WATERFRONT

US, 1939, 65 minutes, Black and white.
Dennis Morgan, Gloria Dickson, Marie Wilson, Sheila Bromley, Ward Bond.
Directed by O. Terry Morse.

Waterfront runs for just under an hour. However, there is a great deal of plot and characterization within that time.

Work on the waterfront is suggested at the beginning of the film, audiences from a later time will remember On the Waterfront. The focus is on Dennis Morgan as Jim Dolen, president of the waterfront club, and his rival, Mart, played by Ward Bond. There is violence, Jim is arrested, released when the injured man gets out of hospital. However, Ann, Gloria Dickson, is in love with Jim but they are not married because his violence. She talks with the local parish priest, Father Dunn, played with Irish charm and blarney, along with a lot of aphorisms and wise words, by Aldrich Bowker. It is interesting to see this Warner Brothers priest of 1930s films, the genial presence which was traditional in these films.

When Mart accidentally kills Jim’s brother, Jim’s vengeance returns and he broods, going out with a gun to find Mart. Father Dunn tries to stop him as does Ann, but his relentlessness almost leads to his killing Ann. There is a melodramatic finale as well as some daffy comedy from Marie Wilson, a decade before My Friend Irma.

Direction is by Terry O. Morse, an editor, who directed only a few very small-budget films.

1. A small supporting feature from the 1930s? Topical? Melodramatic?

2. Warner Brothers’ production values, New York, the streets, the wharves, the clubs, prisons, police precincts? The musical score?

3. The title, the work on the waterfront, the glimpses, Jim as president of the club, Ann and her work as secretary, art and his rivalry, his violence? Taunting Jim? The fight? The background of waterfront work and standover tactics?

4. Jim, his relationship with his brother, support? The fight and his knocking Frankie? The arrest? Newspaper headlines? In prison (frequently), the response of the guard?

5. Father Dunn, arrival in the parish, meeting Ann in the street, the Irish style, talking with Ann, going to the prison, his challenging Jim, his sayings, about violence, about cowardice, about an empty bag not being able to stand up? His influence on Jim? Jim thinking about what he said, commenting to Ann? His reforming? Father Dunn and his intervention when Jim had the gun, calling the police? His final talking to Jim? The benign Warner Brothers priest of the 1930s? How real?

6. Jim, his position, flaring up, injury to Frankie, in jail, getting out, the reconciliation? Ann laying down the law to him? His promises, love for each other? City Hall, the temptation to hit someone in the elevator, asking for a match, the door banging, controlling his temper? At home, life together, the plan to go north and work on the ranch?

7. The night out, the dancing, the jitterbug competition, Ann winning? Mart and his getting drunk? The meeting of the committee, the wisecracks, getting Jim’s advice? Appointing Mart as the president of the club? His speech, drunk, condemning Jim? Jim’s wisely controlled response? Going out, Marie urging Ann to take Jim home? His brother following him out? Mart and his hurling the trophy, killing Danny?

8. Mart and his hiding, Marie helping him, the possibility of leaving the country, Marie’s support, lying to the police? Asking Ann for the money, her giving it?

9. The police, the search for Mart? Danny’s death and Jim’s intense anger, taking the gun, searching, being picked up by the police, interrogation, his refusal to answer? Going home, warned about Ann giving the money, his anger with her?

10. The subplot with Ruby, support for Ann, daffy humor, with the taxi driver, comic romance? The taxi driver giving information to the police, to Jim?

11. Ann deciding to go to Marie? Mart and his violence towards her, putting Ann in the cupboard? Jim’s arrival, the threats, the gun, threatening to shoot into the cupboard, discovering Ann was inside? Marty and his escape through the window, hanging on, falling to his death?

12. Father Dunn and his wise words, the joke about ‘increase and multiply’ and the congregation, the happy ending?