Is San Francisco Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, San Francisco is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 115 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
San Francisco Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1936, San Francisco emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Romance, Music domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A beautiful singer and a battling priest try to reform a Barbary Coast saloon owner in the days before the great earthquake and subsequent fires in 1906. Unlike standard genre fare, San Francisco attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and San Francisco features a noteworthy lineup led by Clark Gable . Supported by the likes of Jeanette MacDonald and Spencer Tracy , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of San Francisco (1936) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.5/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
San Francisco Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: San Francisco is a Drama, Romance, Music film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
San Francisco Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: San Francisco concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of San Francisco reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch San Francisco?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
San Francisco Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $1.3M |
| Worldwide Gross | $5.3M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
San Francisco Budget
The estimated production budget for San Francisco is $1.3M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of San Francisco
- Clark Gable – Blackie Norton
- Jeanette MacDonald – Mary Blake
- Spencer Tracy – Father Tim Mullin
- Jack Holt – Jack Burley
- Jessie Ralph – Mrs. Maisie Burley
Top Highlights
Clark GableBlackie Norton
Jeanette MacDonaldMary Blake
Spencer TracyFather Tim Mullin
Jack HoltJack Burley
Jessie RalphMrs. Maisie Burley
Ted HealyMat
Shirley RossTrixie
Margaret IrvingDella Bailey
Harold Huber'Babe'
Edgar KennedySheriff
Where to Watch San Francisco Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home🏷️ Buy on
Amazon VideoApple TVGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At HomeParents Guide & Age Rating
San Francisco is rated NR. Parents should be aware that it contains romantic content.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.5/10, and global collection metrics, San Francisco stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1936 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco movie hit or flop?
San Francisco has received mixed reviews with a 6.5/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is San Francisco worth watching?
San Francisco is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama, Romance, Music movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch San Francisco online?
San Francisco may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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How San Francisco Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for San Francisco
I sometimes found Jeanette MacDonald to be a sort of singing hybrid of Bette Davis and Binnie Barnes! She reminds me very much of that here in this engaging, if slightly long, romantic tale set just before the infamous San Francisco earthquake. "Mary Blake" arrives in the city looking for a job and she alights on the owner of the "Paradise Café". He's the suave and savvy "Blackie Norton" (Clark Gable) and he takes quite a shine to her. So too does his rather wealthier and more high-brow competitor "Burley" (Jack Holt) who might be a better fit for this girl's operatic ambitions. What now ensues sees the chemistry between MacDonald and Gable ebb and flow against a background of crookedness, envy and some good old-fashioned thuggery. Trying to help everyone stay on the right track is his childhood friend "Tim" (Spencer Tracy) who now just happens to be the local priest, a dab hand with a boxing glove, and a man who refuses to see evil in just about anyone. "Mary" has some tough choices to make, and those around her seem perfectly happy to make it for her if she doesn't - so which way is she going to turn? There's no doubt that MacDonald could sing, and her performances here are powerful and at times quite mischievous as her semi-operatic numbers illustrate quite well her character's struggle to fit into a society that wanted music hall numbers and not a good dose of "Faust"! Gable brings his usual lighthearted charm to the proceedings and there are a couple of amiable scenes from the rags-to-riches "Maisie" (Jessie Ralph) to remind us that just about everyone in that city started from nothing - even those on it's exclusive Nob Hill. The photography and visual effects at the end are really quite impressive and the audio of both the musical and thunderous elements of destruction work really quite well on a big screen too. It's not a plot that really stands out, but everyone here works well together to provide an enjoyable reminder of not just these stars, but also of the variety of Vaudeville entertainers that our forebears watched on stage.
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
