"North to the Klondike" (1941) was shot before Lon Chaney Jr. started "The Wolf Man," but released after, on Jan 23 1942, from the director of "The Ghost of Frankenstein," "House of Frankenstein," and "House of Dracula," Erle C.Kenton. Chaney had just finished working with brawling buddy Broderick Crawford (both former Lennies on stage in "Of Mice and Men") in the Western "Badlands of Dakota," in which both were villains. In this feature, Crawford is the hero, John Thorn, a mining engineer who journeys to 19th-century Alaska in search of gold, only to be rebuffed by his prospective employer, Nate Carson (Chaney), who offers to pay Thorn's return passage. Carson has already found the gold, and seeks to drive off all the settlers, burning their supplies and killing anyone who stands in his way. Thorn decides to remain and help out, overcomes the initial rejection of his sweetheart, Mary Sloan (Evelyn Ankers), and finally confronts the burly Carson in a genuine, knock-down, drag-out battle that the two actors usually conducted in the privacy of their dressing rooms. While the script is strictly routine, the film comes off as quite entertaining, thanks to beautiful on location shooting at Big Bear Lake, filling in for Alaska. Solid handling from a standout cast, including such dependable actors as Andy Devine, Lloyd Corrigan, Dorothy Granger, Keye Luke, and a young, clean-shaven Jeff Corey providing some comedy relief (he died in 2002). The diminutive Paul Dubov, as Chaney's main confederate, would go on to work with Roger Corman in 1955's "Day the World Ended," among other features (he died in 1979). Better things lay ahead for Chaney and the lovely Evelyn Ankers; while this was their first collaboration, their next would be their finest- "The Wolf Man" (their last together was 1944's "The Frozen Ghost"). Broderick Crawford had originated the role of Lennie Small in the Broadway production of "Of Mice and Men," before Chaney played the part in the Los Angeles version, and again in the feature film (and Crawford admitted that Chaney's was completely different from his). The two would reunite in two further features (4 overall), "Big House, U.S.A." and "Not as a Stranger," both in 1955.
4 Reviews
Now this is how you make a good B movie!
mark.waltz20 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It's obvious from the start that this is going to be better than a good majority of the programmers at Universal made in the late 30's through the mid-1940's. It's your typical Jack London adventure, and a very good one at that. Andy Devine, an actor who is hit-or-miss for me, is a complete hit as he plays narrator for the story of what happens when people way up North searching for gold begin to believe that they will be stranded there because of the theft of supplies. But one of the leaders, Broderick Crawford, discovers the truth, and with the help of Devine, the pretty Evelyn Ankers and doctor Lloyd Corrigan, the bad guys are dealt with.
And just who is the bad guy? None other than Lon Chaney, at the height of his success as the new Universal horror star. His footage here is minimal, but it's established from the beginning that he's rotten to the core. Crawford, who could play good or bad, guess to be tough, no-nonsense, a bit of a bully, but definitely the hero. Devine is toned down fortunately in his bombastic behavior, that raw handed over to the diminutive Chinese actor Willie Fung whose on-screen son, Keye Luke, is the calmest and most rational person on screen. This moves at a very quick pace and will keep you involved, and ultimately that makes this one of the better B Universal action thrillers, of which there seemed to be thousands.
And just who is the bad guy? None other than Lon Chaney, at the height of his success as the new Universal horror star. His footage here is minimal, but it's established from the beginning that he's rotten to the core. Crawford, who could play good or bad, guess to be tough, no-nonsense, a bit of a bully, but definitely the hero. Devine is toned down fortunately in his bombastic behavior, that raw handed over to the diminutive Chinese actor Willie Fung whose on-screen son, Keye Luke, is the calmest and most rational person on screen. This moves at a very quick pace and will keep you involved, and ultimately that makes this one of the better B Universal action thrillers, of which there seemed to be thousands.
"There's gold in them thar hills"
boscofl12 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Served up as a brisk programmer Universal's 1941 potboiler North to the Klondike is a diverting film involving Alaskan homesteaders battling corrupt gold seekers. It features a cast of recognizable faces, familiar musical cues, and is directed by the Big U's Jack of all trades, Erle C. Kenton. The narrative is bookended by a flashback structure wherein old timer Klondike (Andy Devine) regales a sea captain with the adventures of his pal Johnny Thorn (Broderick Crawford). Thirty years earlier the two men arrived at the fledgling town of Haven where Johnny, a mining engineer, had been summoned by Nate Carson (Lon Chaney Jr.) to oversee a job. Carson canceled the offer upon discovering he couldn't mine his secret gold cave because it was located on homesteader land; he elected to force the settlers out before winter by clandestinely impeding their supply chain. Thorn became suspicious of Carson and eventually uncovered the conspiracy, located the hidden gold mine, and took care of Carson in a ferocious fistfight.
