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Call of the Wild

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6.3/10 • 51

1935-08-091h 31m

AdventureDramaRomanceWestern

An Epic Novel . . . An Epic Picture !

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.

Directors
William A. Wellman
Editors
Hanson T. Fritch

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Clark Gable

    Clark Gable

    Jack Thornton

  2. Loretta Young

    Loretta Young

    Claire Blake

  3. Jack Oakie

    Jack Oakie

    'Shorty' Hoolihan

  4. Reginald Owen

    Reginald Owen

    Mr. Smith

  5. Frank Conroy

    Frank Conroy

    John Blake

  6. Katherine DeMille

    Katherine DeMille

    Marie

  7. Sidney Toler

    Sidney Toler

    Joe Groggins

  8. James Burke

    James Burke

    Ole

  9. Lalo Encinas

    Lalo Encinas

    Kali

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 19, 2022

6/10

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"...

Media

  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster
  • Call of the Wild poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
goldbased on novel or bookwildernessalaskalove affairdogsled dogsdog sledprospectoryukon, canadaklondike gold rush1900s