Overview"Fog Over Frisco" is a 1934 black-and-white crime-drama thriller directed by William Dieterle. The film is an adjustment of the novel 'The Five Fragments' by George Dyer, starring Bette Davis, Donald Woods, and Margaret Lindsay. The motion picture is embeded in and around the cosmopolitan city of San Francisco during the post-prohibition age and includes an interesting mix of criminal activity, deceit, murder, and mystery.
Plot SummaryThe movie focuses on the life of aristo-cratic Alma Brehmer (Bette Davis) and her step-sister Val Bradford (Margaret Lindsay). Alma is romantically involved with a guy named Joel Brehmer who runs a faux brokerage company. The real business of Joel and Alma is smuggling gold certificates under the guise of the brokerage organization without Val's understanding. Their plot thickens when they hatch a strategy to steal gold certificates worth millions from a man named Izzy, a dubious character portrayed by Irving Pichel.
Criminal offense and IntrigueThe crime-drama takes a suspenseful turn when numerous characters related to Alma's unlawful activities begin appearing dead, wreaking havoc and prompt examinations. Alma herself disappears, surprising her sister Val, who till now was in the dark about Alma's clandestine activities. Meanwhile, Arliss (Donald Woods), an enthusiastic press reporter, senses the possible connection in between these murders and begins investigating.
Romance and MysteryIncluding a twist of romance to the thriller, Arliss, who is also a buddy of Val, appears to have romantic sensations towards her. He tries to keep her safe while being in the process of unveiling the dark tricks hidden behind the foggy city.
The story comes to a head when Val finds herself in severe risk after being abducted by the crooks who are concerned she might unveil their dark deeds. The tension is resolved when Arliss, along with regional cops, manage to rescue Val on a breath-taking chase on a speedboat in the San Francisco bay.
Efficiency and ReceptionBette Davis, although in a non-heroine role, steals the program with her scintillating efficiency, representing the lively and mystical Alma. Donald Woods and Margaret Lindsay likewise convincingly perform their particular functions - Arliss, the charming press reporter, and Val, the naive sister bound in a world of criminal offense, unwittingly.
The quick speed and suspense of the movie keep the audience fascinated throughout. Nevertheless, the fast sequence of events might frequently leave audiences feeling a bit dizzy due to the fast-changing scenes and character characteristics. In spite of this, 'Fog Over Frisco' was typically popular by the audience and critics of that era, praising its cast, film noir design, and gripping narrative.
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