Filmed mostly outdoors North to the Klondike is a pleasing movie to look at if one can find a decent copy; unfortunately this is not a production that has been lovingly preserved. There is a satisfactory mixture of wacky comedy, intrigue, and action that make the narrative's 58 minutes whiz by. The climactic fistfight between Johnny and Carson is well staged and surprisingly brutal as the two demolish all the props - and themselves- in sight. On a side note there is a drinking game to be played if one is so inclined: every time Klondike says "Johnny Thorn" - he does in every third sentence - take a swig of your favorite adult beverage and by the end you will likely be smashed.
The cast is arguably the main asset of the film. Broderick Crawford makes for a rugged hero at home in this particular setting despite not being conventional leading man material. He's rough around the edges but with a good heart and dedicated to helping the oppressed homesteaders. Evelyn Ankers looks beautiful and delivers a standard performance as the love interest with one quality scene in which to emote. Andy Devine is, well, Andy Devine as he falsettos his way through the sidekick role and displays a rather bizarre worship of his pal Johnny as if the guy was the Second Coming. Lloyd Corrigan delivers a few chuckles as the hard drinking doctor while Keye Luke is a hoot as the Harvard educated, erudite son of Willie Fung. The most surprising turn comes from Lon Chaney Jr., months away from Wolf Man stardom, as the villain Carson. Having witnessed plenty of movies wherein Chaney growls his way through dim-witted, one-dimensional thug roles I was expecting more of the same here. Instead, Lon subverts expectations by delivering a smooth talking, crafty, and outwardly pleasant adversary who is no less ruthless. An excellent performance by the actor.
I waited decades to see North of the Klondike and it delivers on all levels. It is a pleasant example of breezy entertainment that demands nothing of its viewer and provides an hour of brain candy for fans of classic cinema and specifically Universal Studios circa 1941.
Filmed mostly outdoors North to the Klondike is a pleasing movie to look at if one can find a decent copy; unfortunately this is not a production that has been lovingly preserved. There is a satisfactory mixture of wacky comedy, intrigue, and action that make the narrative's 58 minutes whiz by. The climactic fistfight between Johnny and Carson is well staged and surprisingly brutal as the two demolish all the props - and themselves- in sight. On a side note there is a drinking game to be played if one is so inclined: every time Klondike says "Johnny Thorn" - he does in every third sentence - take a swig of your favorite adult beverage and by the end you will likely be smashed.
The cast is arguably the main asset of the film. Broderick Crawford makes for a rugged hero at home in this particular setting despite not being conventional leading man material. He's rough around the edges but with a good heart and dedicated to helping the oppressed homesteaders. Evelyn Ankers looks beautiful and delivers a standard performance as the love interest with one quality scene in which to emote. Andy Devine is, well, Andy Devine as he falsettos his way through the sidekick role and displays a rather bizarre worship of his pal Johnny as if the guy was the Second Coming. Lloyd Corrigan delivers a few chuckles as the hard drinking doctor while Keye Luke is a hoot as the Harvard educated, erudite son of Willie Fung. The most surprising turn comes from Lon Chaney Jr., months away from Wolf Man stardom, as the villain Carson. Having witnessed plenty of movies wherein Chaney growls his way through dim-witted, one-dimensional thug roles I was expecting more of the same here. Instead, Lon subverts expectations by delivering a smooth talking, crafty, and outwardly pleasant adversary who is no less ruthless. An excellent performance by the actor.
I waited decades to see North of the Klondike and it delivers on all levels. It is a pleasant example of breezy entertainment that demands nothing of its viewer and provides an hour of brain candy for fans of classic cinema and specifically Universal Studios circa 1941.
North? We're Already There
boblipton17 May 2022
This Northwesterner starts out by telling you how it will turn out by having Andy Devine bookend it, telling it as events fifty years earlier; and then villain Lon Chaney Jr explains to his henchmen that there is gold in them thar hills, but farmers have homesteaded it all; when mining engineer Broderick Crawford shows up to start work, Chaney tells him it's a bust and offers him money for his time and boat fare back.
Crawford turns down the offer. This is his first leading role, and he wants all the B-movie glory that an hour can offer. There's the scandalous comic sidekick in Andy Devine; there's the drunken doctor, played by Lloyd Corrigan; there are the Chinese types, played by Willy Fung, and Keye Luke as his Harvard-educated son; and so forth, including Evelyn Ankers, Dorothy Granger, Monte Blue, and so forth. As Chaney's machinations to run the homesteaders off advance, Crawford is on hand to rattle off his lines, discover the plot, and court Miss Ankers.
Supposedly, it's based on a Jack London story. Well, they might have paid the estate for the rights. The result is an ok timewaster.
Crawford turns down the offer. This is his first leading role, and he wants all the B-movie glory that an hour can offer. There's the scandalous comic sidekick in Andy Devine; there's the drunken doctor, played by Lloyd Corrigan; there are the Chinese types, played by Willy Fung, and Keye Luke as his Harvard-educated son; and so forth, including Evelyn Ankers, Dorothy Granger, Monte Blue, and so forth. As Chaney's machinations to run the homesteaders off advance, Crawford is on hand to rattle off his lines, discover the plot, and court Miss Ankers.
Supposedly, it's based on a Jack London story. Well, they might have paid the estate for the rights. The result is an ok timewaster.
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