The Docks of New York is an unusual love story. During his one and only night at shore, Bill, a sailor, rescues a woman from drowning after she had attempted suicide. With the help of some locals, the lady regains consciousness and joins Bill at the local bar. After a couple of drinks, and a conversation about the reasons why neither of them is married, they come to the conclusion that they should get married that same night. Odds are that a priest was around the bar, and he agrees to marry them. However, after dawn, duty calls Bill and he leaves the lady to embark on his ship. As Bill is working, he realizes that he had fallen in love with his wife and wanted to stay at shore. He jumps in the water and swims back to town. Searching for his wife, Bill eventually finds out that she is in jail. Confused, Bill goes to court and learns that the lady was charged for possessing stolen clothes, which Bill had given to her the night they met. Once again, he rescues the lady by taking the blame for the robbery and being condemned for six months in jail. Free of charges and with love in her eyes, the lady reassures Bill that she would wait for him her whole life.
In the beginning of the film, there is an extreme high angle shot of an anchor being released into the water. The anchor falls into the water with such a pressure and weight, that it gives the impression of been a dead body. This early shot is a give away of what will happen throughout the film. The extreme high angle of the water is repeated when the lady is attempting suicide. She wants her body to stay in the depths of the see like the anchor. This shot can also be seen as foreseen Bill’s future in the film. At this port, he will be anchored like the ship, without been able to leave when he wishes.
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