Docks of San Francisco

Although in modern times the term 'B-movie' has come to mean bad movie, back in the 1930s and 40s, a B wasn't necessarily bad...just short and economically made. This is because during this era of double-features, theaters were looking for cheap lesser features for this double bill. In other words, they'd show an A-picture (a higher quality and more expensively made film of at least 70 minutes in length) and the B (about 50-65 minutes) which was simple, quick and usually entertaining. Some were really bad....most were more like time-passers.

When I saw "Docks of San Francisco", I could quickly tell it was a B. It was made by an itty-bitty studio, lasted about an hour and was filled with unknown actors. Yet, despite this humble pedigree, it was entertaining...possibly, in part, because it was a Pre-Code film and filled with plenty of violence...and an amazingly downbeat ending.

The story is about a rather dim woman who has been manipulated by her no-good boyfriend into a life of crime. But she's sick of it and wants to go straight. How does a nice rich guy help her? Well, see the film!

I don't think this is one to rush out to see. But it is entertaining and well made for what it is.

Mary Nolan has had enough of the rackets. Boyfriend John Davidson slaps her around and finally agrees. They'll both go straight and get married. While she's waiting for him to show up for the wedding party, he's busy robbing a bank.

This Poverty Row Pre-Code has a great opening with a party of rich people slumming at a dockside bar, where Jason Robards Sr. sort of get acquainted with Miss Nolan. This sets up the later scenes, and the scenes and physical acting are terrific. There are a couple of battles with the police that are as good as anything that Wellman had done in THE PUBLIC ENEMY.

The only downside is Miss Nolan's line reading. She was one of the most beautiful women in the movies, and the camera loves her; she had been a Ziegfeld showgirl, and that led into a movie career, but a great start in Germany and then appearing in WEST OF ZANZIBAR with Lon Chaney didn't help when sound came in. By 1930, she had left MGM and was appearing in Universal programmers, then onto Poverty Row. She made two more pictures after after that and died in 1948, aged 42.

I did not expect such a good surprise from such a B picture from the thirties. George B seitz, he is a director whose I don't know the filmography. I have seen some movies from him but not enough to have an opinion. Anyway, this one is not usual, the female lead is pretty worth analysing, watching in her fate, her story. This film is not long, and not boring, which is not the case for all feature with this length.... It's good to get, have access to such films, not all of them are lost; fortunately for gem searchers. I am in a hurry to see more of them. The ending, the climax is really better than most of films from this period.

This is a lower grade film – what people refer to as a poverty row production. It has a second tier of actors, none of whom perform very well. The direction is spotty in a very poor quality film. The only thing going for the film was its plot. It's just enough to keep one's interest. The film has some intrigue and good action in a couple of places. This is crime drama that could make a very good remake with a better cast, better direction and better production quality.

The lead actor in "Docks of San Francisco" is Jason Robards Sr. He had a long career in films and TV, though he never reached the level of success of his famous son, Jason Robards, Jr. The lead actress in this is Mary Nolan who had begun acting under her real name, Mary Robertson. She had a scandalous relationship early in her career, and a wild life with drugs and an abusive relationship – all of which helped her quick demise on stage and screen. She died in obscurity at age 42 from cardiac arrest.