Flame of Barbary Coast

(1945)

91 minutes

Directed by Joseph Kane

Western / Romance

Cast:

John Wayne as Duke Fergus

Ann Dvorak as Ann 'Flaxen' Tarry

Joseph Schildkraut as Tito Morell

William Frawley as Smooth "Wolf" Wylie

Virginia Grey as Rita Dane

Russell Hicks as Cyrus Danver

Jack Norton as Byline Conners

Paul Fix as Calico Jim

Manart Kippen as Dr. Gorman

Eve Lynne as Martha

Marc Lawrence as Disko

Duke Fergus leaves his life as a cowboy in Montana to travel to San Francisco to see Tito Morell, the owner of the Barbary Coast gambling house, who Fergus believes swindled him on a horse deal. Tito explains that he paid Fergus’ employee in full, and cannot be held responsible if the man lost the money in his gambling house. In a false show of good faith, Tito gives Fergus the money, and asks his star performer and girlfriend, Ann Tarry, known as Flaxen, to give Fergus a tour of the Barbary Coast. For quite a while Fergus can’t lose, but that’s just because Flaxen is by his side, and that’s code to the dealers to let him win. After a while, Tito decides Fergus’ winning streak is at an end, and Fergus’ luck goes south on him. However, he has definitely taken a liking to Flaxen, and she is additional incentive for him to come back to San Francisco when he leaves. Fergus leaves San Francisco to finish his cattle drive and seek out a mentor in gambling named Smooth Wylie. Fergus is convinced the Barbary Coast is cheating and asks Wylie to show him how to beat their system. Fergus returns with his life savings and Wylie in tow to get some gambling vengeance on the Barbary Coast. Fergus does so well, he decides to stay in town and open up his own gambling house called the Silver Dollar. As if opening up a rival gambling hall with money won from Tito wasn’t injury enough to Tito, Fergus also bids and wins on Flaxen’s contract when it is time to renew, and she leaves the Barbary Coast to sing at The Silver Dollar. Things seem to be going good, until the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire leaves everything in shambles. Fergus is about to call it quits and head back to Montana when he finds out Tito is bankrolling a corrupt official to try to win the election illegally. Instead of going home, it’s up to Fergus to help ensure the towns elections are won fair and square so San Francisco can rebuild.
 

Notes: William Frawley, who played Wolf Wylie in this film is definitely more well known as Fred Mertz from "I Love Lucy".