Today’s disaster movie has a scene set on April 18. I hope
you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
SAN FRANCISCO
Blackie Norton is a saloon owner
with a heart of gold in 1906 San Francisco. He hires classicly trained
minister’s daughter Mary Blake as a singer at his club, the Paradise and they
have an instant attraction. His friends want Blackie to run for city council in
order to force through improved fire regulations for the city and at the urging
of his life long friend, Father Tim Mullin, Blackie agrees. Nob Hill resident
and slum landlord, Jack Burley offers to buy out Mary’s contract, but is
opposed to Blackie’s efforts to improve the fire code as this will cost him
money. She initially refuses, but changes her mind to avoid getting in a sexually
compromising situation with Blackie. At her debut at the opera, Blackie arrives
with an injunction to stop the show as Mary is still under contract with him.
However, after hearing her sing he does nothing and after the show when she
proposes to him Blackie accepts. Father Tim is upset when Blackie plans to have
Mary perform at the Paradise in a
skimpy outfit. After Blackie hits Father Tim, Mary leaves with the priest. Mary
returns to the opera and eventually becomes engaged to Burley. Burley uses his influence to have the
police raid the Paradise. At the annual Chicken’s Charity show Mary wins on
behalf of the Paradise, but Blackie angrily refuses to accept the money. Just
then, early in the morning of April 18,
1906 [1:24:04 to 1:41:57] a massive earthquake destroys San Francisco. Blackie wanders the devastated streets
looking for Mary and finds Burley’s body. Finally Father Tim leads him to where
Mary is leading survivors in singing hymns. The atheist Blackie has a
conversion experience and thanks God for sparing Mary. They are reunited as
word is received that the fires that had been sweeping the city are out.
A classic 1930’s melodrama and
not a bad one at that. The plot actually all ties together in the end. This
film also has some good musical numbers.
Encyclopedia of Earthquakes
and Volcanoes by Alexander Gates and David Ritchie (Checkmark Books, New
York, 2007) at page 294 gives the date of the quake
Producers - John Emerson and
Bernard H. Hyman
Director - W. S. Van Dyke
Awards – The film won the Best Sound Record Oscar. It was
also nominated for the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Tracy), Best
Original Screenplay and Best Assistant Director Oscars at the 9th
Academy Awards.
Screenplay - Robert Hopkins and Anita Loos
Runtime – 1 hour 55 minutes
Released – June 26, 1936
Cast –
Clark Gable as Blackie Norton
Jeanette MacDonald as Mary Blake
Spencer Tracy as Father Tim Mullin
Jack Holt as Jack Burley
Jessie Ralph as Mrs.Burley
Ted Healy as Mat
Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.
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