North to Alaska (1960)

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (screenplay) &
Martin Rackin (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 November 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

In all the 50 states you won't find a fun-filled adventure like it!

Plot:

Sam and George strike gold in Alaska. George sends Sam to Seattle to bring George's fiancé back to Alaska...

Plot Keywords:

Alaska | Territory Name In Title | Beautiful Woman | 1900s | Tickling Women

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

John Wayne	...	Sam McCord
Stewart Granger	...	George Pratt
Ernie Kovacs	...	Frankie Canon
Fabian	...	Billy Pratt
Capucine	...	Michelle Bonnet 'Angel'
Mickey Shaughnessy	...	Peter Boggs 'Boggsy'
Karl Swenson	...	Lars Nordquist
Joe Sawyer	...	Land Commissioner
Kathleen Freeman	...	Lena Nordquist
John Qualen	...	Logger Judge
Stanley Adams	...	Breezy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Bailey	...	Norseman Logger (uncredited)
Rayford Barnes	...	Gold buyer (uncredited)
Oscar Beregi Jr.	...	Captain (uncredited)
Peter Bourne	...	Olaf (uncredited)
Alan Carney	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Lilyan Chauvin	...	Jenny Lamont (uncredited)
Richard Collier	...	Steambath - Skinny Sourdough (uncredited)
Stephen Courtleigh	...	Duggan (uncredited)
Esther Dale	...	Woman at picnic (uncredited)
Maurice Dallimore	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Richard Deacon	...	Angus, hotel desk clerk (uncredited)
Douglas Dick	...	Lieutenant (uncredited)
Tom Dillon	...	Barber (uncredited)
Joey Faye	...	Sourdough / Artist (uncredited)
Frank Faylen	...	Arnie (uncredited)
Fortune Gordien	...	Logger (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Gunman at Arnie's Claim (uncredited)
James Griffith	...	Salvation Army leader (uncredited)
Arlene Harris	...	Queen Lil (uncredited)
Max Hellinger	...	Everett 'Bish' Bishop, the waiter (uncredited)
Marcel Hillaire	...	Jenny's husband ('butler') (uncredited)
Pat Hogan	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
Roy Jenson	...	Ole, Logger punched by Sam (uncredited)
Johnny Lee	...	Coachman (uncredited)
Paul Maxey	...	Fat Sourdough (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard	...	Wagon Driver (uncredited)
Jerry O'Sullivan	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Ollie O'Toole	...	Mack (uncredited)
Tudor Owen	...	Purser (uncredited)
Pamela Raymond	...	Pony Dancer (uncredited)
Charles Seel	...	Gold buyer (uncredited)
Milton Selzer	...	Salvation Army player (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook	...	Bag Porter (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Saloon Brawler (uncredited)
Patty Wharton	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry Hathaway

Writing credits
John Lee Mahin		(screenplay) &
Martin Rackin		(screenplay) and
Claude Binyon		(screenplay)
Ladislas Fodor		(play "Birthday Gift") (as Laszlo Fodor)
John H. Kafka		(idea) (as John Kafka)
Ben Hecht		uncredited and
Wendell Mayes		uncredited

Produced by
Henry Hathaway	....	producer
Charles K. Feldman	....	producer (uncredited)
John Lee Mahin	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Lionel Newman
Cyril J. Mockridge		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dorothy Spencer

Art Direction by
Duncan Cramer
Jack Martin Smith

Set Decoration by
Stuart A. Reiss
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Helen Turpin	....	hair stylist
Web Overlander	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stanley Hough	....	assistant director
Richard Talmadge	....	second unit director

Art Department
Don B. Greenwood	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Alfred Bruzlin	....	sound
Warren B. Delaplain	....	sound

Special Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects
Emil Kosa Jr.	....	special photographic effects
Barney Wolff	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
John Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Graham	....	stunt double: John Wayne (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Jenson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Talmadge	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Clyde Taylor	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Music Department
Bernard Mayers	....	orchestrator
Urban Thielmann	....	orchestrator
Irving Gertz	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Josephine Earl	....	dance stager

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1961) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1965) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Fox Video (1998) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)

Other Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation  CinemaScope is the registered trademark of

Also Known As:

Go North (USA) (working title)
The Alaskans (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Richard Fleischer was originally hired to direct the picture. He accepted, but when he asked to see the script he was informed that one hadn't been written yet. Also, after talking with Capucine, he thought she was all wrong for the role of the prostitute - he didn't think she was sexy or earthy enough to convince anyone that she was a hooker, and he informed producer Charles K. Feldman of his conclusion and asked that she be replaced. Unfortunately for Fleischer, Feldman and Capucine were living together at the time, and he had already promised her the role. So Capucine got the part and Fleischer got the boot. He was replaced by Henry Hathaway.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Sam McCord's hair flies off with the first punch of his fight with Frankie Canon.

Quotes:

Billy Pratt: [George is carrying three fresh bottles of champagne to Jenny's cabin] Now see what you did?
Sam McCord: [sarcasticly] Well what did I did?
Billy Pratt: You have Michelle so confused that she don't know what she's doing, and now George is over there with my girl!
Sam McCord: [disgusted] Ohhhhhh!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Disco Fever (1978/I)

Soundtrack:

NORTH TO ALASKA

My favorite movie of all time!

This movie is too funny! And too heartwarming! I can watch this movie over and over and still laugh! And it is not slapstick! Just good ole wholesome American comedy! My favorite! Three men, (well, two men and a teen) and a French woman! What a combo!! John Wayne is his usual macho self. That is always fun to watch. And Stewart Granger is soooo good here! I have seen him in many things, but I think he out-did himself here! He's too funny! And poor Fabian. He breaks my heart with his love-sick adoration of Michelle! If you haven't seen this, you must rent it. You will be glad you did. And you WILL end up watching it again. It's that type of movie.