Fog Over Frisco (1934)

38% of users liked it
(43 ratings)

Cited by film historian William K. Everson as one of the fastest-moving crime melodramas of the 1930s (if not the fastest) Fog Over Frisco still manages to leave viewers breathless. Top-billed Bette Davis plays giddy heiress Arlene Bradford, whose perverse fascination with gangsters gets her mixed… More Cited by film historian William K. Everson as one of the fastest-moving crime melodramas of the 1930s (if not the fastest) Fog Over Frisco still manages to leave viewers breathless. Top-billed Bette Davis plays giddy heiress Arlene Bradford, whose perverse fascination with gangsters gets her mixed up in a stolen-securities scheme. Arlene's more sensible sister Val (Margaret Lindsay) tries to keep her out of trouble, but this proves impossible. Entering into the fray are hotshot society reporter Tony (Donald Woods) and goofy photojournalist Izzy (Hugh Herbert), who like Val get in over their heads when they stumble upon the body of the murdered Arlene. The identity of the killer remains a well-concealed secret until Izzy, of all people, stumbles across a vital clue. Things really begin to accelerate when Val is kidnapped by Arlene's gangster cohorts (who, interestingly enough, are very reluctant to take her prisoner and do so only when there's no other option!), leading to a mile-a-minute rescue and hasty plot wrap-up. Among the many good guys, bad guys and red herrings are Alan Hale as an Irish cop, Robert H. Barrat as a butler who isn't a butler, and Henry O'Neill as a gosh-knows-what who may be the murderer. Though physical action is at a minimum, Fog Over Frisco is kept constantly on the move by director William Dieterle, using every cinematic trick and optical effect (wipe dissolves, iris-outs, swish-pans etc.) at his disposal. The film was less effectively remade as Spy Ship in 1942. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 8 min.
Directed By: William Dieterle
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 2, 1934 Wide
Studio: Unknown

Critic Reviews

Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Crime thriller with a strangely constructed story and vivid location shooting.

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Cast

            Bette Davis as Arlene Bradford

            Donald Woods as Tony Stirling

            Margaret Lindsay as Val Bradford

            Lyle Talbot as Spencer Carleton

            Hugh Herbert as Izzy Wright

            Arthur Byron as Everett Bradford

            Henry O'Neill as Oren Porter

            Irving Pichel as Jake Bellow

            Robert H. Barrat as Thorne

            Ralph Brooks as Musician

            George Chandler as Taxi Driver

            Douglas Cosgrove as Lt. Davis

            William B. Davidson as Joe Hague

            William Demarest as Spike Smith

            Lester Dorr as Reporter

            Douglas Dumbrille as Joshua Maynard

            Dick French as Dick the Orchestra Leader

            Alan Hale as Chief O'Malley

            Selmar Jackson as Radio Announcer

            Harold Minjir as Archie Van Ness

            Edward Peil Sr. as Police Sergeant

            Hal Price as Bartender

            Harry Seymour as Bill the Messenger

            Gordon Westcott as Joe Bellow

            Charles C. Wilson as Sgt. O'Hagen

            Dennis O'Keefe as Van Brugh

            Robert Walker as Hood

            Robert  Barrat
            
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