Although I have liked a couple of Alan Ladd films, he isn't a star that usually draws me to the movies. However, I am very glad I took a chance on Hell on Frisco Bay. It was excellent! The story was very exciting, and the characters were so intriguing that I would have been just as engrossed if the running time were an hour longer. I'm anxious to get my hands on the original novel to read more character development and gritty plot points.
Allan Ladd starts the film coming out of prison, having lost his job on the police force, his wife Joanne Dru, and five years of his life on a manslaughter charge. He wants to discover the true story and who really committed the murder, and it sends him down quite the rabbit hole. Edward G. Robinson plays a role that was his audition for Vito Corleone. I've never seen him more cold hearted or mean, and I've seen him in over fifty of his films. He's calculating, menacing, interrogate the men closest to him, and completely commands fear and respect asked the head of the San Francisco mafia. Also, he's Italian. What does it take?
Paul Stewart, a solid character actor, is wonderful in this picture. He plays Eddie G's top henchman; his back story is interesting enough to have its own movie. He was on death row when Eddie G rescued him, so he feels he owes him his life. He has a terribly disfigured face, but he has recently found love with Fay Wray and believes he has a chance at a new life. Eddie G needles him constantly, but he doesn't feel like he has the right to stand up for himself.
In addition to the San Francisco scenery, visually, this movie is worth a watch. Director Frank Tuttle has great attention to detail with the interior design and the gritty slums Alan Ladd explores. There's a common theme of green in the costumes and set designs, which was an interesting choice that I'm sure had meaning. I would definitely recommend this movie for those who like the grittier pictures of the golden age.
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