San Francisco (film)

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San Francisco

original film poster
Directed by Woody Van Dyke
Produced by John Emerson
Bernard H. Hyman
Written by Robert E. Hopkins
Starring Clark Gable
Jeanette MacDonald
Spencer Tracy
Music by Walter Jurmann
Bronislaw Kaper
Edward Ward
Cinematography Oliver T. Marsh
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Running time 115 min
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
IMDb profile

The April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake is the historical background for San Francisco, a 1936 movie romance film starring Clark Gable, Jeannette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy. The then very popular singing of MacDonald helped make this film a hit. Tracy knocked Gable down during a boxing match in the film, aiding his career. The film was directed by Woody Van Dyke. The Internet Movie Database reports that famous silent film directors D. W. Griffith and Erich Von Stroheim contributed to the screenplay without screen credit.

Contents

[edit] Plot summary

"Blackie" Norton (Clark Gable), a gambling hall tycoon in the notorious Barbary Coast, hires a promising, but impoverished classically-trained singer from Colorado, Mary Blake (Jeanette MacDonald). She becomes a star attraction, and a romance develops between them. Complications arise when she is offered an opportunity to sing in the opera. Meanwhile, Blackie's childhood friend, Roman Catholic Father Tim Mullen (Spencer Tracy), keeps trying to reform him, while the other nightclub owners attempt to convince Norton to run for the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors in order to protect their crooked interests.

Despite Father Tim's best efforts, Blackie remains a jaunty Barbary Coast atheist until the famous 1906 earthquake devastates the city. He "finds God" upon discovering that Mary survived.

[edit] Production

The earthquake montage sequence was created by montage expert Slavko Vorkapich. The Barbary Coast barroom set was built on a special platform that rocked and shook to simulate the historical temblor. Similar sets were built for the 1974 disaster film Earthquake, such as the office set belonging to the character played by Lorne Greene, and the "Remy" and "Stuart" characters' bedroom (the characters were played by Ava Gardner and Charlton Heston, respectively).

[edit] Music

The title song, composed by Bronislaw Kaper with lyrics by Gus Kahn, is sung by Jeanette MacDonald a half-dozen times in the film, and becomes an anthem for the survivors of the earthquake. It is now a popular sentimental sing-along at public events such as the city's annual earthquake commemoration. It is one of two official city songs, along with "I Left My Heart In San Francisco."[1] Years later, Judy Garland added the song to her concert repertoire, with a new introduction that starts, "I never will forget Jeanette MacDonald..."

It only takes a tiny corner of
This great big world to make the place we love;
My home upon the hill, I find I love you still,
I've been away, but now I'm back to tell you...
San Francisco, open your golden gate
You let no stranger wait outside your door.
San Francisco, here is your wanderin' one
Saying "I'll wander no more."
Other places only make me love you best,
Tell me you're the heart of all the golden west.
San Francisco, welcome me home again;
I'm coming home to go roaming no more!

[edit] Awards and nominations

The film received an Oscar, for Best Sound, Recording - Douglas Shearer (M-G-M SSD) It was nominated for five others:

[edit] References

  1. ^ sfmuseum.org
  • Elisabeth Buxbaum: Veronika, der Lenz ist da. Walter Jurmann – Ein Musiker zwischen den Welten und Zeiten. Mit einem Werkverzeichnis von Alexander Sieghardt. Edition Steinbauer, Wien 2006, ISBN 3-902494-18-2

[edit] External links