San Francisco (1936)
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- Passed
- 1h 55min
- Drama, Music
- 26 Jun 1936 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Clark Gable | ... |
Blackie Norton
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| Jeanette MacDonald | ... |
Mary Blake
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| Spencer Tracy | ... |
Father Tim Mullin
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| Jack Holt | ... |
Jack Burley
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| Jessie Ralph | ... |
Mrs. Maisie Burley
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| Ted Healy | ... |
Mat
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| Shirley Ross | ... |
Trixie
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| Margaret Irving | ... |
Della Bailey
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| Harold Huber | ... |
'Babe'
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| Edgar Kennedy | ... |
Sheriff
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| Al Shean | ... |
Professor
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| William Ricciardi | ... |
Signor Baldini
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| Kenneth Harlan | ... |
'Chick'
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| Roger Imhof | ... |
'Alaska'
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| Charles Judels | ... |
Tony
(as Charles Judells)
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| Russell Simpson | ... |
'Red' Kelly
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| Bert Roach | ... |
Freddie Duane
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| Warren Hymer | ... |
Hazeltine
(as Warren B. Hymer)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Jean Acker | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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Maude Allen | ... |
Elderly Woman (uncredited)
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| Oscar Apfel | ... |
Founders' Club Member (uncredited)
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| Sam Ash | ... |
Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
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| Gertrude Astor | ... |
Drunk's Girl (uncredited)
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| Irving Bacon | ... |
Picnicker (uncredited)
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| King Baggot | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Jane Barnes | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Vince Barnett | ... |
New Year's Eve Drunk (uncredited)
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Jack Baxley | ... |
Kinko (uncredited)
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Ananias Berry | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Margaret Bert | ... |
Salvation Army Nurse (uncredited)
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| Phil Bloom | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| Sidney Bracey | ... |
Allen - Burley's Butler (uncredited)
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Jimmy Brewster | ... |
Stooge (uncredited)
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| Fritzi Brunette | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Sonny Bupp | ... |
Choirboy (uncredited)
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| Tommy Bupp | ... |
Bill - Newsboy (uncredited)
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| Orrin Burke | ... |
Pompous Man (uncredited)
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| Richard Carle | ... |
Founders' Club Member (uncredited)
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| Jess Cavin | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Helene Chadwick | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Naomi Childers | ... |
Opera Spectator in Burley Box (uncredited)
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| St. Luke's Episcopal Church Choristers | ... |
Choir (uncredited)
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| G. Pat Collins | ... |
Bartender (uncredited)
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Bing Conley | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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Russell Custer | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| Adrienne D'Ambricourt | ... |
Madame Albani (uncredited)
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| Nigel De Brulier | ... |
Old Man - Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Vernon Dent | ... |
Fat Man (uncredited)
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Mae Digges | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Jimmy Dime | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| Tom Dugan | ... |
Drunk (uncredited)
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| Edward Earle | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Edgar Edwards | ... |
Young Earthquake Survivor 'We'll Build a New San Francisco!' (uncredited)
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Fred M. Fagan | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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| Jim Farley | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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| Flora Finch | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Chester Gan | ... |
Jowl Lee (uncredited)
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| Bud Geary | ... |
Man Restraining Blackie after Quake (uncredited)
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| John George | ... |
Custodian at Blackie Norton's (uncredited)
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| Ruth Gillette | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| D.W. Griffith | ... |
Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
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| George Guhl | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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Ben Hall | ... |
Man Searching in the Chaos (uncredited)
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| Donald Hall | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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Geneva Hall | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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Homer Hall | ... |
Founders' Club Member (uncredited)
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Sherry Hall | ... |
Well-Wisher (uncredited)
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| Mahlon Hamilton | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Edward Hearn | ... |
