The Docks of New York

1928

1h 16m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

112

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2 Videos

11 Images

Drama

Romance

A blue-collar worker on New York's depressed waterfront finds his life changed after he saves a woman attempting suicide.

Directors

Josef von Sternberg

Writers

Jules Furthman(screenplay by)

Julian Johnson(writer by)

John Monk Saunders(writer by)

Stars

George Bancroft

Betty Compson

Olga Baclanova

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Videos2

Featurette
Watch The Docks of New York (1928) | [4k Remaster] [Silent Film]
Clip
Watch The Docks of New York (1928) by Josef von Sternberg

Top cast

Bill Roberts

Mae

Lou

'Sugar' Steve

Andy

The Crimp

Mrs. Crimp

Steve's Girl

Gustav von Seyffertitz

Hymn Book Harry

Richard Alexander

Lou's Sweetheart (uncredited)

George Irving

Night Court Judge (uncredited)

John Kelly

Sailor Barfly (uncredited)

Charles McMurphy

Policeman (uncredited)

Bob Reeves

Court Bailiff (uncredited)

Directors

Josef von Sternberg

Writers

Jules Furthman(screenplay by)

Julian Johnson(writer by)

John Monk Saunders(writer by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

This is a beautiful example of the film-makers craft. Josef von Sternberg and Harold Rosson have created a thing of aesthetic beauty coupled with an interesting - if not especially deep - character study of two people George Bancroft ("Bill") and Betty Compson ("Mae)". The camera loves both of them - and interestingly for the late 1920s, it is not shy in illustrating the beauty of the male physique as well as the beauty of both Compson and Olga Baclanova ("Lou"). The story isn't really the main feature of the film: "Bill" is a stoker on the docks where he encounters a potential suicide victim - the disillusioned hooker "Mae" with whom he soon bonds - much to the frustration of his ex wife "Lou". It is almost totally devoid of sentiment, it is gritty, earthy and although to look at the pair, their love appears unlikely, it does engage with some almost crude, witty, interventions from "Lou" to keep the story entertaining as well as stylish. I am a fan of most of JVS's films - the "Scarlett Empress" (1934) being my favourite, but this one is up there...

Geronimo196706 Jun, 2022