The Docks of New York **** (1928, George Bancroft, Betty Compson, Olga Baclanova, Clyde Cook, Mitchell Lewis, Gustav von Seyffertitz) – Classic Movie Review 11,778

The attractively lurid 1928 American drama The Docks of New York is probably Josef von Sternberg’s finest silent film, mainly because of his obvious joy in deploying his complete technical mastery of the medium.

The beautifully filmed, compelling love story follows stoker Bill Roberts (George Bancroft) through the lower depths of New York City as he rescues a would-be suicide, drowning prostitute Mae (Betty Compson), who has leapt off the dock to end her sordid life. After Bill marries Mae, she is accused of murder, but Lou confesses and is arrested, and later Bill takes the rap when Mae is accused of theft.

Russian actress Olga Baclanova is suitably exotic as the rival love interest, Lou, the wife of the third engineer Andy (Mitchell Lewis), who tries to force himself on Mae but Lou guns him down.

With its gorgeous-looking cinematography by Harold Rosson, exotic and erotic atmosphere, and lusty silent-style acting, it is a fine achievement.

The script by Jules Furthman (story and screenplay) and Julian Johnson (titles) is based on John Monk Saunders’s story The Dock Walloper.

Production began on 25 June 1928, with principal photography beginning on 10 July 1928. The film was shot entirely at Paramount Studios where sets designed by Hans Dreier re-created the New York City waterfront.

Compson plays a prostitute but this was acceptable to The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America regulators as prostitution was not explicitly banned as long as it was not forced and aspects of her work were not directly shown. The wedding ceremony in the bar makes later events ambiguous.

The Docks of New York was one of the last films of the silent era, unluckily coming out on 16 September 1928, the same week as Al Jolson’s part-talkie The Singing Fool (19 September 1928).

It stars George Bancroft as Bill Roberts, Betty Compson as Mae, Olga Baclanova as Andy’s wife Lou, Clyde Cook  as Bill’s buddy ‘Sugar’ Steve, Mitchell Lewis as the third engineer Andy, and Gustav von Seyffertitz as local missionary ‘Hymn Book’ Harry.

Betty Compson and Olga Baclanova in Josef von Sternberg’s The Docks of New York (1928)

The Docks of New York is directed by Josef von Sternberg, runs 78 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Jules Furthman and Julian Johnson, is shot by Harold Rosson, is produced by Josef von Sternberg, scored by Donald Sosin and designed by Hans Dreier.

The video version has a new score by Gaylord Carter, and the 2010 version has a new score by Robert Israel.

Also in the cast are Richard Alexander as Lou’s Sweetheart, May Foster as Mrs Crimp, George Irving as Night Court Judge, John Kelly as Sailor Barfly, Charles McMurphy as Policeman, Guy Oliver as The Crimp, Bob Reeves as Court Bailiff, and Lillian Worth as Steve’s Girl.

It was included in the annual selection of 25 films added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1999 as ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’ and recommended for preservation.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,778

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com