Parishioner (uncredited)
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| Fay Helm | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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The Highlanders | ... |
Male Quartette (uncredited)
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Phyllis Hurst | ... |
Little Girl (uncredited)
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Danny Jackson | ... |
Choirboy (uncredited)
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| Delos Jewkes | ... |
Founders' Club Member (uncredited)
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| Anthony Jowitt | ... |
Society Man (uncredited)
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| Bronislau Kaper | ... |
Conductor (uncredited)
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| John Kelly | ... |
Kelly - Stagehand (uncredited)
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| Cy Kendall | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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Jack Kennedy | ... |
Mike - Old Irishman in Church (uncredited)
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| Jack Kenny | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| Leonard Kibrick | ... |
Choirboy (uncredited)
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| Ralph Lewis | ... |
Founders' Club Member (uncredited)
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| Wilbur Mack | ... |
Bartender (uncredited)
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Tandy MacKenzie | ... |
Faust in Opera (uncredited)
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James Macklin | ... |
Young Man (uncredited)
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| George Magrill | ... |
A Marine (uncredited)
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Tom Mahoney | ... |
Charlie - Captain of Police (uncredited)
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| Owen Marsh | ... |
Young Boy (uncredited)
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| Frank Mayo | ... |
Dealer (uncredited)
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| Tom McGuire | ... |
Bartender (uncredited)
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| Robert McKenzie | ... |
Messenger (uncredited)
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| Sammy McKim | ... |
Choirboy (uncredited)
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Douglas McPhail | ... |
Tenor in 'La Traviata' (uncredited) (voice)
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John 'Skins' Miller | ... |
Man on Stretcher (uncredited)
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| Belle Mitchell | ... |
Louise - Mary's Maid (uncredited)
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Bruce Mitchell | ... |
Heckler (uncredited)
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| Rhea Mitchell | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Hans Moebus | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| James Murray | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Harry Myers | ... |
Reveler (uncredited)
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George Nardelli | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| William Newell | ... |
Man in Breadline (uncredited)
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Amber Norman | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| William H. O'Brien | ... |
Waiter at Chicken's Ball (uncredited)
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| Spec O'Donnell | ... |
Man Praying (uncredited)
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| Dennis O'Keefe | ... |
New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
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| Pat O'Malley | ... |
Fireman (uncredited)
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John Pearson | ... |
Stooge (uncredited)
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| Jack Perry | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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Catherine Price | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| Lillian Rich | ... |
Nun (uncredited)
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| Jason Robards Sr. | ... |
Father (uncredited)
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| Beatrice Roberts | ... |
Forrestal Guest (uncredited)
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| Henry Roquemore | ... |
Drinker (uncredited)
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| Don Rowan | ... |
Coast Type (uncredited)
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| Frank Sheridan | ... |
Founders' Club Member (uncredited)
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Helen Shipman | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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Douglas Steade | ... |
Vocalist (uncredited)
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| Myrtle Stedman | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Carl Stockdale | ... |
Salvation Army Man (uncredited)
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| Harry Strang | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Madame Sul-Te-Wan | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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| Charles Sullivan | ... |
Fire Spectator (uncredited)
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| Ben Taggart | ... |
Cop (uncredited)
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| Rosemary Theby | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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David Thursby | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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| Layne Tom Jr. | ... |
Earthquake Survivor on Blackie's Shoulder (uncredited)
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Jerry Tucker | ... |
Choirboy (uncredited)
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The Uptowners | ... |
Male Quartette (uncredited)
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Corinne Varian | ... |
Little Girl (uncredited)
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| Dorothy Vernon | ... |
New Years Eve Reveler (uncredited)
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| Barrett Whitelaw | ... |
Show Spectator (uncredited)
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| Robert J. Wilke | ... |
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
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Tudor Williams | ... |
Mephistopheles in 'Faust' (uncredited)
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Bill Wolfe | ... |
