Flame of Barbary Coast ** (1945, John Wayne, Ann Dvorak, Joseph Schildkraut) – Classic Movie Review 6745

Producer-director Joseph Kane’s sluggish low-action 1945 Republic studios Western is based on a story by Prescott Chaplin and stars John Wayne, Ann Dvorak and Joseph Schildkraut. It was nominated for two Oscars: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (R Dale Butts and Morton Scott) and Best Sound, Recording (Daniel J Bloomberg).

Wayne plays Montana cowpoke Duke Fergus, who fights card-playing saloon boss Tito Morrell (Schildkraut) over sexy showgirl Flaxen Tarry (Dvorak).

Flame of Barbary Coast is however notable, though only just, for its handsome sets and the staging of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake (with the help of library footage of buildings on fire). But, though the film is well cast, the stars and script seem below par.

Also in the cast are William Frawley, Virginia Grey, Russell Hicks, Butterfly McQueen, Jack Norton, Paul Fix, Manart Kippen, Eve Lynne, Marc Lawrence, Rex Lease, Hank Bell, Al Murphy, Adele Mara and Emmett Vogan.

Flame of Barbary Coast is directed by Joseph Kane, runs 91 minutes, is made and distributed by Republic, is written by Borden Chase, is shot in black and white by Robert de Grasse, is produced by Joseph Kane, and is scored by R Dale Butts and  Morton Scott.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6745

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