The owner of a San Francisco saloon yearns to rank among the upper crust of Nob Hill. When he begins romancing a wealthy socialite it looks like he may have his entry into high society. The... 1h 35min | Drama, Musical | 13 June 1945
Director: Henry Hathaway
Stars: George Raft, Joan Bennett, Vivian Blaine, Peggy Ann Garner.
Nick Castle ... choreographer
Watched online, blurry copy with Spanish subtitles.
Many, many songs in the Soundtracks, and no performance info. If I ever watch this again, I should try to connect performers with songs.
PAG was the child star of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ('45), her film credit just before Nob Hill.
The plot synopsis completely ignores PAG, who introduces GR to JB (the socialite), and fosters their romance. She completely softens the formerly hard GR character, and charms everyone in the story (to my memory).
But my memory likely has gaps on this film. I fell asleep multiple times, My recall of the plot is: saloon/showplace owner GR is sweet on his musical star (VB). PAG arrives (complete with information tag, as though she were a package, as they did back then) to live with her uncle, GR's best bartender, now deceased. VB helps break the news to PAG, and they invite PAG to stay a while since the boat won't be returning to Ireland until it comes back from Seattle.
Her first wish is to go to church, where she sees JB, the socialite with whom she spent time aboard ship. JB invites her to come visit. GR has VB buy a nice dress for PAG, and they go to JB's mansion, where JB has bought her an even nicer outfit. PAG sees the lot next door is for sale, and wishes it were hers (or really GR's). GR's romance with JB rankles VB, who leaves his employ.
JB's brother runs for District Attorney, and they seek GR's endorsement, since that would sway others in his district. He consents, but after the brother is elected, he starts his campaign to close down all the clip joints and crooked casinos in that part of town. This puts GR in jeopardy with his local friends. GR needs help, and PAG tries to find VB, to no avail.
So PAG contacts JB the only way her housekeeper will allow: by a note-wrapped rock through her window. JB finds VB, they have a cat-fight in her dressing room, each now determined to win GR's affections. Oh, yeah, and let's do something to help GR.
VB sings lovingly to GR from the stage in public, and she wins. I'm not sure how GR's community troubles got resolved.
VB sings several onstage numbers, and we get showgirls wiggle/strutting and singing, but no feats of terpsichore to dazzle the eye. We do get some nice gymnastics with some interesting camera choices (ankle-high, for example) in an early number, but that's about it. Or maybe I didn't look enough.
Fox, dir. Hathaway; 6-
