Call of the Wild (1935)

During the Klondike Gold Rush, a traveler purchases a dog to lead the way toward the treasure, but reconsiders his journey when he finds a jilted married woman.

Director:

William A. Wellman (as William Wellman)

Writers:

Jack London (story), Gene Fowler (screenplay)

Stars:

Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Jack Oakie

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Clark Gable	...	Jack Thornton
Loretta Young	...	Claire Blake
Jack Oakie	...	'Shorty' Hoolihan
Reginald Owen	...	Mr. Smith
Frank Conroy	...	John Blake
Katherine DeMille	...	Marie
Sidney Toler	...	Joe Groggins
James Burke	...	Ole
Charles Stevens	...	Francois
Lalo Encinas	...	Kali
Thomas E. Jackson	...	'Tex' Rickard (as Tommy Jackson)
Russ Powell	...	Bartender
Herman Bing	...	Sam
George MacQuarrie	...	Mounted Policeman (as George McQuarrie)
Buck	...	Buck

Storyline

Jack Thornton has trouble winning enough at cards for the stake he needs to get to the Alaska gold fields. His luck changes when he pays $250 for Buck, a sled dog that is part wolf to keep him from being shot by an arrogant Englishman also headed for the Yukon. En route to the Yukon with Shorty Houlihan -- who spent time in jail for opening someone else's letter with a map of where gold is to be found -- Jack rescues a woman whose husband was the addressee of that letter. Buck helps Jack win a $1,000 bet to get the supplies he needs. And when Jack and Claire Blake pet Buck one night, fingers touch.

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Plot Keywords:

yukon | gold | map | dog | alaska | 

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Taglines:

An Epic Novel . . . An Epic Picture !

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 August 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Goldfieber in Alaska

Filming Locations:

Mammoth Lakes, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min (original) 81 min (re-release) 79 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1992 Time-Life released a series of year-by-year CD compilations of the top rock 'n' roll hits of the year. On the front cover of the 1958 edition is a Fonzie-like character in white T-shirt and black leather jacket on a motorcycle. There is a movie marquee in back of him anachronistically advertising Clark Gable and Loretta Youg in "The Call of the Wild."

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Goofs

Why call this a goof? It's just a funny way of saying he'd knife someone.

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Quotes

Jack Thornton: Look here, Smith. Why can't we do business?
Mr. Smith: I've always been open to an honest proposition, Mr. Thornton.
Jack Thornton: We'll give you the claim - all of it. You can have what gold we've got. But leave us some way of getting out of here. The winter snows are coming on.
Mr. Smith: [impatiently] My dear man, you call that a business proposition? We already *have* the mine, and the gold is ours by right of, how shall I put it?... By right of conquest. Do you mind if we don't argue the point any more?

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Alternate Versions

Originally released at 95 minutes; later cut to 81 minutes for a re-issue. For many years only the cut re-issue version was available for television showings, and it is also the version released on DVD in 2006 as part of the Clark Gable Collection. The original length version remained unseen until it was released on blu-ray in 2013.

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Connections

Version of The Call of the Wild (1972)

User Reviews

North to Alaska with Buck

Wiliam Wellman is the director at the helm of this version of Jack London's immensely popular novel. As an adventure, this movie offers a lot of fun because of the enormous appeal of its star, Clark Gable. He is a man's man. Mr. Gable projected such an aura about himself that he carried from film to film, making him one of the favorites of all audiences. The gold rush is presented as it should have been for the people that went in search of riches in the inhospitable confines of Alaska.

In this version, Loretta Young plays Claire Blake, the woman who conquered Jack Thornton's heart. The rumored affair between Ms. Young and Mr. Gable is fun to look at. What's real, and what not? It's up to the stars to know and for us, the viewers, to guess. Ms. Young and Mr. Gable were appealing players, as they prove in this film.

In other roles, Jack Oakie, Reginald Owen, Frank Conroy, and other old faces from films of the era make wonderful appearances. Above all, Buck, the great St. Bernard dog in the film is amazing. It's a joy to watch Mr. Gable's scenes with Buck as they compliment one another in that frigid background.