I love old Hollywood films, like this, but this movie was flat and uneven. I was really hoping for a good mix, between 1935's Barbary Coast & 1936's San Francisco; but I didn't get that. Directed by Joseph Kane, Flame of the Barbary Coast tells the story of a Montana cowboy named Duke Fergus(John Wayne), whom came to turn-of-the-century, San Francisco in hope, of finding fame and fortune. He attempt this, by trying to outsmart, a crooked casino owner, Tito Morell (Joseph Schildkraut) out of his money. Can 'the King of Luck' find a way to beat the house in cards or will Tito, gain the upper-hand and leave Duke to broke? Watch the movie to find out! Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, the first half was very entertaining, however, after the scenes, dealing with the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake; the film really lost focus. It becomes, less and less of Duke, trying to make a name for himself, and more and more on, Duke just being an ass to Tito. Honestly, I don't know, why Duke has a huge problem with Tito. After all, Tito did help, Duke in the beginning, getting place to place. Plus, he did warn him, about the dangers of getting into the casino business. Whatever, happens to Duke, is his fault. So, why is Duke, being a jerk to Tito and trying to drive him, out of business!? It get really more confused, by the third act, when Duke, out of the blue, started to act, all righteous and started to help a political campaign to clean up, the streets of the Barbary Coast. The movie plays it, off, that he trying to help, the people of San Francisco, to reclaim, their streets, after years of corruption, but it comes off, as another way to seek vengeance on Tito. He doesn't even, bother, staying in the city, after that affair. It's seem like, Duke is just doing this, to gain, the heart of singer/dancer 'Flaxen' Tarry (Ann Dvorak). He care little about the city. It's very self-center for a hero. Not only that, Duke made his money, by cheating in gambling as well. Very hypocritical. Still, John Wayne did alright in the role, he was given. However, I think, the villain in the film, Tito seem more like the good guy, than Wayne's character. I love Joseph Schildkraut's acting in this. It's superior than, anybody else in this cast. He clearly made the most of a script that allowed him to be anything but one dimensional bad guy. If anything, the true bad guy in this film is Ann Dvorak's character, who comes across as materialism, greedy, and seductive. What a Femme fatale! I do have, to say, the movie does have some funny clever dialogue. I love all, the sexual innuendos that went below the censorship radar. However, I didn't like, the repetitive of the film, trying to make certain, words, famous one-liners. I get it, you want, 'With Compliments of the House!" & 'We should had given him, the works' to be, as famous as the catchphrases from 1939's Gone of the Wind. Most of the best laughs, came from William Frawley as 'Smooth' Wolf Wylie. He would later, gain fame as Ricky Ricardo's best friend, in the 1950's TV Show Classic, 'I Love Lucy". Another thing, that I like, about the movie is the music and tunes. 'Baby Blue-Eyes, Have a Heart' is pretty catchy. Though, the other songs feature in the club, aren't so much memorable. Still, there were pretty entertaining. I just wish, the singing from the main cast was a little better. Ann Dvorak's voice was really off. She sounds like a man with a cigarette problem, most of the time. John Wayne sound like a drunk yokel, when singing. The best, has to be, Virginia Gray as Rita Dane. She really looks stunning, and her singing voice is amazing! I would replace Ann Dvorak with her, any-day! One of the most disappointing, parts of the film is the action. It's really, out of character for a John Wayne's western to have little to no fist-fights or gunplay. The recreation of the devastating 1906 earthquake was very dull, featuring little of state of the art special effects of the day. You never get to see the scope of the damage with one full scale set falling down. The movie does have some good cinematography. Great use of shadows and fog, gives it, a film noir look. However, I wish the movie would focus more money, on making the disaster look epic in technicolored. You really don't get to see, much of the city, before and after the fact. I also, didn't like, how the movie didn't focus, too much on the disaster. People go on, their merry way, minutes later, as if, the quake was a minor problem, when in truth; the whole city was on fire, for days after the quake. The movie is far from being historic accuracy. There wasn't an election between Mayor Eugene Schmitz and Schmitz's predecessor, James D. Phelan in the aftermath of the quake. Instead, Schmitz got himself impeached for corruption in 1907 and the city board elected a new leader. If the movie did any research, they would had known; that the city didn't have politics in their mind, but instead, rebuilding from the flames. I hate that the great fire is mention in a throwaway text in the film, rather than showing the true effects from it. Overall: While, there are some scratches, white flecks and specks, in the DVD, but for the most part, the images are rather decently crisp, with good contrast and actually pretty commendable sharpness. Film is certainly worth a watch for any John Wayne's fan, but has limited lasting appeal to anybody else.
