The Docks of New York (1928)

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

Director:

Josef von Sternberg

Writers:

Jules Furthman (story and screenplay), John Monk Saunders (suggested by "The Dock Walloper" by)

Stars:

George Bancroft, Betty Compson, Olga Baclanova

3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Bancroft	...	Bill Roberts
Betty Compson	...	Mae
Olga Baclanova	...	Mrs. Lou Roberts (as Baclanova)
Clyde Cook	...	'Sugar' Steve
Mitchell Lewis	...	Andy, the Third Engineer
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Hymn Book Harry

Storyline

Bill Roberts works as a stoker on a coal-red barge. It's dirty, hard work and the men have to put up with a foreman, Andy, who seems to enjoy making their life miserable. When finally off the ship, Bill sees a young woman struggling in the water - apparently trying to commit suicide. He takes her to the Sandbar saloon, the sailors' hangout. The girl is Mae and Bill takes a shine to her but so does Andy. One thing leads to another and Bill asks her to marry him then and there. They don't have a marriage ;licence however and despite Bill promising to get one first thing the morning he decides to leave her behind. When she gets into trouble however, Bill steps in.

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | coal stoker | city in title | infidelity | floozie | 

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Taglines:

In washed the tide. Picked from the driftwood at the waterside. A woman, sullen, weary, disillusioned. And a ship's stoker, ashore for a rollicking rouser. A Josef von Sternberg masterpiece (Print Ad- The Observer, ((Newberry, SC)) 26 March 1929)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1928 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Docks von New-York

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Sugar' Steve tries to light Mae's cigarette from the same match he used to light Bill's and his own cigarettes while she is mending Bill's shirt. Mae blows out the match and says, "What are you trying to do, bring me more bad luck?" He must light a new match for her cigarette. At the time, "three on a match" was considered bad luck. Soldiers during the Crimea War believed that if three soldiers lit their cigarettes from the same match, one of the three would be killed, or alternately the third soldier to use the match would be shot. The superstition persisted with soldiers through World War II.

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Quotes

'Sugar' Steve: Come on out o' this - before you get into another mess!

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Alternate Versions

Video version includes new score by Gaylord Carter.

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Connections

Featured in Histoire(s) du cinéma: Les signes parmi nous (1999)

User Reviews

Shows love CAN change anything

What a good film and what good condition this film is in. The story is simple enough but delivered so well by a great cast.

Seaman(George Bancroft) gets shore leave for the night and goes looking for some fun. He saves a lady(Betty Compson) and is overwhelmed by her. One thing leads to another and he ask her out. From there all kinds of things happen. One of those things is love.

I was very impressed by Bancroft and Compson. They really seemed like they were living their parts rather than acting them out. Betty Compson was such a beautiful woman. That combined with her acting talent, I am surprise that she wasn't a big silent film star. I have never heard of her before.

I would recommend this film to all film lovers, silent and sound.