Our next film is 1936's "San Francisco", a movie that tells of life in that famous city and chronicles the horrendous 1906 earthquake which claimed many lives. It also gives us an iconic and unforgettable song.
The film's cast includes Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, Spencer Tracy, Jack Holt, Jessie Ralph, and Shirley Ross.
It's New Year's Eve at the Paradise Club located in the heart of the Barbary Coast of San Francisco. The Paradise is owned by Blackie Norton.
Singer Mary Blake comes to Blackie and asks him for a job. When he asks her what her "racket" is, Mary tells him she's a singer. "Let's see your legs," says Blackie. Astonished, Mary replies, "I said I'm a singer".
Mary becomes an overnight sensation at the Paradise. She sings a new song entitled "San Francisco", which quickly becomes extremely popular. And Blackie finds himself becoming more and more attracted to the pretty Mary.
Mary doesn't exclusively sing for nightclubs, though. One of Blackie's best friends is Father Tim Mullin, and he recruits Mary to sing for his church. Her rendition of "The Holy City" brings many in the congregation to tears. Father Tim confides to Mary that he hopes that Blackie will convert and give up his gambling/nightclubbing ways.
Blackie and Mary become closer, and feelings develop on both sides. Things get complicated when Mary is given the opportunity to sing for the opera, something she's always wanted. Blackie doesn't want her to leave the Paradise, but Mary feels she needs to spread her wings.
Mary has been spending a lot of time with rich businessman Jack Burley, who comes to the opera to see her perform. He's also brought his mother, to whom he's written many letters extolling Mary's virtues.
Mary's foray into the opera is a triumph. The crowd is wild with delight at her performance.
Blackie comes backstage afterwards to congratulate her. Mary surprises him by proposing marriage.
Jack also proposes marriage: to Mary. Blackie still wants Mary to come back to the Paradise, but Jack won't hear of it. He gives Mary an ultimatum: him or the Paradise. Mary decides to return with Blackie and give up the opera.
Once back at the Paradise, Blackie oversees every part of Mary's act, including her wardrobe. Father Tim is unhappy with the skimpy outfit and tells Blackie so. They get into a fight. Mary decides to leave the Paradise with Father Tim, and Blackie tells her she won't be welcomed back. Eventually, Mary returns to Jack Burley and their engagement is announced.
Jack uses his police contacts to raid Blackie's Paradise and close it down, putting all of the employees out of work.
At the Chicken's Ball, a variety show which awards a cash prize to the winner of a talent contest, Mary attends with Jack. She's met by a friend of Blackie's who tells her that Jack closed down the Paradise and put them all out of work.
When she hears what he did, Mary is furious with Jack. She is so mad she can hardly stand to sit next to him.
Because of the Paradise's closure, they are unable to send a representative to act in the talent contest. Mary interrupts the proceedings and says that she will represent Mr. Norton's Paradise. The crowd erupts into applause at this news.
Mary triumphs with a spectacular performance of "San Francisco". She gets the whole audience involved and they applaud her wildly at the song's conclusion. She even wins the prize money for Blackie and the Paradise.
Blackie, still angry at Mary for leaving him, refuses to accept the prize money and angrily walks away.
Seconds later, a huge earthquake rocks the city of San Francisco to its core. Hundreds are killed as the buildings crumble around them. Jack Burley is among the casualties.
Blackie survives and searches high and low for Mary. Eventually, aftershocks rock the city, followed by fires and explosions. Blackie fears the worst and comes to the conclusion that Mary is dead.
He finds Father Tim and the two of them patch things up. Father Tim also tells Blackie that he knows where Mary is and she is quite alright.
Father Tim takes Blackie to the refugee camps outside the city, where they find Mary comforting the bereaved with a version of "Nearer My God To Thee".
Blackie drops to his knees to thank God for sparing them. Father Tim watches his friend as he prays for the first time.
Mary comes to Blackie and the two are reconciled. When news breaks that the fires caused by the earthquake are extinguished, Blackie, Mary, and Father Tim march with the rest of the crowd singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". They gaze on the ruins of the city and imagine the great metropolis that will rise from its ashes.
Cast rundown:
Clark Gable.......................................Blackie Norton
And that's it for San Francisco. In 1942, Jeanette MacDonald starred in the movie "Cairo", and this film was referenced in the script. When her character is asked if she has ever been to San Francisco, she replies, "Yes, once with Gable and Tracy, and the joint fell apart!" Every year, this film is shown in San Francisco near the anniversary of the earthquake. At the end of the film, the scene of the rebuilt San Francisco from the 1930s is replaced with footage of the city in its current year.
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