JohnHowardReid Copyright 22 June 1936 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp. A W. S. Van Dyke production. New York opening at the Capitol, 26 June 1936. U.S. release: 25 June 1936. Australian release: 19 August 1936. 12 reels. 115 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Out-of-work singer (MacDonald) is given a job by a surly Barbary Coast saloon-keeper (Gable) who objects to her leaving his employ to take a principal role in grand opera, sponsored by the aristocratic Jack Burley (Holt).NOTES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 1936 award for Sound Recording went to Douglas Shearer, defeating Banjo On My Knee, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Dodswortb, General Spanky, Mr Deeds Goes To Town, The Texas Rangers, That Girl From Paris and Three Smart Girls.Also nominated for Best Picture (The Great Ziegfeld), Best Actor, Spencer Tracy (Paul Muni in The Story of Louis Pasteur), Directing (Frank Capra for Mr Deeds Goes To Town), Assistant Director (Jack Sullivan for The Charge of the Light Brigade), Original Story (The Story of Louis Pasteur).Best Picture of 1936 — Photoplay Gold Medal Award. Number 4 on the annual Film Daily poll of U.S. film critics. The top-grossing picture of 1936 in the U.S.A. and Canada. MGM's top-grossing picture (over $5 million) of the 1930s.COMMENT: From the moment the lion roars and we start in on the ornate roller title while Ward's glorious arrangements of "San Francisco" and "Would You" are deftly brought up on the sound track, San Francisco strikes an emotional high that continues right to "The End" title. The lavishly staged and fluidly directed scenes of New Year revelry at the opening are capped by immediate action and suspense as Gable races to a fire. A clever tracking shot soon after has him brushing MacDonald aside on his way to his club. Few films so adroitly introduce both their leading characters in a flurry of such frantic opening activity. MacDonald is superbly photographed, and no-one (not even Fred Astaire) can wear a top hat and tails with such elegance and style as Clark Gable. And if you think these few opening minutes are exciting, wait till you see the rest of the movie! Unlike many modern pictures in which a thin story is served up as an excuse for an over-indulgence in entertainment-defeating special effects, "San Francisco" has a strong story with solidly interesting characters with whom we become so involved that the climax spurs our interest in their fate. Spectacularly thrilling as it is, the earthquake is merely an added tension to a plot of already powerful, super-gripping suspense.

TheLittleSongbird Being a fan of classic film and being an admirer of Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy, also having heard near-unanimous positively for it and liking Jeanette MacDonald in general than most people, interest was high for seeing 'San Francisco'.Seeing it, maybe it is not quite as good as touted and not quite the masterpiece personally was expecting. However, 'San Francisco' is still a very good and truly impressive film, it must have been back then and still holds up well from personal opinion (though not everybody is going to agree). Some things work better than others, with a few things that could have come off much better, but the good things, which are numerous and big in size, far outweigh the bad things.Can definitely understand the mixed opinions on Jeanette MacDonald. Being a lifelong fan of classical music, opera and operetta, and actually liking her voice, to me the music was wonderful (particularly the title song, which MacDonald sings the heck out of, the rousing and moving Battle anthem, the 'Faust' sections and 'La Traviata's' "Sempre Libera") and she sang the music very well with a silvery purity and limpid beauty.With that being said, MacDonald (who usually is a good actress, in her outings with Nelson Eddy, she was the superior actor of the two) disappoints dramatically and it is down to that the role is not right for her, she is over the top and she is too lightweight for the role for somebody who is better known for operetta and her films with Eddy. As good as the music is, there could have been a little less of it because it does tend to slow the film down and spoil the flow of the story.The film is also a little too heavy on the religious elements, which were in serious need of a toning down. The love triangle does have a lot of heart, but is rather predictable and corny while the chemistry between Gable and MacDonald could have been stronger.However, there are so many good things about 'San Francisco'. It is a great-looking film, beautifully filmed and the production design and costumes are similarly gorgeous. The adroit direction helps things too. As said the music is wonderful, and much better performed than people give credit for.'San Francisco's' script is intelligent, rousing and heartfelt, with only the religious elements in need of a toning down. The story is compelling, lifts the spirits, wrenches the gut and brings tears to the eye. The ending is melodramatic in a way but is also poignant, full of inspiration and spirit-rousing.As people have said, the highlight is the earthquake sequence, a thrilling and gut-wrenching sequence with astounding special effects that were revolutionary in their day.Gable gives one of his best performances as a quite complex character that he brings many nuances to it in a way a number of people would not. Tracy is restrained but also commanding and both men work wonders together. The supporting cast are all solid.Overall, very often and often truly impressive if not quite a masterpiece. 8/10 Bethany Cox

evanston_dad "San Francisco" is two movies. The first is a boring love story about a morally suspect nightclub owner (Clark Gable) and the singer he's hired (Jeanette McDonald) to perform there. The second is a disaster movie about the great San Francisco earthquake and its aftermath. The first half of the movie you might as well sleep through, because it's obvious that the filmmakers themselves considered it only filler until the main event. McDonald is prim and dull, the kind of heroine that makes you wonder why so many men want her. Gable is his usual charming self, but he's not charming enough to make us care about the plot, nominal as it is. But then the big bang hits and the walls start a shaking'. Special effects wizard A. Arnold Gillespie takes responsibility for tearing San Fran apart, and the results were no doubt state of the art at the time. Unfortunately, the action sequences are quick edited into incoherence for modern day viewers.The grand finale is corny as all get out, but it manages to be pretty emotionally rousing anyway."San Francisco" was nominated for 6 Academy Awards in 1936, winning for Sound Recording but losing out in all other categories: Best Picture, Director (W.S. Van Dyke), Actor (Spencer Tracy, surprisingly nominated for lead in what is clearly a supporting role), Original Story, and Assistant Director, a category that only existed for a few short years in the 30s.Grade: B

wes-connors In 1906 San Francisco, sinful Clark Gable (as Blackie Norton) runs both his "Paradise" saloon and a mayoral campaign. For the former, he hires soprano Jeanette MacDonald (as Mary Blake). Despite their differences, the two fall in love. Gable receives prayers from former boyhood pal Spencer Tracy (as Tim Mullin). Father Tracy calls San Francisco, "The most godless city in America." Gable and Tracy remained best friends, although Gable grew up to be an atheist alcohol pusher, and Mr. Tracy became a priest.MGM's dramatic musical depends upon your appreciation of MacDonald's glass-shattering singing style, since she handles nearly all of the vocalizing. Mismatched stars Gable and MacDonald were big box office. The film's big hit was the excellent "Would You?" which was introduced to radio listeners by none other than Bing Crosby; oddly, his version charted at a lowly #20 while versions sung by Joe Sudy (#4) and Johnny McKeever (#5) competed for the bigger sales. Of course, the exceptional title song was also a hit."San Francisco" attracted much award attention. It was the "Best Picture" of the year according to "Photoplay", finished high at #4 in the annual "Film Daily" poll, and made the "Academy Awards" top ten. The "Academy Awards" polled W.S. Van Dyke as the #2 "Best Director" of the year, just behind winner Frank Capra (for "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town"). There were six "Oscar" considerations in all, including a nomination for Tracy in the "Best Actor" category, although his is quite clearly a supporting performance.This is a film which necessitates two user ratings from me: *** (3 stars) for the God-awful stupidity occurring before the quake, and ********* (9 stars) for the exceptionally well made earthquake and aftermath, averaging out to…****** San Francisco (6/26/36) W.S. Van Dyke ~ Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, Spencer Tracy, Jack Holt