A tycoon rises to the top in 19th-century San Francisco through greed and corruption.
Acting
David Brian's volcanic charm as the ruthless tycoon.
Costume
Arlene Dahl's gowns cost more than your rent.
Production
San Francisco sets built on MGM's backlot, gorgeously fraudulent.
Director
Gerald Mayer
David Brian
Rip MacCool
Arlene Dahl
Lily Douvane
Barry Sullivan
Johnny Sanderson
Mercedes McCambridge
Ada Stritch
Paula Raymond
Zoe Carnot
Claude Jarman Jr.
Rip MacCool (age 16)
Lon Chaney Jr.
Shocker / Schockovitz Ninkovitch (as Lon Chaney)
Monica Lewis
Cafe Singer
John Hoyt
Flutey Johnson
Roland Winters
Alexander Tomson
Barbara Billingsley
Miss Meadson
Hayden Rorke
Carlson
Mae Clarke
Nurse
Percy Helton
Lawyer Anderson
Nedrick Young
Accountant
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gerald Mayer was Louis B. Mayer's nephew—nepotism produced this surprisingly sharp B-picture.
Released during the 1951 recession, audiences weirdly loved watching a tycoon fall—then rise again.
US
