It's fascinating to observe Edward G Robinson, playing “Louis Chamalis,” within this period melodrama depicting a mostly unregulated San Francisco in the 1850s. While he possesses undeniable charm—even considering his styled hair and elaborate shirts—he’s unable to elevate what is ultimately a rather weak film. Miriam Hopkins portrays "Swan," a woman traveling from New York to marry a miner struggling with alcohol, gambling, and threats from armed men. She decides to remain and becomes entangled in the affairs of the local casino owner (Robinson). Following a horseback ride cut short by a storm, she finds refuge with “Jim Carmichael” (Joel McCrae), a man who has prospered through mining and intends to return to New York. Thick fog delays his departure, and he subsequently finds himself drawn into their world of crime alongside Walter Brennan, after which the story’s progression becomes predictable. The narrative unfolds during a time when concerned citizens began resisting the corruption that dominated their lives—a period known as the “vigilante” era—but this romance feels so insubstantial that by its conclusion, the storyline has lost all momentum and the behavior of the supposedly "respectable" residents appears more disturbing than anything perpetrated by the criminals.

Source on TMDB