CALL OF THE WILD

US, 1935, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Jack Oakie, Reginald Owen, Frank Conroy.
Directed by William Wellman.

Call of the Wild is loosely adapted from Jack London's popular story of Alaska at the turn of the century. It is directed by William Wellman, noted for his action films and for his interest in air stories (Wings, Island in the Sky, The High and the Mighty).

While the film has a studio look, it also has the look of so many of the films about Alaska and the run for the gold popular at the time. Clark Gable is very genial as the hero, Loretta Young sturdy as the heroine. Jack Oakie has a good role as the sidekick - though it is interesting to look at his strongly affectionate manner towards Clark Gable. Reginald Owen has a plum part as an extremely sinister, glasses-wearing (even in the bath), suave villain.

The film focuses on Buck the dog and the achievement of the dogs in the North. An enjoyable romantic action adventure.

1. Enjoyable action? A piece of Americana? The opening up of Alaska? The gold rush?

2. Black and white photography, the atmosphere of Alaska? Action and adventure? musical score?

3. The title and the focus on people being called to the North? Jack Thornton and the call of the wild? The parallel with Buck and his being part wolf, the attraction of the wolves and their call, his going off at the end? The interrelationship between human and animal and action adventure in the wild?

4. The opening up of the Klondike, the crowds, the ships, the primitive cities, the raucous lifestyle, the saloons and the drinking, the girls, the gambling? The offices and the filing of claims? The men and their rivalries, their dreams? The dogs and the burdens? Dangers, trekking into the wilderness, the mines and the huts? Dangers and survival? Gold and greed?

5. Jack Thornton as hero? His place in the North, Shorty as his sidekick? In town, gambling, going back home?, Blake’s map? The clash with Mrs. Smith? Getting Buck? The decision to go out, finding Clare in the snow? The return to town, prospects? The clash with Mr Smith about the dog, the bet, getting the expedition ready? The trip into the country, the finding of the mine, the finding of the gold? Shorty taking the gold to town? The attraction towards Clare, their falling in love? The arrival of Mr Smith, the taking of the gold, the breaking up of the canoe? The finding of Blake? The loss of Clare? The winter, Shorty's return, Buck and his returning to the wild?

6. Clare as heroine, with her husband, surviving, the clashes with Jack, the map, in town, falling in love, the deals, on the expedition, the building of the raft, setting up home in the wilderness, the mine, the attack of Mr Smith, finding her husband again, her care for him, going back with him?

7. Jack Oakie and his comedy as Shorty, his words of wisdom, advice, affection for Jack and expressing it? The expedition, finding the gold, falling into the water? Coming back from town with the squaw? The humour of the sidekick?

8. Mr Smith and his henchmen, sinister, the fur and the glasses and the cap, Buck's attacking him and his taking refuge, on the piano, his wanting to spend the money to kill the dog, the bet and his losing it, his expedition, finding Blake, killing him, the confrontation with Jack and Clare, wanting to take the canoe and the gold, the irony of the gold being too heavy and their drowning?

9. Buck as a character, in the snowfields, part wolf, strong, the attack on Mr Smith, affection for Jack, his buying him, accompanying the expedition, going out to the wolf, returning, the final call of the wild?

10. The popularity of Alaskan adventures? Greed and hopes? The frontier lifestyle? The dream of gold and wealth?