Harlow's a big hearted working class same who is employed at a fish cannery. Tracy's an aggressive strike breaker, often at odds with Harlow who nearly knocks his block off with a flying mackerel. He is publicly humiliated by her, but secretly they are crazy about each other. The only thing that stands in their way (besides his arrogance and her feistiness) is waterfront organized criminal leader Leo Carrillo. In spite of that, Spencer and Jean make it to the altar, but the road to happiness and security won't be easy thanks to their hot tempers.Fighting only minutes after they tie the knot, Tracy and Harlow are a delight, and this slice of life drama with many comic moments is extremely enjoyable. There's also Una Merkel and Mickey Rooney as her siblings, and it's obvious that Mickey was destined for stardom. Harlow's platinum hair is a bit darker here, yet she's extremely lovely. She gets above the title billing and he's under the titles, but it's obvious that they are equal in talent. This takes on some serious social issues among the taming of the shrew subplot, with waterfront boss Carrillo gregarious but ruthless, a sore loser over Tracy getting Harlow. The comic first half smoothly moves to social drama in the second half, yet the mood is not jarring. A musical moment featuring "You are my Lucky Star" which leads into a sudden burst of fireworks (thanks to the pranksterish Rooney) is one of the great single sequences, with the shot of Mickey with firecrackers in his ears edited into "Babes in Arms". Even lacking the MGM gloss as it emulates a Warner Brothers film, this is an exceptional A film that deserves to be more well remembered.

I love this movie. I'm sorry I didn't detect the same level of enthusiasm among the other reviewers. Tracy is at his blustering best. You might call it overacting but, to me, it's classic gung ho Tracy. Maybe his character made some poor impulsive decisions, such as quitting his job and union, but he also made some good decisions, such as seeing that calling a strike was just what the boss((Joseph Calleia, as Nick) wanted, so that he could void their 5 year contracts and bring in cheaper labor. Also, he worked out a plan for Jean's prison break. True, that was a very risky undertaking and, at the end, she (and he)was still being hunted by the police. The scene of the escape is exciting, with women screaming and running every which way after a rat was released in the laundry room. This provided Jean and her 2 accomplices diversion so that they could hop down the big storm drain pipe during a heavy rain, and get carried to outside the prison wall, to a waiting car. Later, Tracy detects a plan to blow up an oil tanker, while serving as the night watchman, and knocks out the 3 of them! As to why Jean favored Tracy over Calleia, as some wonder. Partly, it's a matter of history, Clearly, they have been romancing on and off for some years. Looks like she wants a bully, who can fight with his fists as well as his brains, who alternates between loving her and fighting(mostly verbally)with her. During one of their fights, Jean labels him as riffraff. He's a man who doesn't want the bother of children, but is pleased when he sees the son Jean presents to him. Apparently, he's the most productive tuna fisherman of the lot, which counts for something. In contrast, to me, Calliea comes across as too oily. Apparently, Jean thought so too.Tracy typically talks very fast and with certitude, although occasionally he admits he may not be as smart as he thinks. The recently released "You are my Lucky Star" composed by Arthur Freedman and Nacio Herb Brown, is sung by a male chorus during the July 4 celebration, later reprised by Jean when in prison. It was also sung in "Broadway Melody of 1936" and, of course, in the later "Singing in the Rain".As one reviewer pointed out, the plot seemed more in keeping with a Warner-type film. But, that doesn't keep it from being grand entertainment.A young Mickey Rooney, and Una Merkel have subsidiary roles as Jean's younger brother and sister, respectively. Mickey puts a small firecracker in each ear, then wonders why it hurts when they go off!See it at YouTube. The film was in excellent condition...Several reviewers claimed that "Libeled Lady", also costarring Tracy and Jean, but Myrna Loy and William Powell, as well, is much superior to this film. I haven't seen it, but doubt I would agree.

Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy find love on the waterfront in this MGM production that has a Warner's look and feel. With its hardboiled and run down backdrop it also addresses contemporary issues of labor unrest, Red union infiltration as well as managing to sneak some risqué moments by the censor.Dutch Muller (Tracy) is the best fisherman on the dock and he knows it. A bit of a charmer he has no problem with the ladies as well. Cannery worker Hattie (Harlow) has her sights on him but the pugnacious and confident Dutch isn't about to get tied down and the exchanges between the two are usually filled with invective. They weather and eventually wear each other down before getting hitched. When labor problems arise Dutch's arrogance and pride get's the best of him and he finds himself living in aq track side hobo camp. Faithful Hattie attempts to right him but instead ends up being sentenced to a long stretch at a women's prison. Dutch in turn vows to spring her.Tracy and Harlow display a nice down to earth terse chemistry driven by pride and desire. Muller's thickheadedness seems impervious to penetrate but the resourceful Hattie's drive is not to be denied and while there is perhaps an overabundance of shouting between the two the tenderness comes across as natural and genuine. A trio of scene stealers Una Merkle, Joseph Calleia and Mickey Rooney doing a waterfront Puck also add to the story's humor and rhythm.Riffraff does get a little improbable during its climax but Tracy and Harlow's dogged persistence and interplay give it an irascible verve.

The main problem i had with the film is the screenplay. It was just badly written and you didn't believe a lot of the things the characters did. The plot really doesn't come together like it should and the movie is just pretty bad. It stars out with Spencer Tracy talking some workers out of a strike that would of hurt them and he also p***es off his boss. Both Tracy and the boss are interested in Jean Harlow but Harlow only goes with the boss because, i just forget and who really cares anyway. Mickey Rooney is also in here and Spencer Tracy is a great actor but he's only OK in here. Jean Harlow does a pretty good job and you should watch Libeled Lady instead.