To the infamous Barbary Coast of the 1890s, with its gambling dens and dance saloons, comes a simple Montana cowboy who is there to collect a debt from Tito Morrell, the owner of the El Dorado casino . The impact was bound to be explosive - particularly when the favours of a lovely dance hostess (beautiful Flaxen Tarry, 'Flame of the Barbary Coast') are in dispute. Duke hones up his card playing skills, returns to Barbary and wins, purchasing a saloon - he becomes Tito's rival in business and love, with earth-shaking results.
John Wayne made a few films in the 40's set in the turn of the century, and Flame of the Barbary Coast is one of them - it's quite entertaining with nice period detail, dialogue, melodious songs, witty humour and romance. Behind this entertaining exterior lies some sharp characterisation, maybe a bit complex. The leading lady -who is pursued by Wayne and Tito Morrel - doesn't just swoon in Wayne's arms as she still interested in Tito. Tito, not exactly a pencil twirling villain, undergoes a change, for the worse, and doesn't care for the lady, now that's she's disabled due to the earthquake (good special effects). Joseph Schildkraut is really good as Wayne's love rival - he's dapper, witty and a bit complex. He's not really bad guy - he's just power mad, perhaps. Ann Dvorak is charming as Flaxen, the gal every guy wants but can't have. It's not a typical Wayne film in a sense that he doesn't swagger around in his man of action mode. Apart from a gunshot fired once and two punches, there's no action.
John Wayne made a few films in the 40's set in the turn of the century, and Flame of the Barbary Coast is one of them - it's quite entertaining with nice period detail, dialogue, melodious songs, witty humour and romance. Behind this entertaining exterior lies some sharp characterisation, maybe a bit complex. The leading lady -who is pursued by Wayne and Tito Morrel - doesn't just swoon in Wayne's arms as she still interested in Tito. Tito, not exactly a pencil twirling villain, undergoes a change, for the worse, and doesn't care for the lady, now that's she's disabled due to the earthquake (good special effects). Joseph Schildkraut is really good as Wayne's love rival - he's dapper, witty and a bit complex. He's not really bad guy - he's just power mad, perhaps. Ann Dvorak is charming as Flaxen, the gal every guy wants but can't have. It's not a typical Wayne film in a sense that he doesn't swagger around in his man of action mode. Apart from a gunshot fired once and two punches, there's no action.