One of my all time favorites.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Old San Francisco (1927) had to have been made with only its special effects and Vitaphone soundtrack as the major attractions, because the story is extremely old-fashioned by 1927 standards. It feels like the sort of plot one would see in a movie from the 1910s.The characters are flat as can be, especially the ingenue played by Dolores Costello. Warner Oland plays the yellow peril villain, who indulges in every crime: stealing the property of others, imprisoning his dwarf brother, oppressing Chinese Americans, and sneaking into Costello's house at night in an attempt to sully her virtue. It's just terrible.One reviewer scolded the other user reviews for projecting contemporary attitudes onto an old film. While this gives the film a little leeway and I think we should put more energy into the still prevalent racism of current Hollywood cinema, that does not make the overt racism against Asian-Americans in this film okay or any less uncomfortable to watch.The effects are unimpressive compared to other special effects-heavy films of the decade and the acting is barely competent. Skip it.

1927 was only a few years after the real event, but Old San Francisco is far from anything real from history. The movie was just made to capitalize on the epic tragedy without any guide line on a real life story of survivable, so they made one up. That made up story was very racist, and it was written by Darryl F. Zanuck whom later became the producer of future anti-prejudice films in the 1940s. The film starts out with a lengthy prologue about the history of San Francisco. The opening felt like a lecture telling how Spanish aristocracy become to own the land by giving exampling by using one family name—the Vasquez. They show the history of the Vasquez with not needed scenes, until the story proper begins in 1906 at the hacienda of Don Hernandez Vasquez (Josef Swickard) and his lovely daughter Dolores (Dolores Costello). Already the film is lengthy, most of that prologue would better serve cut on the editing floor. The story should started with 1906, not 1700's. Don Hernandez is having financial problem with his ranch nonetheless refuses the entreaties of wealthy businessman Michael Brandon (Anders Randolf) and his lawyer Terrence O'Shaughnessy (Charles E. Mack) to purchase his property. Terrence became love struck by first sight with Dolores, but Vasquez refuse to sell the ranch, and send the two men away. The two men return to Chris Buckwell (Warner Oland), a rich powerful business man who ran illegal activities in China. Not only is he plotting to grab their land for himself, but also claim Dolores as his bride. Chris Buckwell has two big deep dark secrets under his skin. He's able to indulge in his illegal business without fear of retribution from his Chinese victims because people believe he is Caucasian status. Buckwell happens to Oriental. While, Warner Oland is really white and not Asian, Warner Oland was such a brilliant actor in this role, and pretty much help him get further roles playing Orientals such as Charlie Chan. While the movie shows some Asians in a negative light, it doesn't over do the stereotypes. While Buckwell might be over the top, with him trying to sell Dolores to white slavery and him keeping a midget brother in a cage. There are scenes where normal realAsians are trying to plead their case to the evil Buckwell. It wasn'tuntil ¾ of the film when the Earthquake came to play. It comes quick and end pretty much the same. It's really great to watch but it's not that long. Those special effects in 1927 were rather good in those days. It's still pretty interesting how they were able to do some of those scenes. Though beautifully photographed and consummately produced, the action in this historical drama moves the audience. Shot at the end of the silent era, Old San Francisco includes a Vitaphone soundtrack featuring synchronized music and sound effects that works well. The trouble with the film is its pace, it's over the top characters, and downright ignored of 1906 Earthquake itself. Check out the movie if you're a silent movie fan, if you want a better movie about the earthquake, check out 'San Francisco' 1938 film with Clark Gable.

With a wonderful rousing score by Hugo Riesenfeld and synchronized by the Vitaphone Symphony Orchestra, this film (a pristine print) was obviously a jewel in the crown for Warner Brothers. Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck (one of his first as both a writer and producer, although an uncredited one), it starred Warner's reigning screen Goddess, Dolores Costello. The film has everything - romance, adventure, tension between the races, white slavery, an earthquake - but it did drag a bit. The prologue, featuring Tom Santschi and Martha Mattox (from "The Cat and the Canary"), showing how San Francisco was founded, went on for almost 10 minutes but was completely unnecessary to the story - a few titles would have sufficed.Then "The Story" starts in 1906 - Dolores (Dolores Costello) is the apple of her grandfather's eye but he has worries. He is desperately trying to ward off unscrupulous buyers who want to buy his ranch for peanuts!!! Dolores also catches the eye of Terence O'Shaughnessy (Charles Emmett Mack), a young partner in his uncle's law firm. They are acting on behalf of an evil businessman, Chris Buckwell, the "Czar of the City" - he wants the ranch and he will stop at nothing to get it. Played by Warner Oland, who made a career out of playing Orientals such as Fu Manchu and Charlie Chan, even though he was in fact Swedish. The twist to the story is that he is Chinese (shock!! horror!!) - a secret known only to his brother (Angelo Rossitto), a dwarf, whom he taunts and keeps in a cage and a "flower of the Orient" (Anna May Wong) his partner in crime.The appearance of slimy Don Luis (John Miljan, who else!!) sets the wheels turning. Hernandez hopes he will save the ranch but finds he is only lusting after his grand-daughter, as does Buckwell, who arranges for Hernandez to be in the city so he can be alone with Dolores!!! Only an earthquake can save her from a fate worse than death!!! No, not that fate - she has rebuffed Buckwell, who in his rage carries her to his "inner circle" where she is all set to become the latest export for the white slave trade. She has also discovered his secret!!! Dolores Costello is "preposterously beautiful" as John Barrymore once claimed. From the little you see of her, Anna May Wong is very fetching. Charles Emmett Mack, who, sadly, died the same year in a car accident, was sufficiently heroic and Warner Oland showed how wonderful he was in duplicitous roles. The earthquake was quite spectacular with tinted scenes of red and purple.Highly Recommended.

Yeah I can agree with most of what the other reviewer said. There's no defending a movie with the lines "and it pierced his wicked Mongol heart" from charges of racism. But you can get into the plot and appreciate some of the cinematography, especialy the rancho and the Chinamens shrine. Might also point out that in the end it is the other Chinam-- er, Asian Americans who put the evil slumlord to justice.