FRISCO JENNY
US: 1933, 73 minutes, black and white.
Ruth Chatterton, Louis Calhern, Helen Jerome Eddy, Donald Cook, James Murray.
Directed by William A. Wellman.
Frisco Jenny is quite an interesting film, starting with footage of San Francisco and its streets in 1906, entering into a club which was a gambling den and brothel, frequented by many of the rich in the city, with Jenny working for her father, the owner, and wanting to marry the piano player, even defying her father. At which stage, the San Francisco earthquake occurs, and we see some special effects for the re-creation of the quake three years before the classic San Francisco.
Ruth Chatterton, very popular in films in the early 30s, is quite striking as Jenny, basically a good woman, trapped by circumstances, opting for becoming a Madam, involved in political corruption, a partner in bootlegging, but having to give up her baby because of her reputation and allowing a wealthy family to bring him up – and his becoming the DA, eventually prosecuting her and getting a verdict for her execution by hanging.
This aspect of the film has overtones of Madame X (in which Ruth Chatterton had starred, 1929), and those films where actresses like Kay Francis, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, heroically gave up their children.
William A. Wellman had made an impact with the film, the first Oscar winner, Wings, and shows his skills here as he did until the end of the 1950s in a wide range of films.
1. A story of the Barbary Coast, the San Francisco earthquake, the rebuilding of the city, law and order and exploitation, Prohibition and bootlegging, the work of district attorneys? From the perspective of the early 30s?
2. Black-and-white photography, the club in 1906, the special effects for the earthquake, homes, mansions, bootlegging, law enforcement, the courts? The musical score?
3. The title, Ruth Chatterton as Jenny? Her working in a club, her love for Dan, ready to defy her father, the experience of the earthquake, learning of Dan’s death, her pregnancy, giving birth in Chinatown, the friendship of Ahma? Her friendship with Steve Dutton, the party, the killing, covering for Dutton? The interview with the police Inspector, his not believing him? Her reputation, the decision to give up her baby, the couple taking him on? Time passing, repaying the money, the plan for the trip, going to find her son, his not acknowledging her, the decision to leave him with the family? 20 years and following his career, the scrapbook, the newspaper articles, sport, graduation, the law, district attorney? The bootlegging and her control, the work with Tom Ford as potential district attorney, corruption, bribes, her setting him up at the party, the girl calling out fire, his arrest? Her planning to leave San Francisco?
4. Jenny and her crisis, the background with her father, her knowledge of gambling, brothels, corruption? Her son becoming district attorney, her decision to leave, breaking with Steve Dutton? His going to the DA, the recording of his bribe? His decision to tell the truth about the DA is mother, her shooting him?
5. Steve Dutton, role in San Francisco, the law, lawlessness, corruption, bootlegging, his helping with Jenny’s baby, partnership over 20 years, her wanting to break, his reaction, planning to tell the DA, being shot, not getting out his final word?
6. Ahma, Chinese background, in the club, taking Jenny to Chinatown, the birth of the baby, her fidelity, wanting to tell the DA the truth, being sworn not to tell, being asked to burn the scrapbooks?
7. The DA, upright, his career, against corruption, arresting Dutton, the shooting, arresting Jenny, his strong words prosecuting her in the court, dragging her life before her? Coming to the prison cell, wanting to save her from hanging, and appeal to the government, feeling some kind of bond?
8. Jenny, afraid, wanting to tell the truth, deciding not to, the final talk with her son, kissing his hand? The end of the film?
