Wharf Angel (1934): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1934, Wharf Angel is a drama and romance film directed by William Cameron Menzies, running about 65 minutes. “Barbary Coast! Where the tides of human passions roll up strange wrecks of life and love...a haven for crushed derelicts...such as Toy, who knew men but never heard of love!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. On the wharfs of San Francisco, saloon girl Toy, also known as Mary, lives over Mother Bright's bar. When Como Murphy, a fugitive from the law, hides in her room, she falls in love with him. He explains that after he spoke out about the rights of man to a crowd, a riot ensued, during which a policeman was killed. Como took the gun from the killer, but is thought to be guilty of the crime himself. Como, who reciprocates Mary's love, spends the night with her, but leaves to keep her out of danger. He joins the crew of a ship sailing to China after he is befriended by Turk, a big lumbering sailor who is also in love with Mary. Each man is unaware that they love the same woman.

Who’s in it. Wharf Angel stars Victor McLaglen as Turk, Dorothy Dell as Toy, Preston Foster as Como Murphy and Alison Skipworth as Mother Bright, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 2.0/10, Wharf Angel has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Wharf Angel page.

If you liked it. Fans of Wharf Angel tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.