Flame of Barbary Coast
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Joseph Kane
John Wayne
Ann Dvorak
Joseph Schildkraut
William Frawley
Virginia Grey
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Montana cowboy Duke Fergus comes to San Francisco in search of restitution from wealthy gambling house owner, Tito Morell, for a horse sale. Duke meets Ann "Flaxen" Tarry, unaware that she is Morell's girl friend and star performer at his Eldorado gambling house, the center of the notorious Barbary Coast district. At the Eldorado, Morell informs Duke that he paid for the horse in full and was not responsible for Duke's representative later losing the money gambling. When Duke accuses the Eldorado of being crooked, Morell pays him the amount due, then Flaxen takes him through the gambling tables and on to several neighboring houses, ensuring his win on every bet. Later, the other proprietors complain to Morell about their heavy losses, so he repays winnings that Duke acquired in a fixed card game. Embarrassed at his losses, Duke leaves town to continue his cattle drive, only later realizing he has been conned by Flaxen and Morell. After he sells his herd, he visits old friend and cardsharp Smooth "Wolf" Wylie and asks him how to beat Morell's system. Duke then returns to the Barbary Coast with all his money and Wylie to challenge Morell. He plays Morell and the other gamblers, soon winning enough money to begin construction of his own beach front house and a new club, called the Silver Dollar. Meanwhile, the city newspaper editor, Cyrus Danver, tells Morell that the political climate is against the rapid rise of the area gambling houses and elections will soon drive them out. Duke attempts to outbid Morell for Flaxen's contract, and when she uses the opportunity to raise her benefits, Morell refuses to go along. They quarrel and Flaxen agrees to sing for Duke at the Silver Dollar. Duke meets with the other gambling house owners, and suggests they incorporate and run a clean and legal business. On the night of the Silver Dollar's opening, Morell attempts to win Flaxen back to the Eldorado and threatens Duke, but is overpowered by Wylie. After Flaxen's performance a great earthquake hits the city and the ensuing fire destroys much of the Barbary Coast including the Silver Dollar. Duke carries Flaxen to safety after she is hurled from the stage, but she is left paralyzed from her fall. Morell comes to visit her, but is disappointed by her injury and is more concerned with rebuilding and enlarging the Barbary Coast than her health. When Morell gets behind a shady challenger in the mayoral elections, the city business representatives ask for Duke's support. Dismayed over his losses, Duke refuses, planning to return to Montana. When Morell unexpectedly approaches Duke with the same suggestion of incorporating the gambling houses but for illegal purposes, Duke is angered and agrees to stay and fight for the city. Flaxen, hurt by Morell's rejection, determines to walk and on the night of the election, manages to walk into the Eldorado. Morell, waiting for illegally gotten tally sheets to rig the elections, is impressed enough to offer Flaxen her old job back. Duke and the election officials arrive in time to seize the tally sheets, and later, Flaxen leaves with Duke for Montana.
Director
Joseph Kane
Cast
John Wayne
Ann Dvorak
Joseph Schildkraut
William Frawley
Virginia Grey
Russell Hicks
Jack Norton
Paul Fix
Manart Kippen
Eve Lynne
Marc Lawrence
Butterfly Mcqueen
Rex Lease
Hank Bell
Al Murphy
Jan Ullrich
Carl Wood
Stuart Hamblen
William Halligan
Hugh Prosser
Adele Mara
Pat Knox
Tom London
Kenne Duncan
Jack Mulhall
Larry Steers
Bud Geary
Vic Potel
Charles Marsh
Dorothy Christy
Emmett Vogan
Roy Butler
Charles Sullivan
Bud Osborne
Joe Rickson
Lee Shumway
Frank Mccarroll
Si Jenks
Frank Jaquet
Frankie Marvin
Eddie Acuff
George Boyce
Joe Evans
Edmund Cobb
Crew
Nat D. Ayer
A. Seymour Brown
Vincent P. Bryan
Dale Butts
Larry Ceballos
Borden Chase
Gano Chittenden
Earl Crain Sr.
Robert Degrasse
Louis Delamarre
Gus Edwards
Jack Elliott
Bernie Grossman
Joseph Hayden
Joseph Kane
C. Harold Lewis
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
Cecil Macklin
Edward Madden
Junie Mccree
Theodore M. Metz
Joseph Novak
Adele Palmer
Adrian Ross
Henry J. Sayers
Gordon C. Schaefer
Morton Scott
Otto Siegel
Lao Silesu
John Stransky Jr.
Richard L. Van Enger
Albert Von Tilzer
Harry Von Tilzer
Howard Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Award Nominations
Best Music, Original or Comedy Series
Best Sound Editing
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to Hollywood Reporter news items, Helen Vinson was originally cast in the role of "Rita Dane" and was replaced by Virginia Gilmore, who was then replaced by Virginia Grey. Flame of Barbary Coast was featured in Republic Pictures' tenth anniversary celebration in more than 2500 theatres over a nine-week period. The film marked Ann Dvorak's return to the American screen after an absence of some years, during which she served as an ambulance driver in Britain. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Sound and Best Music Scoring.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Summer May 28, 1945
Released in United States Summer May 28, 1945
