The San Francisco Story

The San Francisco Story is a 1952 American Western film directed by Robert Parrish and starring Joel McCrea and Yvonne De Carlo.[1] The rough and tumble Barbary Coast of San Francisco is recreated with attention to detail, including Florence Bates as a saloon keeper Shanghaiing the unwary. Noir elements include many shadows, a discordant musical score, snappy dialogue, a disabused hero who resists the good fight, and a femme fatale. A schematic but insightful rendering of political corruption, the film is essentially about standing up to bullies.

The San Francisco Story
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert Parrish
Screenplay byD.D. Beauchamp
Based onVigilante
1949 novel
by Richard Summers
Produced byHoward Welsch
StarringYvonne De Carlo
Joel McCrea
CinematographyJohn F. Seitz
Edited byOtto Ludwig
Music byPaul Dunlap
Emil Newman
Production
company
Fidelity Pictures
Distributed byWarner Bros
Release date
  • May 17, 1952 (1952-05-17)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The law in San Francisco in 1856 is an ideal struggling to be established. Rick Nelson is a loner with his code of ethics, now a miner visiting his old stomping ground. He meets raven-haired beauty Adelaide McCall, who's in the buggy of corrupt political power broker Andrew Cain. Newspaper editor Jim "Captain" Martinbegs his old friend Rick to rejoin his peace-keeping Vigilantes to put an end to Cain's reign of thuggery. Rick knows how easy it is to buy a judge, so he settles matters his way.[2]

Adelaide, after failing to win Nelson over to their side, arranges to have him shanghied to China "for his own protection". Nelson escapes from the ship and does not take kindly to this.

Martin eventually persuades Nelson to try to join Cain's outfit undercover. Cain demands a loyalty test; a jailbreak of one of his men. Nelson persuades Martin to allow the jailbreak. But as soon as both men are in the open, snipers open fire and kill the prisoner and wound Nelson.

Nelson orders Martin to print a story that he was killed to give him time to recover. Adelaide believes the story, burglarizes Cain's safe, and turns over incriminating documents to Martin. Martin has no choice but to hold her as a material witness.

When he recovers, Nelson takes the direct approach. He marches into a crowded political rally and challenges Cain to a duel. To save face, Cain must accept. The duel takes place on the beach, on horseback with shotguns. Nelson kills Cain, and Nelson's friend Shorty kills a hidden sniper. Since Martin is the new "law" in Frisco, it is up to him to decide Adelaide's future. He elects not to press charges.

Cast

Production

The film was based on the novel Vigilante by Richard Summers, an English professor from the University of Arizona. The novel was set in 1856 concerned the career of David C. Broderick and his fictitious mistress Hester Barton, and their involvement in the second vigilante movement.[3]

Film rights were bought by Joel McCrea and Jacques Tourneur in early 1949, before the novel had even been published. McCrea announced he only wanted to produce, not star, and that Tourneur would direct. They hoped to set up the film at MGM and cast Ava Gardner.[4] The novel was published in July 1949. The New York Times called it an "excellent short novel... a well-written, lusty yarn".[3]

In March 1951 it was announced the film would be made by Fidelity Pictures starring McCrea and an "unknown" actress.[5] Fidelity was a new company established in 1949 by producer Howard Welsch.[6]

In July 1951 Fidelity announced the film would be one of six movies Fidelity would make for release through Warner Bros.[7] Yvonne de Carlo signed to co-star.

Jerome Chodorov was reported as working on the script in August.[8] He is not credited on the final film.

Yvonne De Carlo signed to appear opposite McCrea in September 1951. She signed a two-picture deal with Fidelity and returned early from a tour she was making to Tel Aviv.[9]

Fidelity announced the six films they would make for Warners would be budgeted between $600,000 and $700,000 and include The San Francisco Story, My Fine Feathered Friend with Dennis Morgan, Gardenia based on a story by Vera Caspary, Lela Cade, The Gentleman from Chicago by Horace McCoy, Reluctant Bride by Frederick Stephani and The Scarlet Flame, a story about Brazil's battle for independence by Emilio Tovar, to star De Carlo.[10][11] Most of these films were not made.

Filming took place in late 1951. During filming, Will Jacoby, husband of cast member Florence Bates died. Bates was offered time off but she elected to continue to work.[12]

References
  1. "Drama: Yvonne De Carlo Will Costar With McCrea". Los Angeles Times. September 12, 1951. p. B8.
  2. "The San Francisco Story (1952) - Robert Parrish | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  3. HOFFMAN, B. (July 24, 1949). "Rugged rogue". New York Times. ProQuest 105790276.
  4. Schallert, E. (April 29, 1949). "Kings speed 'last mile,' ethel barrymore to play matriarch rule in 'pinky'". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165929344.
  5. Hopper, H. (March 6, 1951). "Lana turner to do movie with clark gable". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 178092101.
  6. "NEW FILM COMPANY PLANS 6 FEATURES". New York Times. August 24, 1948 – via ProQuest.
  7. "Drama". Los Angeles Times. July 24, 1951. ProQuest 166180255.
  8. THOMAS M PRYOR (August 20, 1951). "UNIVERSAL IN DEAL WITH ERROL FLYNN". New York Times. ProQuest 111876758.
  9. THOMAS M PRYOR (September 12, 1951). "ARTHUR KENNEDY GETS MOVIE LEAD". New York Times. ProQuest 111970927.
  10. T. M. (October 7, 1951). "HOLLYWOOD DOSSIER". New York Times. ProQuest 112124535.
  11. THOMAS M PRYOR (October 13, 1951). "FIDELITY TO FILM 'SCARLET FLAME'". New York Times. ProQuest 112132457.
  12. "Obituary 3 -- no title". Los Angeles Times. November 1, 1951. ProQuest 166310491.
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