Barbary Coast
1935 · Movie · NR · 90 min · ★ 6.4 · 87% critics
In rough-and-tumble 1850s San Francisco, a woman arrives expecting a new life but is pulled into a crooked gambling world instead. As she gets caught between a powerful casino boss, an honest miner, and a city pushing back against corruption, romance and danger quickly collide.
Also known as Port of Wickedness
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi, Kanopy and Plex — also streaming on Amazon Prime Video and The Criterion Channel.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1935
- Release date
- 1935-10-13
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Max quality
- SD
- Critic score
- 87/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.4/10 (38 votes)
About
You may enjoy this if you like classic melodramas with romance, gambling, and a rough frontier-city mood, especially if Wuthering Heights appeals to you; Not for you if you want subtle characters or a less old-fashioned style.
Pros: lively old-Hollywood entertainment; foggy lawless atmosphere; strong villain presence | Cons: predictable plot; softened dramatic edge; uneven romance
Themes
- san francisco, california
- roulette
- gambling house
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1936 · nominated
Cast & crew
Miriam Hopkins
as Mary 'Swan' Rutledge
Edward G. Robinson
as Luis Chamalis
Joel McCrea
as Jim Carmichael
Walter Brennan
as Old Atrocity
Frank Craven
as Col. Marcus Aurelius Cobb
Brian Donlevy
as Knuckles Jacoby
Clyde Cook
as Oakie
Harry Carey
as Jed Slocum
Matt McHugh
as Broncho
Donald Meek
as Sawbuck McTavish
Directed by Howard Hawks