The subgenre of the "northern" is a sub-sect of the western, usually set in the Canadian Rockies or the Yukon Territory, and sometimes featuring a musical score by Rudolf Friml. Jack London was famous for these kind of manly-man stories, and James Oliver Curwood wrote series of successful ones as well. This is the third version of Curwood's story, and even better than the 1930 initial sound version. The Warner Brothers sound creates a brassy, woodsy atmosphere, with Dennis Morgan and George Tobias absolutely top notch in the leafs.
Morgan plays a dual role, a convicted killer determined to prove his innocence, and the lookalike mountie who finds him in hiding way up north. Dying due to the elements, the mountie on his death bed pretends to be the convicted killer, certain of the other's innocence. Taking the mountie's place, the surviving Morgan strives to prove that wealthy Victor Jory actually committed the crime, and is jealous over the fact that the mountie's sister, Elizabeth Inglis, begins to date him.
An enjoyable comic relief, Tobias is more than just your standard sidekick, although I could have done without the spitfire Steffi Duna chasing after him even though he's not interested. That's the one weak element of the film as the intense murder investigation is top notch and the outdoorsy photography is breathtaking. Good music and editing too. It may not have been an A+ for Warners thar year, but it's certainly one of their best.
Morgan plays a dual role, a convicted killer determined to prove his innocence, and the lookalike mountie who finds him in hiding way up north. Dying due to the elements, the mountie on his death bed pretends to be the convicted killer, certain of the other's innocence. Taking the mountie's place, the surviving Morgan strives to prove that wealthy Victor Jory actually committed the crime, and is jealous over the fact that the mountie's sister, Elizabeth Inglis, begins to date him.
An enjoyable comic relief, Tobias is more than just your standard sidekick, although I could have done without the spitfire Steffi Duna chasing after him even though he's not interested. That's the one weak element of the film as the intense murder investigation is top notch and the outdoorsy photography is breathtaking. Good music and editing too. It may not have been an A+ for Warners thar year, but it's certainly one of their best.