The Evolution of America's Culture
The movie "San Francisco" positions the evolution of America's culture away from the past notion where the church dictated how everything had to happen towards business-oriented culture. In the movie, Father Tim tries to reform Blackie; however, the nightclub owners are urging him to run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors who are in the position to protect their business interest. Father Tim finally gives up and hopes that by Blackie running for the post he will use him to implement reforms (Fleureau et al. 73). The act shows that the priest as the representative of the Church has failed to implement required reforms or cultural changes, and instead hopes to use the businessman once he is in the elected position to direct the culture changes.
Questioning the Position of the Church
In the movie, the position of the church as the primary arbiter of morality is highly questioned. Mary had an affair with Burley and Blackie though she loved the latter more. Mary's love for Blackie was driving her will to return to Paradise Club where she could have the company of her lover. On the night of her return to Paradise, she asked Blackie to set a date for their wedding while they were still at backstage. The lovers' nice conversation and possibly reunion were interrupted by father Tim who dropped in and was angered by the manner Mary's was dressed using a skimpy stage custom.
The Dilemma and Final Resolution
When the movie ends, Burley dies from injury trying to meet his lover Mary. Even though Blackie was several weeks ignoring his father (the priest) on moral issues. Despite being a celebrated singer, Mary confesses her feeling of unworthiness to Mr. Burley. She tells him her story as a young woman. She is too confused because she loves both Blackie and Burley. Nevertheless, Mary decides to tell Burley's mother how much she loves him. She finally has made her choice.
Undermining Morality for Personal Gain
Burley uses evil and corrupt means to try to win Mary from Blackie. He calls San Francisco Police to destroy Blackie's club. As a result, Blackie is distraught about his future and ends up at the Chicken Ball where the trio meets once again. Mary performs "San Francisco" Song at the competition and wins the award for Blackie's club while at the same time she had chosen to be with Burley. Blackie refuses the award out of pride and leaves the Chicken Ball. Mary is embarrassed and is about to leave with Burley when an earthquake strikes. Blackie searches for Mary in the debris and finds Burley dying. Before dying, he confesses he was wrong about his love for Mary and asks Blackie to take care of Mary. When Blackie finds Mary at the Golden Gate Park, he is inspired by her voice and when he sees Mary, he thanks God for sparing her life again. They are united by the God Blackie was rejecting earlier on (Decherney 172). Therefore, from the last sequel of the movie, science has no place in arbitrating for morality in the society. The act of God: earthquake, finally settled the dilemma and the moral question faced by Mary in choosing between Blackie and Burley.
Works cited
Fleureau, Julien, Philippe Guillotel, and Izabela Orlac. “Affective Benchmarking of Movies Based on the Physiological Responses of a Real Audience”, Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (ACII), 2013 Humaine Association Conference Sep. 2013, pp. 73-78.
Decherney, Peter. Hollywood and the Cultural Elite: How the Movies Became American. Columbia University Press, 2012.
