''Nikki: Wild Dog of the North'' is a 1961 adventure film directed by Jack Couffer and

Don Haldane Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON * Don (river), a river in European Russia * Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name *Don, Benin, a town in Benin * Don, Dang, a v ...

. The plot, based on the novel ''Nomads of the North'' by

James Oliver Curwood James Oliver Curwood (June 12, 1878 – August 13, 1927) was an American action-adventure writer and conservationist. His books were often based on adventures set in the Hudson Bay area, the Yukon or Alaska and ranked among the top-ten best selle ...

, centers around the adventures of a

malamute The Alaskan Malamute () is a large breed of dog that was originally bred for its strength and endurance to haul heavy freight as a sled dog and hound. It is similar to other arctic breeds such as the husky, the spitz, the Greenland Dog, Can ...

dog named Nikki.

Plot

In 1899, Nikki and his kind master, Andre Dupas ( Jean Coutu), are traveling via canoe through the Canadian Rockies. When Nikki encounters Neewa, a

black bear Black bear or Blackbear may refer to: Animals * American black bear (''Ursus americanus''), a North American bear species * Asian black bear (''Ursus thibetanus''), an Asian bear species Music * Black Bear (band), a Canadian First Nations group ...

cub whose mother was killed by a grizzly bear named Makoos, Andre ties the two animals together, plops them in the

canoe A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle. In British English, the ter ...

, and heads for the rapids. When the two animals become separated from Andre, the unlikely pair must learn to survive in the wilderness. When they reach land, they are forced to overcome the instinct that makes them natural enemies and join together in a search for food and shelter. Despite many fights, they eventually become friends and remain together even after their leash breaks. With the coming of winter Neewa goes into hibernation and Nikki wanders off alone. He steals the bait from traps until he is captured by a vicious trapper named Jacques Lebeau (

Émile Genest Émile Genest (July 27, 1921 – March 19, 2003) was a Canadian actor. Career Born in Quebec City, Quebec, as a young man Genest served with the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. At war's end, he worked for a time in radio in his hometown ...

) and his reluctant Indian companion, Makoki (Uriel Luft). After watching the now full-grown dog kill a wolf in spite of the trap, Lebeau decides to train Nikki as a fighting dog although pit-fighting is illegal. When André, the new

factor Factor, a Latin word meaning "who/which acts", may refer to: Commerce * Factor (agent), a person who acts for, notably a mercantile and colonial agent * Factor (Scotland), a person or firm managing a Scottish estate * Factors of production, suc ...

, challenges Lebeau for breaking the law, he is pushed into the pit with the brutalized killer dog. Nikki recognizes his old master, however, and joins André in fighting Lebeau, who is accidentally killed with his own knife. Later, while on a trip to André's trap line, Nikki spots his old friend, Neewa; but the dog realizes that the full-grown bear is happier roaming the wilds, and he chooses to remain by André's side.

Cast

* Nikki as Himself * Jean Coutu as Andre Dupas * Neewa as Himself *

as Jacques Lebeau * Uriel Luft as Makoki * Robert Rivard as Durante * Jacques Fauteux as Narrator

Reception

It won the 1962 Eddie from the American Cinema Editors for Best Edited Special (Documentary).

References

External links

*
Nikki, Wild Dog of the North @ IMDb.com
* * 1961 films 1961 adventure films American adventure films Canadian adventure films Disney films Films about dogs Films set in 1899 Films produced by Winston Hibler Films scored by Oliver Wallace Walt Disney Pictures films Films adapted into comics Northern (genre) films Films based on novels by James Oliver Curwood Films with screenplays by Winston Hibler 1960s English-language films 1960s American films 1960s Canadian films {{1960s-Canada-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links