San Francisco

Year: 1936

Runtime: 115 mins

Language: English

Director: W.S. Van Dyke

DramaMusicRomance

A beautiful singer falls for the toughest man on the infamous Barbary Coast, the hardest street in the world, while a zealous priest works to reform the saloon’s proprietor. Their intertwined lives unfold in the tense days leading up to San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake and the devastating fires that follow.

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Timeline & Setting – San Francisco (1936)

Explore the full timeline and setting of San Francisco (1936). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Paradise Club, Barbary Coast, San Francisco; Tivoli Opera House, Market Street; Nob Hill; Golden Gate Park; San Francisco

The story unfolds in San Francisco's Barbary Coast, a rough, bustling district famed for its saloons and nightlife. The Paradise Club on Pacific Street serves as the central hub for Blackie Norton's operations and Mary Blake's rise to fame. The film also visits the Tivoli Opera House on Market Street and the elite Nob Hill, illustrating sharp social contrasts. The quake-ravaged aftermath leads characters to Golden Gate Park, where survivors gather and rebuild hope.

🌉 San Francisco 🎭 Drama 🏙️ Historical 🔥 Earthquake

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:39

Main Characters – San Francisco (1936)

Meet the key characters of San Francisco (1936), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:39

Major Themes – San Francisco (1936)

Explore the central themes of San Francisco (1936), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:39

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Romantic Disaster Epics like San Francisco

Sweeping love stories tested by earth-shattering catastrophes and the struggle to survive.Find more movies like San Francisco, where intense romantic drama collides with epic natural disaster. These films combine high-stakes survival stories with heavy emotional journeys, offering a tense and uplifting viewing experience for fans of historical dramas and sweeping cinematic events.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically establish complex romantic and personal dynamics in a vivid setting. A massive, historically-inspired disaster—like an earthquake, flood, or storm—acts as a climax, shattering the established world. The final act focuses on harrowing survival and the emotional aftermath, often leading to personal redemption and a hopeful, communal ending.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their unique blend of a heavy romantic plot with the high-intensity spectacle of a disaster epic. They share a variable pacing, building tension slowly before a fast-paced survival sequence, and ultimately deliver a cathartic, hopeful resolution despite significant sadness and loss.

Redemption Stories in a Disaster Setting like San Francisco

Flawed protagonists find purpose through catastrophic events that destroy and rebuild their world.Explore movies similar to San Francisco that focus on a hard-edged protagonist's redemption arc set against urban destruction. If you liked the journey of a cynical saloon owner finding hope after a disaster, these films offer powerful stories of personal transformation and resilience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a charismatic but flawed individual, often entrenched in a corrupt or decadent world. A large-scale disaster, whether natural or man-made, destroys their livelihood and forces them to confront their emptiness. The journey involves shedding their old persona, taking responsibility, and helping others, symbolizing the city's own renewal through their personal change.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core character arc of redemption triggered by external chaos. They blend a dark, tense pre-disaster atmosphere with a heavy emotional weight and a ultimately hopeful ending feel. The pacing is variable, allowing for character development before the explosive event that catalyzes change.

Unlock the Full Story of San Francisco

Don't stop at just watching — explore San Francisco in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what San Francisco is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

San Francisco Summary

Read a complete plot summary of San Francisco, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

San Francisco Timeline

Track the full timeline of San Francisco with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

San Francisco Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of San Francisco that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About San Francisco

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about San Francisco: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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