Nob Hill versus the Gold Coast of San Francisco at the turn of the century. As the film went along, I thought for sure that everything would turn with the coming of the 1906 earthquake. This never did materialize but we have a very good film nonetheless.
For a charge, George Raft isn't his usual gangster self. He runs a hall at the Coast and is even against corruption and when he falls for Joan Bennett, a classy dame from Nob Hill, he is fooled to support her brother for District Attorney, and therefore alienates the others of the town, and loses the affection of Vivian Blaine, who sings for him while having great love for him.
In the same year that she made the memorable A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Peggy Ann Garner made this film as well and she steals it as the Irish lassie who came over to be with her bartender uncle only to learn of his death upon her arrival. By a quirk of fate, she introduces Raft to Bennett who had traveled with her and the picture goes on from there.
The set designs are absolutely opulent and the color of Natalie Kalmus was never better. Beautifully realized view of a wonderful point in history.
For a charge, George Raft isn't his usual gangster self. He runs a hall at the Coast and is even against corruption and when he falls for Joan Bennett, a classy dame from Nob Hill, he is fooled to support her brother for District Attorney, and therefore alienates the others of the town, and loses the affection of Vivian Blaine, who sings for him while having great love for him.
In the same year that she made the memorable A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Peggy Ann Garner made this film as well and she steals it as the Irish lassie who came over to be with her bartender uncle only to learn of his death upon her arrival. By a quirk of fate, she introduces Raft to Bennett who had traveled with her and the picture goes on from there.
The set designs are absolutely opulent and the color of Natalie Kalmus was never better. Beautifully realized view of a wonderful point in history.