FLAME OF BARBARY COAST
US, 1945, 90 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Ann Dvorak, Joseph Schildkraut, William Frawley, Virginia Grey, Russell Hicks, Paul Fix.
Directed by Joseph Kane.
Flame of Barbary Coast has big ambitions and compresses them into 90 minutes’ running time. It is set in San Francisco in 1906, the year of the earthquake. The earthquake does appear towards the end of the film with only about a minute’s running time – but is quite impressive in its special effects. Critics were unkind and compared the film to 1936’s big-budget San Francisco with Clark Gable, Jeanette Mac Donald and Spencer Tracy.
John Wayne gives a good performance, beginning as a naïve greenhorn cattleman from Montana overwhelmed by San Francisco and finishes up learning to become a gambler as well as a political influence in San Francisco being rebuilt after the earthquake. Ann Dvorak is the casino singer – but she appears too dignified a personality to be this kind of character. Joseph Schildkraut is an ambiguous villain. There is a good supporting cast including William Frawley and Virginia Grey.
The film is a conventional look at the emergence of the Barbary Coast, of San Francisco and its aristocracy on Nob Hill and its condemnation of the Pacific Coast and the casinos. The film was directed by Joseph Kane, a prolific director, especially of this kind of action film for Republic Studios.
1. An entertaining John Wayne frontier film? Montana, San Francisco and the Barbary Coast? The atmosphere of 1945 film-making – fifty years after the events?
2. The black and white photography, the Pacific Coast, the beaches, the mansions, the casinos, the carriage trade? The importance of the musical score – and the wide range of songs?
3. The title – the focus on Ann ‘Flaxen’ Tarry?
4. John Wayne as Duke? On the beach, discovered by Flaxen, the encounter with Tito? His wanting his money back, going to the casino, the confrontation with Tito, learning to gamble? The reporter and commenting on Duke’s luck? Flaxen accompanying him around the casinos and his breaking the bank at them all? The morning after, the ticket back to Montana? Back home, the cattle, his friends, especially Wolf? His wanting to learn to play cards, the training by Wolf? The motivation to see Flaxen again? His return to San Francisco, the confrontations with Tito? The beating him at cards, the ganging up by the casino owners? Wolf and his coaching? The confrontation with Joe Disco and the shooting? His deciding to build the Silver Dollar? The relationship with Flaxen, her love for Tito, his trying to get her to come to the Silver Dollar, the contract? Her singing, the earthquake, the aftermath? His rescuing Flaxen? Encouraging her to walk again? The politics of the rebuilding, the elections, Tito getting the votes, the confrontation with Duke? Flaxen and her making decisions, going off with Duke? The return to Montana? The touch of the fairy tale?
5. Flaxen, dignity, her presence on the Barbary Coast, the mansion, with Tito? Her singing? Playing with people’s affections – and the range of suitors in San Francisco? Accompanying Duke on his gambling spree, saving him, sending him back home? Her staying with Tito, her contract, the clash with Rita Dane? Duke’s return, her dilemmas, singing? The injury and the earthquake? Walking again, Flaxen’s decision against Tito, going off with Duke, Montana?
6. Tito, the boss, friendship with Duke, the gambling of the money? The breaking of the bank? His hold over Flaxen? His family living on Nob Hill and their disapproval? His supporting them financially, even to bringing Caruso to San Francisco? His relationship with the other casino bosses? Duke’s return, the challenge with the gambling, Duke winning? The building of the Silver Dollar? The clashes with Tito, the earthquake, his wanting to get possession of land? Leaving Flaxen? The final choice and his future?
7. Wolf, wisecracking, the gambler, training Duke, going to San Francisco, the girls that he knew, enjoying himself?
8. Rita Dane, the rival to Flaxen, her singing, charming Tito? Taking Flaxen’s place after her injuries? Her money hold over Tito?
9. Cyrus Danver, the newspapers, their campaigns against Tito and the casinos, his going to the casino, his friendship with Duke, helping with the elections?
10. The reporter, the comic style, commenting on Duke’s luck, following him around?
11. The owners of the casinos, their ganging up, the gambler and the shooting confrontation with Duke? Their willing to form a conglomerate after the earthquake?
12. The atmosphere of the casinos, drinking, gambling, the dancing girls, the singers, the world of affluence – and Tito’s mansion, Flaxen’s mansion – and Beulah, her maid?
