Call of the Wild

Watch: Call of the Wild

8/9/19351h 31m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ An Epic Novel . . . An Epic Picture ! ~

Overview:

Jack Thornton has trouble winning enough at cards for the stake he needs to get to the Alaska gold fields. His luck changes when he pays $250 for Buck, a sled dog that is part wolf to keep him from being shot by an arrogant Englishman also headed for the Yukon. En route to the Yukon with Shorty Houlihan -- who spent time in jail for opening someone else's letter with a map of where gold is to be found -- Jack rescues a woman whose husband was the addressee of that letter. Buck helps Jack win a $1,000 bet to get the supplies he needs. And when Jack and Claire Blake pet Buck one night, fingers touch.

Director:

William A. Wellman

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

gold
based on novel or book
wilderness
alaska
love affair
dog
sled dogs
dog sled
prospector
yukon, canada
klondike gold rush
1900s

Cast

Clark Gable

~ as ~

Jack Thornton

Loretta Young

~ as ~

Claire Blake

Jack Oakie

~ as ~

'Shorty' Hoolihan

Reginald Owen

~ as ~

Mr. Smith

Frank Conroy

~ as ~

John Blake

Katherine DeMille

~ as ~

Marie

Sidney Toler

~ as ~

Joe Groggins

James Burke

~ as ~

Ole

Lalo Encinas

~ as ~

Kali

Thomas E. Jackson

~ as ~

'Tex' Rickard

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
6
Clark Gable is on fine form here as intrepid Yukon prospector "Jack Thornton". His lucky streak starts when he saves "Buck" - a big, loyal, half dog/half wolf from being shot. Then he alights on the good natured "Shorty" (Jack Oakie) who has his own equivalent of a treasure map. With an Herculean effort from his dog, he manages to win enough money to supply their quest and together with "Claire" (Loretta Young) whom he had previously rescued from the winter, off they set in search of gold... If it were just a rugged wilderness adventure, then this would have been a good film. Their battle against the terrain, the elements and the avaricious Reginald Owen ("Mr. Smith") who is out to out-claim them, is good and entertaining. Sadly, it isn't - the role of Young introduces a romantic element that, though it humanises Gable's rough and determined character to some extent, does drag the film down somewhat. When, towards the end, they discover her long-lost husband (who happens to be the original owner of the map!) it all just loses it's way. William Wellman paces the story well, gets good performances from Gable and, especially, Oakie who provides much of the humour - and I did enjoy it. I could just have been doing with a little less slush and a bit more "mush"...