FLAME OF THE BARBARY COAST is a light romantic comedy featuring John Wayne in a starring role butting heads against chorus girl Ann Dvorak and eventually falling in love with her. As with the other Republic westerns I've seen that Wayne made in the 1940s, this one has a likable lightness of touch that makes it a lot of fun to watch, and entertaining throughout.
The theme of the movie is gambling and the various gambling interludes are handled in a well-paced way. Joseph Schildkraut makes for a thoroughly imposing villain and his acting is of a much better class than is usual in a picture like this. The film even manages to cram in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake as a sub-plot and the special effects in this scene are great fun. Fans of the Duke will be in their element.
The theme of the movie is gambling and the various gambling interludes are handled in a well-paced way. Joseph Schildkraut makes for a thoroughly imposing villain and his acting is of a much better class than is usual in a picture like this. The film even manages to cram in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake as a sub-plot and the special effects in this scene are great fun. Fans of the Duke will be in their element.