Not copyrighted. A Paramount picture. New York opening at the Paramount 7 September 1938. U.S. release: 26 August 1938. Sydney opening at the Prince Edward, 19 November 1938 (ran 4 weeks). 110 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Russian salmon fisheries are on the agenda!
NOTES: Special Academy Award "for outstanding achievement in creating Special Photographic and Sound Effects in the Paramount production, Spawn of the North. Special Effects by Gordon Jennings, assisted by Jan Domela, Dev Jennings, Irmin Roberts and Art Smith. Transparencies by Farciot Edouart, assisted by Loyal Griggs. Sound effects by Loren Ryder, assisted by Harry Mills, Louis H. Mesenkop and Walter Oberst".
Re-made in 1954 as "Alaska Seas".
COMMENT: A typically vigorous Henry Hathaway actioner, "Spawn of the North" is a powerful drama with some terrific action scenes and awesome location material brilliantly blended into the studio footage.
Mind you, this studio footage isn't to be put down either, as all the players contribute excellent portrayals, particularly John Barrymore as a loquacious newspaper editor (well-named "Windy") and Lynne Overman as his "translater". Lamour is quite fetching, while Fonda, Raft, Tamiroff and Sokoloff also provide most agreeable character sketches.
My only complaint is that the movie is a trifle over-long. The big fight scene occurs almost 30 minutes from the actual end of the picture. Slight trimming of this excess anti-climax would be helpful.
The hero's dilemma is real and believable, even though the basic plot is one of the most commonly used in Hollywood movies.
The characters also are thoroughly convincing, even though on paper they might be criticized as stereotypes. It's the way they are so skilfully and dramatically brought to life on the screen that counts. Hathaway's solid, punchy direction could not be bettered. Other technical credits are likewise first-rate.
All told, this movie certainly comes across as gripping entertainment.
SYNOPSIS: Russian salmon fisheries are on the agenda!
NOTES: Special Academy Award "for outstanding achievement in creating Special Photographic and Sound Effects in the Paramount production, Spawn of the North. Special Effects by Gordon Jennings, assisted by Jan Domela, Dev Jennings, Irmin Roberts and Art Smith. Transparencies by Farciot Edouart, assisted by Loyal Griggs. Sound effects by Loren Ryder, assisted by Harry Mills, Louis H. Mesenkop and Walter Oberst".
Re-made in 1954 as "Alaska Seas".
COMMENT: A typically vigorous Henry Hathaway actioner, "Spawn of the North" is a powerful drama with some terrific action scenes and awesome location material brilliantly blended into the studio footage.
Mind you, this studio footage isn't to be put down either, as all the players contribute excellent portrayals, particularly John Barrymore as a loquacious newspaper editor (well-named "Windy") and Lynne Overman as his "translater". Lamour is quite fetching, while Fonda, Raft, Tamiroff and Sokoloff also provide most agreeable character sketches.
My only complaint is that the movie is a trifle over-long. The big fight scene occurs almost 30 minutes from the actual end of the picture. Slight trimming of this excess anti-climax would be helpful.
The hero's dilemma is real and believable, even though the basic plot is one of the most commonly used in Hollywood movies.
The characters also are thoroughly convincing, even though on paper they might be criticized as stereotypes. It's the way they are so skilfully and dramatically brought to life on the screen that counts. Hathaway's solid, punchy direction could not be bettered. Other technical credits are likewise first-rate.
All told, this movie certainly comes across as gripping entertainment.