Frisco Kid (1935)

James Cagney blazes through the lawless Barbary Coast in this hard-hitting 1935 Warner Bros. adventure set in gold-rush-era San Francisco.

Frisco Kid - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Frisco Kid
  • Release Year: 1935
  • Directed by: Lloyd Bacon
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Adventure, Romance, Action
  • Age Rating (US): NR
  • Runtime: 1h 17m
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • Release Date (Theatrical): November 30, 1935 (United States - NR), August 31, 1936 (United Kingdom), April 2, 1936 (Mexico)
  • Alternative Titles: A Cidade Sinistra (BR), Momak iz Frisca (HR), Ματομένες όθες (GR), La riva dei bruti (IT), Emeutes (FR), Den laglösa staden (SE), Frisco, die Stadt ohne Gesetz (AT), シスコ・キッド (JP)
  • Production Companies: The Vitaphone Corporation, Warner Bros. Pictures
  • Production Countries: United States of America

Frisco Kid - Plot

After a roustabout sailor avoids being shanghaied in 1850s San Francisco, his audacity helps him rise to a position of power in the vice industry of the infamous Barbary Coast.

Frisco Kid - Trailer

Preview a clip from this classic James Cagney adventure set on the wild Barbary Coast.

He's the two-fisted hero of the square mile of hell the Devil himself disowned!

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Frisco Kid - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Lloyd Bacon

Main Cast

  • James Cagney
  • Margaret Lindsay
  • Ricardo Cortez
  • Lili Damita
  • Donald Woods
  • Barton MacLane
  • George E. Stone
  • Joe King
  • Addison Richards
  • Robert McWade

Writers

  • Seton I. Miller
  • Warren Duff

Producers

  • Samuel Bischoff

Frisco Kid - FAQs

Who are the main actors in Frisco Kid?

Frisco Kid stars James Cagney as Bat Morgan, Margaret Lindsay as Jean Barrat, Ricardo Cortez as Paul Morra, and Lili Damita as Belle Morra. The supporting cast includes Donald Woods, Barton MacLane, George E. Stone, and Fred Kohler as the menacing Shanghai Duck.

What is Frisco Kid about?

Frisco Kid follows a scrappy sailor in 1850s San Francisco who narrowly escapes being shanghaied and uses his street cunning to claw his way to the top of the Barbary Coast's vice trade. The film blends action, romance, and moral reckoning in classic Warner Bros. pre-code style.

Is Frisco Kid based on a true story?

Frisco Kid is not based on a single true story, but it draws heavily on the real history of San Francisco's Barbary Coast, a notoriously lawless waterfront district in the mid-19th century. The shanghaiing of sailors and the rise of criminal power brokers were documented historical phenomena of that era.

When was Frisco Kid released?

Frisco Kid was released on November 30, 1935, in the United States. It subsequently opened in Mexico on April 2, 1936, and in the United Kingdom on August 31, 1936.

Who directed Frisco Kid?

Frisco Kid was directed by Lloyd Bacon, a prolific Warner Bros. contract director known for his fast-paced, no-nonsense filmmaking style. Bacon also collaborated with James Cagney on several other productions during the studio's golden era of the 1930s.

Where can I watch Frisco Kid online?

Frisco Kid is available to rent or buy digitally through several platforms, including Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Availability may vary by region. Check JustWatch for the most current streaming and rental options near you.

What is the age rating for Frisco Kid?

Frisco Kid carries a Not Rated (NR) classification, as it predates the modern MPA rating system. Released in 1935, the film contains action violence, criminal themes, and adult situations typical of Warner Bros. pre-code and early post-code Hollywood productions of that decade.

How long is Frisco Kid?

Frisco Kid has a runtime of 77 minutes, or approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes. Its brisk pace is characteristic of Warner Bros. programmers of the mid-1930s, which were designed to deliver maximum entertainment in a tight, economical running time.

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