San Francisco
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Movie Reviews of San Francisco
Movie Review: Gable & McDonald Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
An oldie but goodie; excellent for a film of this era.Movie Review: EXCELLENT FEATURES, FILM COULD'VE BEEN BETTER RESTORED
Summary: 4 Stars
Out of all the films that I've seen with him, this is Clark Gable's other shining moment, along with "Gone With The Wind". Jeanette MacDonald also shines without her usual singing partner, Nelson Eddy (where's a DVD box set of their films?). Spencer Tracy's Father Mullin is one of his best supporting roles that lead him on to better things.
The special effects of the great 1906 earthquake are phenominal for 1936 in comparison of what is done now in the digital age. Though only in Dolby 1.0, the earthquake sound is enhanced if you watch using Digital Sound, so you get a feel for it, much like you do (though milder) in the 1974 disaster film, EARTHQUAKE, and what they did with Sensurround. With recent digital technology in sound, it would have added to San Francisco to also offer the low-bass rumblings on the 5.1 surround tracks, along with the original soundtrack out of your front speakers, for a pow-effect for this 70 year old gem.
Two things about the print of the film. In recent VHS releases and TCM broadcasts, the B&W seems too light, and during the outdoor portions of the earthquake scenes, it looks like midday vs. 5:13AM. With the print used in this DVD version, the outdoor quake scenes seem tinted correctly as if it were sunrise. However, other parts of the film still have scratches and fades, so not a fully restored digital picture.
All the special features are excellent. The TNT broadcast of Clark Gable: Tall, Dark & Handsome, narrated by Liam Neeson, is very good, and one profile I have not seen before on Mr. Gable.
Though without explanation as to when or why it was used, the Alternate Ending shows more scenes of San Francisco from 1936 and the progress of regrowth since the 1906 disaster. The Bay Bridge is almost ready to be opened, the Golden Gate Bridge is under construction (towers up and cables started, no suspended roadway constructed when this film was shot), and other buildings & streets bustling with activity. Seeing this alternate ending solved a mystery for me, as I remember seeing this ending the first time I saw the film in full on TV in the 70s, but hadn't seen this ending since. The two color Voice Of The Globe shorts on San Francisco from that era are excellent as well.
My score would have been a perfect 5 if the film had a much-better restored print. Otherwise, well worth your time, and a must for fans of Gable, MacDonald, and the infamous Spencer Tracy.
Movie Review: A Great Classic with a Few Flaws
Summary: 4 Stars
A beautiful songbird, Mary Blake (MacDonald), is hired by Blackie Norton (Gable) to sing for his saloon on the Barbary Coast. He falls in love with her, but he's a shady character and Mary is an upstanding Christian. Mr. Burley, an aristocrat and owner of the nearby opera house, gets Mary to work for him and she becomes a star. She is pulled between the two venues and the two men, but finally realizes that she loves Blackie. In a dazzling finale portraying the San Fran earthquake of 1906, they walk off together with other survivors to "rebuild" the city.
The Pros:
-I love Clarke Gable, and he plays a wonderfully multi-faceted character. He's the scoundrel that you love and want to save. And the ending is satisfying, in terms of the change in his disposition.
-The special effects during the earthquake will wow you - you'll wonder, "How the hell did they pull this off in 1936?" The portrayal of the earthquake is also heartbreaking, and a great tribute to all the lives lost.
-Mrs. Burley (Mr. Burley's mother) is a tough old bird with a Scottish accent, yet she is very likable and does a great job convincing Mary (and the viewer) that she should marry Mr. Burley.
-The ending is very heartwarming, albeit cheesy, but this was Hollywood at its prime.
-The singing and choreography is fantastic; kudos to MacDonald.
The Cons:
-Mary is a predominantly weak character. She "saves" Blackie with her faith, and she stands up for her morals, but ultimately she is tossed around between the two men, agreeing to marry one and then the other, making her seem shallow.
That's the biggest problem. The film is tinged with melodrama at some points, but that's to be expected. I wish this film was recognized as more of a classic!
Movie Review: San Francisco - A Reminder of the Greatness of Jeanette
Summary: 4 Stars
It's films like 1936's San Francisco on which the reputation of Hollywood was built. Starring Clark Gable as the irrascable Blackie Norton, Jeanette McDonald as aspiring singer Mary Blake,
and Spencer Tracy as the straight arrow Fr. Tim Mullin, Jack Holt as Jack Burley and Jessie Ralph as Jacks mother Maisy.
It's the story of the lives of a group of people leading up to the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
Jeanette McDonald was in great form in San Francisco (her best film) and was given some wonderful songs to sing, including the immortal title song San Francisco, Jerusalem, Near My God To Thee, the Battle Hymn of the Republic plus bits and pieces of various operas. The soundtrack alone would be worth having.
A few months back I ordered a copy of "In Old Chicago" (Tyrone Power and Alice Faye)from Amazon, in which the special effects relating to the destruction of Chicago by fire in 1871 were very well done - San Francisco does even better.
In San Francisco, the 20 minute earthquake scene (done well before computerised special effects) was awesome, spell binding stuff,and crucial to the sense of realism and authenticity of this great film.
The performances of the cast was superb, Jessie Ralph, who made a career out of playing servants, washer women, and old dears with a touch of the blarney, stole every scene she was in, Spencer Tracy who won an Academy Award for Best Actor in this picture,was magnificent, Gable was Gable and kept the pace of the movie going along, and Jeanette McDonald gave us her unforgettable best efforts marked down on celluloid for us to remember her by.
This is a wonderful,soul stirring film. A must have for the true movie buff.
Movie Review: The City of Sin and the Earthquake
Summary: 4 Stars
San Francisco is a fictionalized account of the famous earthquake that devestated the city at the turn of the 20th Century. Blackie Norton (Clark Gable) is a notorious nightclub owner whose intelligence and selfish behavior bring him women and power. When innocent songbird Mary Blake (Jeanette MacDonald) comes to his club to audition, he is instantly attracted to her, but in spite of taking a job from him, she resists his advances. He does what any possessive type would do; he prevents her from working elsewhere. Having him near makes her uncomfortable and afraid of her own feeling for him, but advice from the local priest (Spencer Tracy) keeps her head mostly clear.
Then comes the earthquake.
Not all of the visuals are impressive and sometimes it is obvious that Gable is standing in front of a screen, but overall the big event is powerful and exciting. Huge chunks of scenery come down before our very eyes and watching them dynamite the city is chilling. There are plenty of historical inaccuracies in the film, the most common one being the dialogue. The actors say "on the level" and other such 30s expressions quite often. Anita Loos is a famous and talented writer, but she did not take the time period of the film into account. The relationship between Gable and Tracy is a common one in films of this era; just look at Manhattan Melodrama or Angels With Dirty Faces. But it always works; San Francisco is no different.
Also included on this DVD is a short documentary about Gable called Tall, Dark, and Handsome. It is a look at his life and fame, but the length prevents it from being anything stellar.