Spawn Of The North (1938)

Set in the Alaskan frontier, a seal hunter (George Raft) and a salmon fisherman (Henry Fonda) are best friends. But the friendship is put under a strain when the seal hunter falls in with a Russian poacher (Akim Tamiroff) who steals from fishing traps while the salmon fisherman falls on the side of law and order. Directed by Henry Hathaway (NORTH TO ALASKA), this is a solid piece of action entertainment. It's not particularly well written but Hathaway's direction propels the narrative forward with an assured hand and a relaxed Raft gives one of his more appealing performances. The unanimated Fonda plods away but among the supporting players, Tamiroff acquits himself nicely. The film's special effects (an iceberg avalanche) received an Oscar. Pulchritude is provided by Dorothy Lamour and Louise Platt (STAGECOACH) as Raft's and Fonda's romantic partners but the real scene stealer is a seal called Flicker who gives the film's best performance. Remade in 1954 as ALASKA SEAS. With John Barrymore, Vladimir Sokoloff and Fuzzy Knight.