StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Staci Frederick
Blistering performances.
Leofwine_draca
NORTH TO ALASKA is another comic western for star John Wayne and director Henry Hathaway, this time made with an even lighter touch than usual. An ageing Wayne is backed up by the double-whammy of Stewart Granger and pop singer Fabian, and the story is about gold claims in Alaska which makes this a 'northern' rather than the usual westerns the star was known for. The film peaks early on with a hilarious bar-room brawl which has some great sight gags and stunts and if there isn't much in the way of action after this point, the comedy makes it work. Wayne is the usual two-fisted hero and gently ribs himself while the supporting acts work hard to make their characters work. In the end, Hathaway comes out triumphant by delivering another light and breezy, seemingly effortless, piece of direction.
SanteeFats
This is an excellent movie!! It is funny and series at the same time. John Wayne as Sam McCord is a miner who goes to Seattle to get his partners fiancée. The fiancée turns out to be married so he ends up at a bordello (?) where he gets Capucine to come with him to Alaska as a substitute. Fabian plays the younger brother of George Pratt (played well by Stewart Granger) and boy is he a horny teen when Capucine shows up. They have to defend their claim from claim jumpers and other nearby claims of friends. Ernie Kovacs is in the movie but I don't particularly see his role as a funny guy. He is just a sub plot to the movie and could have been left out. Capucine does a really nice job in the movie and ends up with, surprise, John Wayne at the end of the movie.
Tweekums
When partners Sam McCord and George Pratt strike it rich in Alaska Sam heads down to Seattle to bring back George's French fiancée... there is a problem though; she has married somebody else! Sam comes up with a solution though; he'll take back another French girl instead; prostitute Michelle 'Angel' Bonet. His intention is that George will be just as pleased with Michelle; Michelle misunderstands though and thinks Sam wants her himself; understandably she is a little put out when she discovers the truth. When they reach Alaska they find out that George it no longer in town; he had to head up to the mine with his younger brother Billy. Needless to say things don't go as Sam expected; Billy falls in love with Michelle and when he finally gets George to meet her he isn't happy about being sent a 'replacement'... the biggest surprise for confirmed bachelor Sam is that he falls for her... but thinks she is with George!! If all that romantic confusion wasn't enough conman Frankie Canon keeps trying to swindle them; first out of a few hundred dollars then out of the mine.I thought I might not enjoy this after an early barroom brawl was full of over the top slapstick and comedy sound effects one would expect in a Loony Tunes cartoon. I soon found myself enjoying it however as it got more sensible; and funnier after that. John Wayne did a good job as Sam; playing him fairly straight rather than going for cheap laughs. French actress Capucine was a delight as Michelle; one can see why the men in the film took a shine to her! The rest of the cast were pretty good too. The 'Alaskan' scenery looks good even if it is really California. One might think that having a prostitute as a main character would make this unsuitable for children but what she does isn't spelt so youngsters are likely to think that she is just a dancer, the action scenes are child friendly too with slapstick brawls and no fatalities despite there being a shootout. At two hours this is a little on the long side but not excessively so. Overall I'd say this is worth watching if you like John Wayne westerns and want a chuckle.
ctomvelu1
John Wayne and Stewart Granger should have done more comedies. In NORTH TO ALASKA the two veterans play freewheeling partners in a gold mine in 1901 Alaska. The action shifts from Alaska to Seattle and back, although it is pretty apparent the whole thing was shot in California. Wayne goes to Seattle to take care of some business and looks up Granger's love, who has married someone else in Granger's absence. Wayne then meets Capucine, as a saloon gal (aka hooker) and decides she'll do just as well for his lovesick partner. Complications ensue when Capucine falls for Wayne instead. Beginning in the late 1940s, Wayne was often paired with a young actor, and in this case that role is filled by Fabian as Granger's kid brother. The lighthearted mood of the film is established within minutes of the opening, with a huge and lengthy barroom brawl replete with zany sound effects and outrageous mugging by all. I was never fond of Hollywood's decision in the 1950s and '60s to cast foreign actresses in leading lady roles. Sophia Loren could get away with it; Capucine (and many others like her) could not. I did not buy her for one minute as Wayne's love interest here. She's way too refined to be playing a prostitute, and her acting is stilted. Unfortunately, she was the producer's gal pal at the time. Anyhow, Wayne was in pretty good shape in 1960, and he and Granger (and to some lesser extent Fabian) keep things rocking and rolling. They are 1901's answer to The Three Stooges. Ernie Kovacs plays the film's nominal villain, a sleazy saloon owner and claim jumper. As always in a Wayne film, the cast is dotted with several old familiar aces, including John Qualen, Joe Sawyer and Kathleen Freeman.
