Spawn of the North **** (1938, George Raft, Henry Fonda, Dorothy Lamour, Akim Tamiroff, John Barrymore, Louise Platt) – Classic Movie Review 4582

Director Henry Hathaway’s all-action 1938 sea adventure about a salmon-fishing war between the Americans and Russians off Alaska is a high-spirited movie with great Alaskan glacier scenery. The outstanding special effects, sound effects and photographic effects won a special Oscar. It is crowned with a memorable star cast in skipper Henry Fonda, loyal gal Dorothy Lamour, buddy George Raft, newsman John Barrymore and villainous Russian Akim Tamiroff.

But it is Barrymore who is the hit turn in another cynical, hard-drinking role, and the undervalued Lamour (replacing Carole Lombard) is particularly sprightly too as the saloon singer.

Raft and Fonda play Alaskan salmon fishermen lifelong buddies Tyler Dawson, captain of the Who Cares, and Jim Kimmerlee, skipper of the Old Reliable. First they are rivals for young Dian (Louise Platt), then they really fall out when Tyler befriends Russian fishing pirates and Jim sides with local vigilantes.

There is most vigorous direction by Hathaway, who makes the most of his cast and Paramount’s decision to shoot outdoor scenes on location in Alaska – hence the great scenery and the film’s look of reality, enhanced by the outstanding special effects. However, a steel and concrete tank was built on the Paramount lot that held 375,000 gallons of water, in which fishing boats and power cruisers were launched for close shots, and scenes were filmed on location at Lake Arrowhead, Lake Tahoe, Balboa Island and the coast of Southern California where a fishing village was built. It was a major production in every way. the only shame is that it is not in colour.

Jules Furthman and Talbot Jennings’s sturdy screenplay is based on a story by Barrett Willoughby.

The special effects and production team received an honorary award at the 11th Academy Awards, given to special effects artist Gordon Jennings, transparencies artist Farciot Edouart and sound effects artist Loren Ryder.

Also in the cast are Lynne Overman, Duncan Renaldo, Fuzzy Knight, Vladimir Sokoloff, John Wray, Stanley Andrews, Henry Brandon, Wade Botelier, Frank Puglia, Egon Brecher, Irving Bacon, Eddie Marr, Michio Ito, Richard Ung, Arthur Ayleswoth, Monte Blue, Harvey Clark, Edmund Elton, Galan Galt, Bon Kortman, Adia Kuznetzoff, Rollo Lloyd, Robert Middlemass, Lee Shumway, Leonis Snegoff, Archie Twitchell, Guy Usher and Alex Woloshin.

A big hit, it was remade as Alaska Seas (1954) with Robert Ryan and Brian Keith.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4582

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