La belle de San Francisco

Flame of Barbary Coast finds John Wayne as a visiting cowboy from Montana who makes and loses a fortune in a night and goes home busted. He also finds the love of his life in Ann Dvorak, an entertainer at Joseph Schildkraut's place on the Barbary Coast.

Schildkraut figures that Dvorak is his personal property. But the Dvorak romantic angle is a side issue because Wayne is figuring on not getting mad, but getting even. He's learned a bit about gambling from an oldtimer at the trade in William Frawley.

Of course Wayne and Schildkraut's rivalry is interrupted by the famous earthquake of 1906. As this is Republic Films and not Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer, the special effects are nice, but not near as good as those from MGM. As this was Republic's prestige film of the year, I'm sure it was the best that miserly old Herbert J. Yates could afford.

The most interesting member of the cast is Schildkraut, a scion of the old Spanish aristocracy who's chosen to make his living on the Barbary Coast in the dens of iniquity there. He's as in love with Dvorak as Wayne is, but likes his power and notoriety more.

Yates took some liberties with San Francisco history in this one. The MGM San Francisco did not bother mentioning any of the local political figures of the day, but Flame on Barbary Coast did and got it wrong. Wayne and Schildkraut square off in an election in 1906 that never took place between Mayor Eugene Schmitz and James D. Phelan. Phelan was in fact Schmitz's predecessor in office and Schmitz didn't lose an election. He got himself impeached for setting a standard of corruption that has had some urban historian calling him the worst big city mayor in American history. Now THAT would be an interesting film.

Still the Duke's legion of fans will love him in this one and others will like Joseph Schildkraut.

Who ever came up with the title is to be commended. It suggests a storyline way, way, more interesting than this film turns out to actually be! "Tito" (Joseph Schildkraut) pretty much runs San Francisco and together with his gal "Flaxen" (Ann Dvorak) has quite a easy life - until, that is, cowboy "Duke" (John Wayne) arrives in town and takes a bit of a shine to the lady. He's just a touch too naive though for city life, and soon has to head home - broke - after being fleeced in the casino. Determined to win it all back - and more - he takes lessons in card-playing and soon returns, this time much better prepared to combat the dodgy goings-on at the card table, and to win the heart of the lady. Sadly, aside from a rare few scenes of fisticuff action, this is all rather dreary. The scenario is well trodden, and although Dvorak makes for quite a decent leading lady, the rivalry between the sophisticate crook and his handsome interloper just doesn't ever catch fire. The pace is just too forced, and there is far too much emphasis on the rather uninteresting love triangle element. This film is only really notable for the last fifteen minutes which offers us quite a well created and impressive look at just how the earthquake and subsequent fire devastated the city leaving carnage - and opportunity - in it's wake. Again there is plenty of charm from the star, but it is nowhere near enough to sustain this and though it might have been more impressive on a big screen, on a small one it proves merely to be quite a procedural and, frankly, dull, vehicle for Wayne that promises much but delivers little.

You gotta hand it to the Duke...his loyalty to the small Republic studios was admirable. They were the one that gave him his start in the movies and he never forgotten that as his movie star status grew and grew. It finally paid off when they both made "The Quiet Man" with a few Oscars no less in 1949-50. This movie was a prelude to that, and no Maureen O'Hara at that. Seriously, I loved Maureen, but towards the latter years of his career, she seemed to be in everyone of his pictures, including the aforementioned "Quiet Man". Joseph Schildkraut was a notable enemy, which he has performed in past movies. A, Dvorak pretty, and never acquired big star status, but most likely, one that the Republic studio could afford and Virginia Grey, Clark Gable's girl friend for many years." I Love Lucy"'s landlord has a comic turn here. One thing I noticed, where was Ward Bond? Another familiar face in the Duke's movies..

Happy-go-lucky Montana rancher John Wayne comes to San Francisco, wins and loses a fortune in a night, and begins a competition with a sleazy gambling-hall owner for the heart of singer Ann Dvorak. After some lessons from aging card-shark William Frawley, he comes back to town to win back the money and the girl.

Another of the Duke's lightweight, nineteen-forties Republic pictures, this okay romantic melodrama features a likable Wayne performance, some fairly lavish sets and costumes, and a neat low-budget recreation of the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

This isn't the greatest or most memorable of John Wayne vehicles, but it's not the worst either.

John Wayne, Duke Fergus, is tagged "King of Luck", after breaking the bank in several casino saloons with the help of Ann Dvorak, as Ann 'Flaxen' Tarry, who says, "You've just been promoted". From Duke to King. How ironic that the man known as The Duke in his lifetime had to be the object of this tongue-in-cheek line. Some would think that The Duke was above being a king. This movie does fit the small screen (of t.v), but maybe it was appropriate for the large screen in 1945 when folks weren't so jaded in their viewings. The real gem of this movie is Joseph Schildkraut, as Boss Tito Morell. How could a shady bad guy be so lovable? We love the under dog. Is there any question that The Duke will walk away with the lady? But Tito is the one who really loves Flaxen, and always holds back from resorting to "fixing" The Duke as his cronies want to do. He may be the evil foil, but you can't help but love this gentleman scoundrel. Loyalty does not pay in the end for our hapless romantic. And talk about obsession: the suitors of Flaxen still hang around even when it seems she will be paralyzed for life after the Great Earthquake (did San Francisco really have electric poles in 1906?!)--they hope the old trooper will return to the stage and awe their hearts, not to mention their libidos! As Flaxen is whisked off in Duke's carriage to Montana, Tito has the best line: "Compliments of the House"....