Die blutigen Geier von Alaska

I came across this gem of a movie in the "$1.00 DVD" bin at a local supermarket. I thought the title was intriguing and for a buck, I figured why not? I'm always interested in how outsiders portray our state. Boy, I had no idea what was in store for me! From the sprawling scenery of what could be Alaska/California/somewhere in Europe to the portrayal of a gold rush town and the Alaska "Indians", it is comedy gold. My favorite line is when one of the bad guys announces, "We head for the border...California!" That's quite a ride on horseback. And then there's the inimitable Captain Brandy, who seems destined for alcohol poisoning. This film is packed with high-quality cheesiness. Have fun!

The landscape doesn't even come close to alaska and the plot is as bad as a spaghetti western ... it made me laugh hard once when mc clure was cracking a whip over the sled dogs ... no respectable alaskan musher would treat trail dogs that way ... this film is more like a farce on how not to make a western

HELLHOUNDS OF ALASKA is a German western shot in the Austrian alps, featuring a performance from likable American leading man Doug McClure. The best thing about it is its look, which is achieved thanks to the presence of Austrian director Harald Reinl, who directed tons of cult and classic German movies during the 1960s (including krimi, the famous Winnetou series, and the horror classic THE TORTURE CHAMBER OF DR. SADISM).

The story - written by Kurt Nachmann, who seemed to have plenty of experience writing sex comedies and dramas - is probably the worst thing about this. It tells an entirely predictable tale about some ruthless gold robbers who think nothing of committing murder and who occupy some prominent positions in the local town. When a fur trapped outsider (McClure) falls into the mix, he's naturally suspected of being the robber, so he must fight to clear his name.

HELLHOUNDS OF ALASKA sounds like a Jack London type adaptation but the only hound in it is an Alsatian, a loyal companion of our hero. I'm guessing the term "hellhounds" refers figuratively to the bad guys. McClure has never looked more rugged as the leading man, but the supporting cast is largely forgettable and the film is saddled with an annoying kid, which is a pity. Still, Reinl stages some good moments, such as a vicious encounter with an eagle and a lengthy, chase-focused climax.

Hell Hounds of Alaska is not as bad as some reviews make out and if you like a good old-fashioned adventure western,then I think you will enjoy this. The music is scored by Bruno Nicolai,who many people know conducted lots of Ennio Morricone scores. The main title,thus far unreleased is superb and reminds me of the style of Morricone's La Tenda Rossa/The Red Tent and Bruno Nicolai's own El Cristo Del Oceano/Christ of the Ocean. The other music in the film has been used before in Bruno Nicolai westerns.

German made adventure movie set in Alaska during the gold rush era. The late-great Doug McClure(who starred in a number of fantasy-adventure movies in the 70's) stars as Don Rutland, who, despite being an all around good guy, ends up being framed for the robbery of a towns gold shipment and the murder of the transporters. Lots of nice scenery, likable characters, plenty of action & a good score by Italian maestro Bruno Nicolai(who frequently collaborated with Ennio Morricone) makes for a very enjoyable flick. Although 'Hellhounds Of Alaska' has the feel of a family movie, it should be noted that there are a few brief scenes of brutal violence/torture.