Main Cast: John Wayne, Ann Dvorak, Joseph Schildkraut, William Frawley, Virginia Grey
Release Year: 1945
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
John Wayne is not the title character of Flame of the Barbary Coast: that honor goes to second-billed Ann Dvorak. Wayne plays a Montana cattleman who is lured into a San Francisco gambling joint by dance-hall girl Dvorak. Though Ann at first brings Wayne luck, he ends up losing his shirt to cardshark Joseph Schildkraut. Chastened by the experience, Wayne leaves Frisco with his tail between his legs, returning only after he himself has become a gambling expert. Thanks to his new-found expertise, Wayne is able to rake in enough bucks to open his own saloon, bringing Dvorak along for the ride as star of the floor show. Numerous intrigues ensue, culminating in a drawn-out trial scene. As the judge is about to reach a decision, the San Francisco Earthquake strikes (mostly off-screen, drat the luck). When Dvorak is injured in the disaster, Wayne is forced to realign his values. The Duke and The Dvorak decide to bid adieu to the City by the Bay, heading off to Montana to start life anew. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Gano Chittenden - Art Director, Joseph Kane - Director, Richard Van Enger - Editor, R. Dale Butts - Composer (Music Score), Morton Scott - Composer (Music Score), Robert de Grasse - Cinematographer, Joseph Kane - Producer, Howard Lydecker - Special Effects, Theodore Lydecker - Special Effects, Borden Chase - Screenwriter
Naive Montana cowboy Duke Fergus (John Wayne) arrives in San Francisco and visits the notorious Barbary Coast. He becomes smitten with the lovely star attraction of the fanciest gambling hall, "Flaxen" Tarry (Ann Dvorak), the "Flame of the Barbary Coast". He gets talked into gambling against the owner (and Flaxen's lover), cardsharp Tito Morell (Joseph Schildkraut). Predictably, Fergus gets cheated and loses all his money.
He sets himself to win Flaxen's affections and decides the best way to do it is to take over. He gets his friend Wolf Wylie (William Frawley) to teach him everything about gambling, including how to spot cheating. When he's ready, he sells all he owns and returns to the city to challenge Morell's rule of the Barbary Coast. He goes from casino to casino, challenging each one's resident poker champion to a heads-up game, starting with Morell. Duke wins every time.
Fergus then builds an opulent new gambling establishment, catering to the upper class. To make it a success, he needs to persuade Flaxen to come work for him, but she is initially not interested. Only when Morell offends her does she decide to accept Fergus's offer. And then the fireworks begin. Morell does not take the challenge laying down.
