The Docks of New York (1928)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Josef von Sternberg

Writers:

Jules Furthman (writer)
John Monk Saunders (story)

Release Date:

29 September 1928 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot:

A blue-collar worker on New York's depressed waterfront finds his life changed after he saves a woman attempting suicide.

Plot Keywords:

Waterfront | Suicide Attempt | Gangster

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

George Bancroft	...	Bill Roberts
Betty Compson	...	Mae
Olga Baclanova	...	Lou
Clyde Cook	...	'Sugar' Steve
Mitchell Lewis	...	Andy, the Third Engineer
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Hymn Book Harry
Guy Oliver	...	The Crimp
May Foster	...	Mrs. Crimp
Lillian Worth	...	Steve's Girl

Runtime:

USA:76 min | Argentina:76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Argentina:13

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Quotes:

Bill Roberts: Are you goin' to let me have a good time in my own quiet way, or must I take this place apart?

Well-Crafted, Well-Acted, Good Atmosphere

There are quite a few strengths that make this silent melodrama work so well. It has a well-crafted story that moves at a good pace and efficiently uses each minute of screen time. It is very well-acted, especially by George Bancroft and Betty Compson. Compson's performance, in particular, deserves much more praise and recognition than it has received, either at the time or now. Finally, the dockside atmosphere is interesting and convincing, besides being an integral part of the story.

Bancroft has a role that is particularly well-suited to him, and he does a fine job in the part. Compson has a challenging role, since she must make her character attractive yet lonely and miserable, and somewhat disreputable yet completely sympathetic, for the story to work. She gives an excellent performance in every respect, and Bancroft plays off of her character quite well. There are some fine moments in which their characters' rough edges contend with their own gentler and nobler instincts. Thus the unlikely attachment between the two not only works well, but draws you in and makes you care about them quite a bit.

The supporting cast gives good performances as well, with Olga Baclanova especially good in a role that is essential to the story. Mitchell Lewis is suitably brutish as the heavy, and Clyde Cook is quite believable as Bancroft's nervous pal.

Josef von Sternberg also tied together all of these strengths in an efficient and effective package, making every scene count and making you feel as if you were there on the docks with the characters. It's a fine melodrama by any standard, and is well worth seeing for anyone who enjoys silent movies.