A Barbary Coast saloonkeeper and a Nob Hill impresario are rivals for the affections of a beautiful singer, both personally and professionally in 1906 San Francisco.
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Title: San Francisco (1936)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Clark Gable | ... | Blackie Norton | |
| Jeanette MacDonald | ... | Mary Blake | |
| Spencer Tracy | ... | Father Tim Mullin | |
| Jack Holt | ... | Jack Burley | |
| Jessie Ralph | ... | Mrs. Maisie Burley | |
| Ted Healy | ... | Mat | |
| Shirley Ross | ... | Trixie | |
| Margaret Irving | ... | Della Bailey | |
| Harold Huber | ... | 'Babe' | |
| Edgar Kennedy | ... | Sheriff | |
| Al Shean | ... | Professor | |
| William Ricciardi | ... | Signor Baldini | |
| Kenneth Harlan | ... | 'Chick' | |
| Roger Imhof | ... | 'Alaska' | |
| Charles Judels | ... | Tony (as Charles Judells) | |
Learn more
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Mary Blake arrives at Blackie Norton's Paradise gambling hall and beer garden looking for work as a singer. Blackie embarrasses her by asking to see her legs, but does hire her. She faints from hunger. Nob Hill Socialite Jack Burley and Maestro Baldini of the Tivoli Opera House see her singing and offer her a chance to do opera, but Blackie has her under a two-year contract which she sorrowfully stands by. Later, when he makes up posters featuring Mary in tights, she does leave for the Tivoli. Blackie gets an injunction against Burley, but knocks out the process server when he hears Mary's performance as Marguerite in "Faust". She asks her to marry him and she agrees to go back to the Paradise as his kind of singer, but Blackie's childhood chum Father Tim intervenes. After Blackie slugs the priest, Mary leaves. She is soon the star of the Tivoli and Blackie's place is closed down. She sings a rousing "San Francisco" on behalf of the Paradise at the annual "Chicken Ball" and wins the ... Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
Taglines:
Together For The First Time See more »Parents Guide:
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Mary Blake: I'm a singer!
Blackie Norton: Let's see your legs!
Mary Blake: I said, I'm a singer!
See more »
(1859) (uncredited)
Music by Charles Gounod
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Sung by Tandy MacKenzie behind dialogue
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
When he was awarded Best Sound Recording at the Academy Awards for this film, Douglas Shearer (brother of Norma Shearer) became the first person to win consecutive awards in the same category, after winning for Naughty Marietta (1935) the previous year. See more »Goofs
The song "San Francisco" by Bronislau Kaper was composed for this film and not extant in 1906. See more »Quotes
Blackie Norton: Well sister, what's your racket?Mary Blake: I'm a singer!
Blackie Norton: Let's see your legs!
Mary Blake: I said, I'm a singer!
See more »
Alternate Versions
After initial premiere, the manager of the Paramount Theater in San Francisco added to the downbeat ending a few shots showing the Golden Gate Bridge being built. Seeing the positive public reaction, MGM decided to have the sequence added to all other prints in release. See more »Soundtracks
Faust: Me voilà toute seule(1859) (uncredited)
Music by Charles Gounod
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Sung by Tandy MacKenzie behind dialogue
See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
26 June 1936 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Cidade do Pecado See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$1,300,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Contribute to This Page
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Oh, yes "San Francisco" was a masterpiece movie when it was made in 1936 - the special effects designed and brilliantly brought to the screen by MGM were astounding, and this film was a giant hit. Having seen it many times over, I am still enthralled by the Earthquake scenes, and it was great to see Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable working so well together - somehow this was one of Gable's best two roles of his career as Blackie. Jeanette MacDonald was somewhat miscast in some ways, but her singing of "Nearer My God to Thee" was inspirational - it was a pity it was so short. The supporting cast was excellent while the spirit of the city of San Francisco was well captured by the direction of W.S. van Dyke. Jack Holt and Jessie Ralph, a couple of old stagers, did well - but the star of the show was the Earthquake.