IMDb > Fog Over Frisco (1934)

Fog Over Frisco (1934) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   435 votes
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Down 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
William Dieterle
Writers:
Robert N. Lee (screenplay)
George Dyer (story)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Fog Over Frisco on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 June 1934 (USA) more
Genre:
Thriller | Mystery more
Plot:
Arlene is involved with underworld types. Her society girl sister believes it is only innocent thrill... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Far before its time more (11 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Bette Davis ... Arlene Bradford
Donald Woods ... Tony Sterling
Margaret Lindsay ... Valkyr Bradford

Lyle Talbot ... Spencer Carlton

Hugh Herbert ... Izzy Wright
Arthur Byron ... Everett Bradford
Robert Barrat ... Thorne
Henry O'Neill ... Oren Porter
Irving Pichel ... Jake Bellow
Douglass Dumbrille ... Joshua Mayard (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Alan Hale ... Chief O'Malley
Gordon Westcott ... Joe Bello
Charles C. Wilson ... Detective Sergeant O'Hagen (as Charles Wilson)
Harold Minjir ... Archie Van Ness
William Demarest ... Spike Smith
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
68 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Approved
Filming Locations:
San Francisco, California, USA more
Company:
First National Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Although George Dyer is credited onscreen for "story," the source of the movie was his book, entitled "The Five Fragments." more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The American Film Institute Salute to Bette Davis (1977) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
How Do I Know It's Sunday? more

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User Comments

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
Far before its time, 30 October 2007
10/10
Author: marko-157 from Slovenia

Mysterious crime, unconventional way of solving it, witty dialog, fast paced events, car chasing, unexpected resolution... are we watching just another detective action film starring Mel Gibson? No, it is 1934 film Fog over Frisco. It is amazing how little has this type of film evolved in last 70 years or so. The only "improvements" we see in modern versions of action films are slimy kissing and love-making scenes, two dozen explosions and rolling stock of a smaller country destroyed. Oh, yeah, done to include something for everyone and to extend the film time to standard one and a half hour.

Well Fog over Frisco is what a good action film should look like. It is absolutely enough to have a bit more than a hour to tell everything. Of course, Dieterle could easily make a film a bit longer and the plot more understandable, but this amazing pace is what makes this film even more special. You are moving in the spiral of events so fast that it is necessary to see it twice to get everything straight.

But this is not all. We see some really exceptional acting here. Bette Davis makes from one seemingly tiny role more than some leading character actors did in the whole acting career. She is absolutely convincing as Arlene, a spoiled and bored rich girl and you can never see Bette in another film to be so beautiful, glamorous, amusing and enchanting. No wonder that most men in film really seem to be in love with her. Margaret Lindsay, who plays a real head role of her step-sister Val, isn't match for Ms. Davis, however she did her part correctly. Other notable performances include Donald Woods playing Tony and Hugh Herbert playing Izzy, who are convincing as a witty reporter - funny photographer pair.

This film is one of the most underestimated films in the whole history of Hollywood and is a must-see for 1930s film period.

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