Piraten in Alaska

This has been called a western at sea and deservedly, considering the shootouts and roughhousing and a plot line of conflicted loyalties. There is great wildlife and glacier footage and tasty atmosphere. George Raft and Henry Fonda are an odd-couple match, but the chemistry works for the worldly-innocent contrast. In the "egg" incident, notice how both of them seem genuinely tickled. Fonda, of course, is the do-gooder and has little to do here until emotions build toward the climax. Raft has the more interesting role, and a salmon fisherman is a part definitely out of the norm for him. He gets an opportunity to lightly display a variety of talents (singing, swimming, stuntwork). But best of all, this is an example of the kind of performance that thoughtful direction like Hathaway's could bring from him. A vital sequence is emotionally honest without being hysterical or histrionic, and it's perfectly toned to the point of being wrenching. Also having good turns out of the usual are Dorothy Lamour and Akim Tamiroff, though John Barrymore seems a bit wasted - no pun intended.

Fishermen buddies Henry Fonda (Jim) and George Raft (Tyler) meet up in Alaskan waters when Raft gives Fonda a business proposition to move away from fishing Alaskan salmon and join him for bigger profits. Raft is set on buying a bigger boat and just needs to make the purchase. However, Fonda has settled into his own business and is now very much part of the Alaskan village community. Raft needs to make money fast - he wants his new boat. Akim Tamiroff (Red) is the Russian bad guy who steals fish from everyone else's traps and George Raft allies himself with this evil-doer. This brings him into conflict with Fonda.

The film is ok. It is also too long and a bit boring and we've seen the story before - a buddy-buddy movie where friends fall out. The best in the cast is Tamiroff followed by barmaid Dorothy Lamour (Nicky) who is Raft's girlfriend. Raft and Lamour are a more interesting couple than Fonda and snooty Louise Platt (Di). John Barrymore is also put into the mix as Platt's father and pretty much plays an old drunkard who thinks he's eloquent. The standout moment for me comes one evening when the Alaskan Indians perform a salmon ceremony to encourage a good fishing season. The chanting is quite haunting and provides a memorable occasion.

At the film's start, we see a documentary montage showing the wildlife - salmon and bears - as well as the fishing vessels carrying out their tasks for this particular industry. It ends with a climax - literally - as we see the salmon reproductive process and lots of sperm. I mean spawn. It's a fish porno. What a horrid title for a film and what a horrid word 'spawn' is. Spawn. Say it again. Spawn. See what I mean?

This is a real good movie. Henry Fonda and George Raft Play the rival fishermen. Near the end of the movie George Raft is shot. While resting in bed he smokes a cigarette and the smoke comes up out of the bullet holes in his chest!? I remember when I was in high school. We were learning about first aid. The teacher told us about never giving a cigarette to an injury victim. Then he told us about a Humphrey Bogart movie where after being shot he smoked a cigarette and the smoke came out of his chest. I searched for years and found out it was the "Spawn of The North", With GEORGE RAFT not Bogart. Watch for this movie on AMC or TCM, just to see this scene. It is well worth watching, with fine acting and great scenery.

None of the other reviews have mentioned that SPAWN OF THE NORTH is in fact a remake of THE VIRGINIAN, with a change in locale from Wyoming to Alaska. There is also one other notable change. While Akim Tamiroff is Trampas and Henry Fonda steps into Gary Cooper's boots as The Virginian, the emphasis has been shifted to the likable but shady Steve character (Richard Arlen in the '29 talkie, George Raft here). SPAWN OF THE NORTH would itself be remade in 1954 as ALASKA SEAS, with a nice cast including Robert Ryan, Brian Keith, and Gene Barry in the roles played by Raft, Fonda, and Tamiroff respectively. On its own terms SPAWN OF THE NORTH is very effective entertainment, thanks to the guiding hand of director Henry Hathaway as well as its cast, not only the aforementioned stars but also experienced scene-stealers John Barrymore and Lynne Overman in support.

... from Paramount Pictures and director Henry Hathaway. Alaskan fish-cannery owner Jim (Henry Fonda) reconnects with old pal Tyler Dawson (George Raft), a seal hunter. They both have to deal with the illegal shenanigans of boat captain Red Skain (Akim Tamiroff) and his crew who keep looting the community's salmon traps. Jim also finds himself in a love triangle, as he pines for recently-returned gal Diane (Louise Platt), while hotel owner Nicky Duval (Dorothy Lamour) yearns for Jim from afar. Also featuring Lynne Overman, Fuzzy Knight, Vladimir Sokoloff, Duncan Renaldo, John Wray, Henry Brandon, and John Barrymore.

The subject matter isn't something that's frequently covered in cinema, and the cast is unexpected, as well. Raft isn't bad, while Fonda is very good, easing into the earnest, noble hero mold that served him well in his career leading up to the war. One of the most notable things about the movie is the presence of John Barrymore as the hopelessly drunk father of Platt's character. Barrymore's standing had sunk so low by this point that he's listed fifth in the credits. The movie was awarded an honorary Oscar for the sound effects and visual effects (there's a lot of rear projection on display).