In MAN FROM FRISCO, the always dependable character actor Gene Lockhart is cast in a uniquely contradictory role. He plays a somewhat ruthless construction company owner, but there are moments where he is glimpsed to be a loving family man. It's a part that Lockhart plays well, and like he's done in countless other pictures, he easily proves his versatility. Of course, Lockhart has been assigned a key supporting role, and it's really Michael O'Shea's movie, helped considerably by Anne Shirley in a rare loan out from her home studio RKO to Republic.Speaking of Republic, this is a top-notch production from a company known for small-budgeted and occasionally less prestigious films. The climax, when Lockhart's son is accidentally and senselessly killed, is powerful drama and not to be missed.

I doubt that Henry J. Kaiser on whom the lead character is based ever had all the problems that Michael O'Shea has in this film. He's the Man From Frisco a hard driving construction boss who has a brand new idea for building ships in mass quantity which in the years before our entry into World War II we knew we would need.O'Shea has modified the assembly line that Henry Ford developed for the automobile and he wants to try his experiment in a sleepy Pacific coast town where the main employer is shipyard owner Gene Lockhart. Lockhart considers himself a craftsman in an industry increasingly not attuned to his ideas. It takes Pearl Harbor to wake these people up and they reluctantly get behind O'Shea. Lockhart still has his doubts as does his right hand man Dan Duryea who is interested in Lockhart's daughter Anne Shirley. So is O'Shea which gives things a personal twist as well. Younger brother Tommy Bond is all for O'Shea.The best scenes are those of the construction work done on what became known as Liberty Ships. Part of those scenes are narrated by Stephanie Bachelor who has a small role as a woman with a child who comes west to support her husband overseas in his war. She is the prototype for the Rosie the Riveteer character from those war years although in this instance riveting is out, welding is in. Incidentally Bachelor's quiet understated performance is the best in the film by far.Man From Frisco might have been a better film had it not been hampered with a silly romantic subplot.

Matt Braddock (Michael O'Shea) comes to the town of Point Pleasant to take over the ship building company headed by Joel Kennedy (Gene Lockhart). Kennedy is from the "old school" of building ships: taking time to build them. His employees are loyal to him, which includes his secretary (and daughter) Diana (Anne Shirley) and foreman Jim Benson (Dan Duryea), who is also dating Diana.Braddock rolls into town with a lot of bravado and how he's will build ships in less time than it took Kennedy. Kennedy, upon hearing this resigns. Braddock doesn't make friends and influence people in the town with his brash attitude and he and his assistant are shunned by the locals. The only one who seems to like him and idolize him is Kennedy's teenage son Russ (played by Our Gang's Tommy "Butch" Bond), who gets a job with Braddock.He brings people into town to help build his pre-fabricated ships, just as Pearl Habor is attacked, which brings more urgency in getting the ships made. There is a side story about a young woman with a child who's husband is in the Navy and takes a welding job because she needs the money. Sadly, her husband is killed, but she is determined to stay on and help the war effort.While a crucial ship part is being prepared, one of the employees asks Jim how it should be welded. He goes to ask Braddock and catches him kissing Diana. He punches him out and goes to collect his things,and in his anger, tells the worker that the plans are correct as is. Due to this, the part falls apart as it is being placed on the ship, killing Russ. Needless to say, Kennedy is beside himself in grief. The town turns against Braddock and he decides to leave, giving Kennedy back his position. As they are walking towards the office, Jim tells him what happened the night before Russ was killed and that his anger may have caused the accident. Kennedy decides that the ship should be built and through numerous phone calls, gets the job done. The boat is then named in Russ' honor. Braddock (who was stopped from leaving by Diana) subsequently proposes to her.The movie was made enjoyable by a good cast. You go into the movie hating Michael O'Shea's character, but by the end you admire his brashness. It was also good to see Gene Lockhart in a strong supporting role.