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San Francisco

Play trailer Poster for San Francisco 1936 1h 55m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Blackie Norton (Clark Gable) is a nightclub owner who hires a down-on-her-luck singer for his club, Mary Blake (Jeanette MacDonald). The two hit it off and even become romantically involved, but soon she is courted by real-estate magnate Jack Burley (Jack Holt) to sing at the Tivoli Opera House. At first, she refuses, but when she sees questionable posters of her put up by Blackie, she leaves, forcing Blackie to find a way to win her and his business back.
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San Francisco

Critics Reviews

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Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Mar 5, 2021
2/4
It's really only of interest now due to its influence on the disaster genre, combining turgid melodrama with the grand backdrop of a natural disaster. Mark this one as "for Oscar completists only." Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 12, 2021
3/4
MacDonald is the weak link in this otherwise bustling film. But the final portion of the movie, when the earthquake comes a-callin', is truly astonishing. Go to Full Review Alberto Abuín Espinof Apr 28, 2020
The film's visual effects throughout its final section continue to dazzle until this day, and became an example to follow in future productions. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine Apr 23, 2020
Spencer Tracy steals the picture... Go to Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Aug 8, 2019
Well worth seeing, but too alarming for the very young. Go to Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Jun 4, 2015
7/10
Achieves something that has evaded disaster movies since as long as they've existed: it depicts its disaster in an engrossing, spectacular way, while also making sure that we're not just exulting in mass death. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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ChrisCSH H @RT12343453 Sep 10, 2026 San Francisco is well acted and directed melodrama that at its core seems very straightforward with an on again off again love story. The film has a little bit of everything love story, musical, along with tragedy and redemption. The film also has one of the greatest special effect scenes depicting an earthquake that was shot on film up to that point and still today watching it it was very shocking and you feel the disaster all around you. It was very well directed and edited. See more acsdoug D @acsdoug Jun 24, 2025 Typical 1930s melodrama: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, earthquake destroys city, boy gets girl in the end. Maybe I would have liked it better if I was a bigger fan of Jeannette McDonald's singing (there's a lot of that). Enjoyed the destruction of San Francisco though. See more Martin B @Martin49er Oct 27, 2024 I saw this yesterday-had not heard of it before- well done even if a bit dated and drawn out-, until the earthquake- very powerful filmmaking-and 90 yrs old. See more Roxanne B @GetRoxy Sep 27, 2024 Similar to The Greatest Show on Earth, the chemistry of the cast doesn't quite work, as is rumored by Gable hating uptight MacDonald, but the special effects for the time (like the train wreck in the aforementioned Greatest Show...) are trauma evocative and worth the 'price of admission'. Besides, Spencer Tracy seems sincere. See more Luca D @JoeCamel7 Jul 11, 2023 Not as melodramatic as other melodramas from this era. The acting was not entertaining and the plot was dull in my opinion. Thought the movie would have more to do with the city it's named after but it didn't. I dont get the high ratings, there are many other melodramas I would put above this. Probably won't watch again. See more Ashley H @ashleyhobgood87 May 4, 2023 San Francisco is an okay film. It is about a saloonkeeper and an impresario are rivals for the affections of a beautiful singer in 1906 San Francisco. Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald give decent performances. The script is a little slow in places. W.S. Van Dyke did an alright job directing this movie. I like the motion picture because of the drama and romance. See more Read all reviews
San Francisco

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Cast & Crew

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W. S. Van Dyke II

Director

Clark Gable

Blackie Norton

Jeanette MacDonald

Mary Blake

Spencer Tracy

Father Mullin

Jack Holt

Jack Burley

Jessie Ralph

Mrs. Burley

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San Francisco

San Francisco (1936) Poster Art San Francisco (1936) San Francisco (1936) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Blackie Norton (Clark Gable) is a nightclub owner who hires a down-on-her-luck singer for his club, Mary Blake (Jeanette MacDonald). The two hit it off and even become romantically involved, but soon she is courted by real-estate magnate Jack Burley (Jack Holt) to sing at the Tivoli Opera House. At first, she refuses, but when she sees questionable posters of her put up by Blackie, she leaves, forcing Blackie to find a way to win her and his business back.
Director
W. S. Van Dyke II
Producer
John Emerson, Bernard H. Hyman, W. S. Van Dyke II
Screenwriter
Anita Loos
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 26, 1936, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 55m
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