40: The Docks of New York

USA  74m  Dir: Josef von Sternberg  Key Cast: George Bancroft, Betty Compson

Based on: The Dock Walloper by John Monk Saunders (Novel)

The Docks of New York could easily have been a far more complicated film than it turned out to be. It's only seventy-four minutes long and features very few characters, the focus being on stoker Bill (George Bancroft) and prostitute Mae (Betty Compson). It could have explored class issues and having a character who is a sex worker was pushing the limits of what was acceptable at the time (prostitution wasn't technically banned as long as it wasn't forced and they never show any aspects of Mae's work). It choose instead to be a rather simple love story. 

George and his crewmates have a night's shore leave in New York and head out to get drunk. George pulls Mae from the water where she has attempted to commit suicide. They then spend the evening together in a bar and quickly become close and talk each other into a spur of the moment marriage. 

It's a fascinating idea that left me conflicted. On the one hand there's something hugely romantic about the pair getting hitched only hours after first meeting but at the same time there's the conflict of knowing that it's probably not a good idea. The wedding scene is excellent as a preacher is summoned to the rowdy bar and the juxtaposition of a wedding ceremony and a dive bar is great. 

The next morning, somewhat inevitably, things don't go well and George eventually heads off back to his ship. This is Hollywood though and so inevitably he has a change of heart and rushes back to the city, just in time to save Mae from a prison sentence for his crime of stealing her a dress.

The characterisation in this film is done really well. We spend very little time with either character but because the entire focus of the runtime is on them we quickly get to know them and the lack of complications means that we understand them clearly and are not distracted by other things. 

The film was a box office flop, it's first previews happening at the same time The Jazz Singer and the concept of talkies had it's huge release. It's a shame though because this is such a efficient, well-made little film.