.

Conclusion
Spanning over abundant, poor, comic, and terrible tales, "Tales of Manhattan" blends drama and funny into an informative social commentary. The film metaphorically uses the cursed coat to illustrate luck, bad luck, deceit, and redemption, highlighting that appearances can be tricking. It showcases an innovative narrative method that was uncommon for its time, linking disparate stories through a single things.

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