NORTH TO ALASKA

US, 1960, 122 minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Stewart Granger, Capucine, Ernie Kovacks, Fabian.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.

North to Alaska is a big brawling boisterous John Wayne vehicle. He is pitted against Stewart Granger. The film is spectacular takes in the sweep of some of Alaska's history, gives the atmosphere of the frontier towns. It is directed by Henry Hathaway, a specialist in many genres, a director of John Wayne in a number of films including The Sons of Katie Elder and his Oscar winning performance in True Grit. Typical American frontier comedy adventure.

1. How enjoyable was this film?

2. What category of film did it belong to, adventure, comedy, farce? What conventions of each category did the film use? Blended well?

3. How was this a typical John Wayne film? How much of the emphasis on him? How much did the film depend on him for success?

4. How plausible was the plot? The conventions of adventure in Alaska? Heroes and heroines, love, fights, disappointments, happy ending?

5. How interesting a picture of Alaska in 1900 did the film give? Was this important? The contrast with Seattle?

6. Comment on the film as a picture of America at the turn of the century, the American heritage# the pioneers, the toughness, the lust for gold, drink, marriage, heroism, manliness?

7. How interesting a character was Sam, an American hero, tough, living life in Alaska and working, out of place in Seattle, friendly for George, the disappointment with his fiancee, taking Michelle, happy when he was fighting, supporting his friends, dawning on him that Michelle loved him?

8. How was George a type for this kind of film? His brother?

9. How attractive a heroine was Michelle? Her background in Seattle, her falling in love with Sam, escaping from Seattle, clashing with Frankie Cannon, George's reaction to her? A happy ending for her?

10. Frankie Cannon as a likable villain?

11. How successful was this film within its conventions and genre?