San Francisco Docks (1940) User Reviews

Hellcat Hervey

[malcolm-68 · 6/10 · 4 April 2014]

This is a zippy B which has a great deal going for it. Burgess Meredith is the nominal hero, but he spends time in jail and therefore off screen particularly in the last half hour, so its left up to others principally his feisty fiancé played by Irene Hervey to investigate the crime. The main merit of the film is that it allows some great character actors to shine. Top acting honours are probably shared between Raymond Walburn as the heroine's father, a garrulous old timer whose glory days are long behind him, but who has a penchant for telling tall stories and Robert Armstrong as a courageous two fisted priest. One highlight is the fight between the two beautiful hellcats Irene Hervey and Esther Ralston who don't battle by the Queensberry Rules. The atmosphere of the docks is well maintained complete with colourful waterfront characters. Arthur Lubin does his customary professional job in the director's chair. This is a good film for a wet afternoon... or for a dry one.

Yet more annoying unfunny sailor types

[AAdaSC · 5/10 · 8 June 2014]

Irene Hervey (Kitty) spends the film trying to prove the innocence of her boyfriend Burgess Meredith (Johnny) who is standing trial for the killing of a politician. She has the help of a priest Robert Armstrong (Father Cameron) and her very annoying father Raymond Walburn (Admiral). This crew solves the crime!

Unfortunately, the film has many comedy moments and comedy characters – the kind that aren't funny. Main offender is Raymond Alburn. I see that IMDb has this film classified in the crime/drama/romance sections. Well, they should add comedy (but not the funny sort) to that. Had I read that I may not have bought the film. Also, there are several times when the screen is just black. What's going on! A poor quality film but it's OK – nothing special. One funny moment happens when Meredith is described as being 5'10". Ha ha. I don't think so.

Between the era of a lot of shaking going on and flower power, the docks had their own issues

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 24 August 2022]

If you've ever wanted to see the penguin (Burgess Meredith) in action prior to his days as a character actor, then this Universal programmer might be for you. Outside of "Winterset" and "Of Mice and Men", he was cast in a variety of romantic parts, roles that didn't show off his stage trained dramatic talents. In this film, he's wrongfully accused of murder, having just threatened a man who made a pass at his girlfriend, Irene Hervey. Now she must help him get the evidence to prove his innocence, and he doesn't help his case by attempting an escape.

The supporting cast here is top notch with Barry Fitzgerald, Raymond Walburn, Esther Ralston and Robert Armstrong, and an excellent gritty atmosphere helps make this a decent B film, even though it's definitely confined to standing sets on the backlot. Meredith and Hervey get to show the desperation of their situation, and Walburn in particular is very effective. Silent star Ralston is delightfully hardboiled, adding some edge to her few scenes. Definitely a notch above the usual Universal programmer, making me glad that Richard Arlen and Andy Devine weren't cast.