Parishioner (uncredited)
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| Sam Wolfe | ... |
Stooge (uncredited)
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Ortho Wright | ... |
Fireman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| W.S. Van Dyke | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Anita Loos | ... | (screen play) |
| Robert E. Hopkins | ... | (from the story by) (as Robert Hopkins) |
| Herman J. Mankiewicz | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| John Emerson | ... | producer |
| Bernard H. Hyman | ... | producer |
| W.S. Van Dyke | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Herbert Stothart | ... | (uncredited) |
| Edward Ward | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Oliver T. Marsh | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Tom Held | ... | film editor |
Editorial Department
| John Hoffman | ... | montage sequences |
| Slavko Vorkapich | ... | montage: earthquake sequence (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
Costume Design by
| Adrian | ... | (gowns) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| D.W. Griffith | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
| Joseph M. Newman | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Will Sheldon | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| A. Arnold Gillespie | ... | associate art director (as Arnold Gillespie) |
| Harry McAfee | ... | associate art director |
| Edwin B. Willis | ... | associate art director |
| Eric Rohman | ... | poster artist : Sweden (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
Special Effects by
| James Basevi | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Russell A. Cully | ... | special effects: earthquake sequence (uncredited) |
| A. Arnold Gillespie | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Max Fabian | ... | special photographic effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Audrey Scott | ... | stunt double: Jeanette MacDonald (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Loyal Griggs | ... | photographer: earthquake sequence (uncredited) |
| Cliff Shirpser | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Willard Vogel | ... | additional photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Herbert Stothart | ... | musical director |
| Wayne Allen | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Walter Jurmann | ... | additional music (uncredited) |
| Gus Kahn | ... | lyrics (uncredited) |
| Bronislau Kaper | ... | additional music (uncredited) |
| Paul Lamkoff | ... | vocal coach (uncredited) |
| Paul Marquardt | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Charles Maxwell | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Leonid Raab | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Jack Virgil | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Wallace Worsley Jr. | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Val Raset | ... | dances stager |
| William von Wymetal | ... | stager: operatic sequences |
| Howard Dietz | ... | press agent (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (A W.S. Van Dyke Production)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1936) (United States) (theatrical)
- Regal Films (1936) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Regal Films, Inc.)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1936) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1936) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1936) (France) (theatrical)
- Film AB Le Mat-Metro-Goldwyn (1936) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn Filmselskap (1936) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1948) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1956) (Austria) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Archive Collection (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (approved: certificate no. 2180)
- Western Electric (sound system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Mary Blake arrives at Blackie Norton's Paradise gambling hall and beer garden looking for work as a singer. He embarrasses her by asking to see her legs, but he hires 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 and she ruefully stands by it. Later, when he makes up posters featuring her in tights, she does leave for the Tivoli. He gets an injunction against Burley but knocks out the process server when he hears Mary perform as Marguerite in "Faust". She proposes marriage to him, and she agrees to go back to the Paradise as his kind of singer, but his childhood chum, Father Tim Mullin, intervenes. After he slugs him, Mary leaves. She is soon the star of the Tivoli and the Paradise is closed down. She sings a rousing "San Francisco" on behalf of the Paradise at the annual "Chicken Ball" and wins the $10,000 prize which Blackie throws to the floor. As she storms out of the hall, a terrible rumble betokens the famous 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Buildings collapse, streets split wide open, the city burns, and the army dynamites whole sections of town. After staggering around in a stupor, Blackie finds Father Mullin and they find Mary at a Salvation Army camp. Backed by hundreds of others, they look out over the ruins which are gradually replaced by the shining new city with a reprise of the title song.
Written by Ed Stephan |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She Fell In Love . . . with the toughest guy on the toughest street in the world ! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
| Also Known As |
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,300,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Clark Gable did not want to make this film but he was at the mercy of MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer, who had just paid off one of his numerous paramours. See more » |
| Goofs | As Blackie walks away from a building being blown up (actually a process shot), Clark Gable's head becomes momentarily transparent. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into What Price Safety! (1938). See more » |
| Soundtracks | San Francisco See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Prologue: "San Francisco--guardian of the Golden Gate--stands today a Queen among seaports--industrious, mature, respectable. But perhaps she dreams of the Queen and city she was--splendid and sensuous, vulgar, and magnificent--that perished suddenly with a cry still heard in the hearts of those who knew her, at exactly 5:15 a.m. April 18, 1906." See more » |
| Quotes |
Jack Burley:
[referring to Mary Blake]
Well, there's no law against an opera singer being slender, young and beautiful. See more » |