I Cover the Waterfront (1933)

Director:

James Cruze

Writers:

Max Miller (book)
Wells Root (writer) ...

Release Date:

19 May 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

An investigative reporter romances a suspected smuggler's daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Daughter | Journalist | Male Female Relationship | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Ben Lyon	...	H. Joseph 'Joe' Miller
Claudette Colbert	...	Julie Kirk
Ernest Torrence	...	Eli Kirk (Julie's father)
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	One Punch McCoy
Maurice Black	...	Ortegus (Kirk's First Mate)
Purnell Pratt	...	John Phelps ('Standard editor, Miller's boss)
Harry Beresford	...	Old Chris (salvage man)
Wilfred Lucas	...	Randall (Coast Guard officer)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Norway:16 | USA:Approved | Spain:T

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of the movie, when Joe is talking to McCoy, he (Joe) has the third button on his shirt unfastened. He walks out of the shot and continues his conversation. In the next shot, his third button is buttoned, but he then begins to unbutton the shirt as he undresses for bed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Miller: [on the phone] Hello, Thelma, this is Miller. No, I don't want the desk. I want to talk to Phelps.

Movie Connections:

Version of Secret of Deep Harbor (1961)

Soundtrack:

I COVER THE WATERFRONT

Pretty Good Atmospheric Drama

Although some aspects of the film don't quite work, "I Cover the Waterfront" is a pretty good atmospheric drama with some good moments. The setting works very well for a story of suspense and crime, and the good story mostly makes up for the less impressive elements of the movie.

Joe Miller (Ben Lyon) is reporter assigned to find interesting stories along the waterfront. His obsession is to prove that ship captain Eli Kirk is involved in a smuggling operation with an occasional murder thrown in. When Miller has a chance meeting with Kirk's charming daughter Julie (Claudette Colbert), he seizes the opportunity to get information about her father. He quickly becomes enamored of Julie, and find himself with conflicting loyalties. Some of the story that follows is predictable, but there are some moments of tension and some good scenes.

The waterfront setting is done nicely, and it makes a good background to the events in the plot. It also includes an exciting and realistic shark-fishing scene. On the other hand, there are some features that are less effective or even a bit dated: for example, the very callous attitudes of all of the characters towards Chinese immigrants, and Miller's irritating sidekick, who is supposed to provide comic relief by his habitual drunkenness, but who is really just an annoyance that contributes nothing whatsoever to the plot.

Overall, this is an interesting film despite a few flaws, and it is worth watching for anyone who likes films of the era.