what a treat this tough and realistic movie be . george bancroft and betty compson and and olga baclanova be all great be this cynical yet tender story of the waterfront . director josef von sternberg fill a simple tale with pathos and great atmosphere . tough stoker bancroft rescue a girl ( compson ) from a suicide attempt and marry her for a night of fun . but he get involve in a web of murder and thievery and and drunkenness . when norma desmond say we have face then in sunset boulevard ( and yes i know it be gloria swanson ) and betty compson be at the top of the list . with her big eye and crook mouth and compson be expert at express emotion with a twist of the mouth and a flick of the eyelash . she be wonderful here a mae and the waterfront gal . bancroft be also terrific a the big lug who fall hard for mae . and baclanova and best remember for freak be a dynamo a the wronged wife . great scene of water and fog and bird serve a a backdrop to the drama that enfolds . bancroft and compson win oscar nomination in the early day of the award and be pretty much forget now and but they serve up spark here in this terrific film . a must see .