Manhattan Melodrama 1934 Orphans Edward Blackie Gallagher and Jim Wade are lifelong friends who take different paths in life Blackie thrives on gambling and grows up to be a hard nosed racketeer Bookworm Wade becomes a D A vying for the Governorship When Blackies girlfriend Eleanor leaves him and marries the more down to earth Wade, Blackie harbors no resentment In fact, their friendship is so strong that Blackie murders an attorney threatening to derail Wades bid to become Governor The morally straight Wades last job as D A is to convict his friend of the murder, and send him to the electric chair After he becomes Governor, Wade has the authority to commute Blackies death sentence a decision that pits his high moral ethics against a lifelong friendship