THE PLOT THUS FAR
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.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
Struggling gold prospector Jack Thornton and his goofy sidekick Shorty Houlihan travel around the Yukon in the 19th Century, searching for an elusive gold strike that will make them richer than rich. They are helped in their adventures by a St Bernard dog named Buck. Also busily scouring the land for gold is the sinister English-man Smith, a cruel rival who has a mysterious past and even a little history with Thornton’s dog. During their wanderings, Jack and Shorty come across a woman called Claire Blake whose husband has gone missing in the snowfields and could be dead. Claire teams up with Jack, Shorty and Buck, but it isn’t long before she finds herself falling for Thornton’s roguish charm, even though she cannot be sure if her husband is dead or alive.
I thought the novel was mainly about the dog, but, while the dog, who Clark is attached to, does have some screen time, the film doesn’t feel like a dog film. The producers were probably thinking that would alienate some viewers, so they centered on pairing attractive leads Clark and Loretta together and Jack Oakie’s one-liners. While I liked the film on the whole for Loretta’s loveliness, memorable love scenes between her and Clark, and Reginald Owen’s credible contribution to the film, I still feel it misses the mark for a completely fulfilling movie experience.
The Blu-Ray comes with a commentary and trailer. You get a stunning 1080p transfer and an amazing DTS-HD master audio track. The original mono track is saved in this mix and it never sounded better. If you only have the Clark Gable Collection from the mid 00s, I’d recommend upgrade. It’s worth it!
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!