Linbeymusol
Wonderful character development!
LouHomey
From my favorite movies..
Married Baby
Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?
drystyx
This is a fairly funny Western romance.At first it seems pretty weak, but on second viewing, it is better. Not great, but better.The review that stated this was better than the classic THE COMMANCHEROS, is ridiculous. This is not nearly that good, but it wasn't meant to be.Still, the big name stars do a great job on what is more a stage comedy than a blockbuster movie, and that's good.The direction is extremely good, and the reason it works better on a second viewing. The cause and effect, the logic of the sequence of events, are excellently done. It's not a "deep" movie, just a "fun" movie.
gavin6942
Sam (John Wayne) and George strike gold in Alaska. George sends Sam to Seattle to bring George's fiancée back to Alaska. Sam finds she is already married, and returns instead with Angel.This is a strange film in the John Wayne list of credits. Much of it makes sense for him. He is rugged, lives in Alaska while still a territory, and likes to drink more than just a little. Even the romance is sort of rugged, which fits his style.But then you add the humor, and it is pretty strange. The sound effects and slapstick elements, not to mention the fighting goats and clapping seals... such a strange film. But this only made it better. The whole subplot with the Frankie the Con Man character makes it even better, adding a whole other layer.
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.
peter-2749
Henry Hathaway is one of Hollywood's most experience and distinguished directors but for me personally this simply did not work.Both the storyline itself (is okay) and the cast cannot really be faulted. Both Wayne and Granger's body of work speaks for itself. Capucine plays the female lead well and even Fabian as the interest for younger people does what is required. However I have never felt comfortable with John Wayne as a "romantic lead" (and clearly neither had he) but the storyline does (quite cleverly) take that into account. Even Granger's attempt at an American accent is okay (certainly to my British ears and nowhere near the Dick van Dyke region). The highlight however was Ernie Kovacs who for me, stole the show and acted Wayne, Granger and Capucine off the park in every scene and had he not been killed so young, would surely have gone onto to become one of the finest film/TV comedians that America had ever produced.But...The whole is not good.Maybe, it's because I am now looking at this 50 years on from when it was made or maybe because I have watched too many how-they-made-the- movies type TV shows or done one too many "studio tours" but I thought it was clunky.Clearly Hathaway wanted to create a light-hearted atmosphere and does this reasonably well. However the fight scenes are laughable for all the wrong reasons. We can almost see the strings as the barrels roll, windows fall out, and stunt men fall over. In fact this was so poor that I was more grateful for the man who invented the fast-forward button than the man who gave us True Grit!Much of it seemed to be directed at the level of a silent movie and ironically immediately after watching this, I turned the TV channel over and watched a documentary on the birth of Hollywood which was much better!As for the music, It would be churlish to complain about a western featuring the female lead singing a song in a saloon (and indeed it is almost obligatory) but the Fabian solo felt forced and only included because the actor could sing rather than any addition to the plot.It could have been so much better but wasn't a complete waste of my time and reasonably enjoyable but not one I would rush to watch again. For that reason I can only give it 4 out 10 although will give another one for the wonderful Mr Kovacs!
