Set in 1900 Alaska, an honest prospector (John Wayne) gets swindled out of his mine. He turns to a saloon proprietor (Marlene Dietrich) for assistance in his battle against a crooked gold commissioner (Randolph Scott). Based on the novel by Rex Beach (previously filmed in 1914, 1923, 1930 and again in 1955) and directed by Ray Enright (ANGELS WASH THEIR FACES). Despite the presence of Dietrich, Wayne and Scott, this is a surprisingly dull western. Its cinematic popularity (being filmed five times in a forty year period) eludes me. It is in fact, the three stars which hold the movie together. They're not movie stars for nothing! The film is famous for the fist fight finale between Wayne and Scott, one of the longest fist fights ever filmed at three minutes. The movie has some moments which don't play well today. Namely, John Wayne in blackface and Marietta Canty's stereotypical black maid. Its art direction got an Oscar nomination. With Margaret Lindsay, Harry Carey and Richard Barthelmess.
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