Old San Francisco

Delores Costello ( Delores Vasquez) and the earthquake ( and it's aftermath) are the main reasons to see this movie. I know it will not appeal to many people because to some it is not Politically Correct showing the Chinese as bad guys ( especially Warner Oland ( who later played Charlie Chan) as the half white half Mongolian villain Chris Buckwell) and ( or) because it is a Silent Movie.

This is one of the last silent films, made just before "The Jazz Singer" came out, and it is technically better than most of the other silent films as it used Warner Brothers Vitaphone technique.It also benefits from a tour d'force by Dolores Costello (who was the wife of John Barrymore at the time) and is probably one of her best roles.

Accidentally came across this film on TCM as Sunday evenings were typically relegated for this film type. Against my better judgement, I decided to persevere since one cannot predict what film footage may be used from the 1920's that document the history of a world famous city.

Geez! People who try to project 21st century political correctness on those who were living their lives decades (sometimes centuries) ago give me a pain.

Through 1906, the proud Vasquez family has prospered in San Francisco; it is the land the Spanish family helped conquer, and settle. The sweetest rose in the Vasquez Rancho's fair garden is dreamy Dolores Costello (as Dolores Vasquez).

Old San Francisco (1927) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Fifth Vitaphone production from Warner is silent all the way through with the exception of some sound effects used in small places. The film tells the story of a Spanish family who moved to what would become San Francisco to set up their ranch but in 1906 an evil Chinese landowner (Warner Oland) tries to steal it away.

In turn of the the century San Francisco the noble Vasquez family are threatened with the loss of their property by the unscrupulous Mongol, Chris Buckwell. Buckwell, a Chinatown denizen holds considerable influence and sway in Frisco and does not hesitate to acquire by dubious means a piece of the action from local area merchants and land owners.

With a wonderful rousing score by Hugo Riesenfeld and synchronized by the Vitaphone Symphony Orchestra, this film (a pristine print) was obviously a jewel in the crown for Warner Brothers. Produced by Darryl F.

1927 was only a few years after the real event, but Old San Francisco is far from anything real from history. The movie was just made to capitalize on the epic tragedy without any guide line on a real life story of survivable, so they made one up.