Nice effects though.

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Better Late Then Never

An Exercise In Nonsense

Released in 1960 and directed by Henry Hathaway, "North to Alaska" chronicles events during the Nome Gold Rush in 1900 where a prospector (Stewart Granger) sends his associate (Seattle) to Seattle to bring up his fiancée, but it turns out she's married and so he brings back a dubious substitute from a dance hall (Capucine). Fabian plays the prospector's kid brother who naturally becomes infatuated by the lovely new visitor to their wilderness mining claim. Ernie Kovacs is on hand as a shifty businessman.This is part dramatic Western, part farce and part romantic comedy, yet somehow it magically meshes into a splendid time for the viewer. It starts out on a questionable note with the dreadful title song and a slapstick saloon brawl, but immediately following this the story captures your attention and you find yourself entering into the world of the characters.The protagonists are likable and you do sympathize with Angel's plight (Capucine), hoping she'll eventually hook up with so-and-so. One amusing sequence is when she's alone in the wilderness cabin with the kid where he instantly falls in lust with her. And who can blame him? The forest festival in the first act is also good, particularly the thrilling pole (tree) climbing contest. To be expected, there are also a couple of action shootouts. The movie's similar in tone to 1963's McLintock!" but more compelling and overall entertaining.The film runs 122 minutes and was shot in California (Inyo National Forest, Big Bear Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Point Mugu & Alabama Hills) and Yukon, Canada.GRADE: A-

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.

As I decided to have a break from studying, I flicked through channels and this film was on the Film4 channel, so I'm like, sure why not? I have only seen one John Wayne film properly which was the "Quiet Man" but I got to manage to sit this one out too! I swear Capucine was such a bae back then. She really is so pretty like it's a surprise that I've never heard of her before. She really brightens the screen and I honestly didn't expect she would hook up with John Wayne's character in the end. I would've thought she would hook up with Fabian's character, Billy. It's just, they look similar in age whereas John Wayne looked ten times older. There ya go, films like these contain surprises!It's a very funny movie that all ages would enjoy! I would definitely recommend this old gem to anyone who hasn't ever seen it before!

This was a great story and great movie. I saw this back when I was a kid and again the other night.I couldn't help but fall in love with Capucine, she's wonderful in this and she was a fabulous Actress. She appears in the Pink Panther Movie. Her beauty is second to none. John Wayne, Fabian, and Stuart Granger are also really great in this. Great Direction, it was also filmed so that you think the characters are really in Nome, and great cinematography. The Director Hathaway also did True Grit and Son's of Katy Elder. There is no relation to the actress Anne (Hathaway).Fabian is notably really funny, he turned out to be a pretty good actor in other movies as well.The script was reportedly turned down by another director but I thought the script was really well done for this action, romantic comedy.I really believed the chemistry between Capucine and John Wayne although with a beauty like that it's hard not to have any chemistry with everyone she would meet, including William Holden whom she reportedly had an affair with in the 80's. She committed suicide reportedly over health problems in 1990. Chemistry between the leads is so important in the believability of films.I give this movie 8 out of 10 stars.