''Spawn of the North'' is a 1938 American adventure film about rival fishermen in

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U ...

starring George Raft and featuring Henry Fonda, Dorothy Lamour, Akim Tamiroff and

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

. The picture was directed by Henry Hathaway and was an unofficial follow up to '' Souls at Sea'', also featuring Raft and directed by Hathaway. ''Spawn Of The North'' is a reworking of ''The Virginian'', transferred to Alaska and with emphasis shifted to the Steve character.

Plot

Jim Kimmerlee owns a salmon cannery. He is pleased to see old friend Tyler Dawson, who has been away hunting seal. Also glad to see Tyler is his sweetheart, hotel owner Nicky Duval. Thieves have been stealing from fishing traps. Jim is determined to put a stop to it, engaging in a feud with Red Skain, a Russian fisherman who is suspected in the thefts. Di Turlon comes back to town after several years of big-city life. The adjustment to the fishing community is awkward at first, but Di comes around and becomes interested romantically in Jim. As he and others go after Red and the thieves, Jim is dismayed to learn that Tyler has become one of Red's accomplices. Planning to catch the fish poachers in the act, Jim tries to spare Tyler by having Nicky sabotage his boat, but Tyler finds another vessel and joins Red at sea. Jim exchanges gunfire with the thieves, killing two and wounding Tyler. After being found and helped by his friend after Red has abandoned him, Tyler decides there is one more thing he must do. Close to death, he takes a boat back out, confronts Red, then blows a loud boat whistle that causes an avalanche, resulting in both men's death. Jim speaks admiringly of his friend's sacrificial act.

Cast

* George Raft as Tyler Dawson * Henry Fonda as Jim Kimmerlee * Dorothy Lamour as Nicky Duval * Akim Tamiroff as Red Skain *

as Windy Turlon *

Louise Platt Louise Platt (August 3, 1915 – September 6, 2003) was an American theater, film, and TV actress. Early years Platt was born in Stamford, Connecticut, and grew up in Annapolis, Maryland. Her father was a dental surgeon in the Navy. Career ...

as "Di" Turlon * Lynne Overman as "Jack" Jackson * Fuzzy Knight as Lefty Jones * Vladimir Sokoloff as Dimitri * Duncan Renaldo as Ivan * John Wray as Dr. Sparks *

Michio Ito Michio (written: 道夫, 道雄, 道郎, 通夫 or 三知男) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese shogi player *, Japanese dancer and choreographer *Michio Kaku (born 1947), American theoretical ph ...

as Indian Dancer * Stanley Andrews as Partridge *Richard Ung as Tom

Reception

The film was a big box office success and was later remade as '' Alaska Seas'' (1954).Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Company, 2013 p 79 The special effects and production team who worked on ''Spawn of the North'' received an Academy Honorary Award at the 11th Academy Awards for their efforts. The award was given to the special effects artist Gordon Jennings, with assistance from Jan Domela, Dev Jennings, Irmin Roberts and Art Smith; the transparencies artist Farciot Edouart, with assistance from Loyal Griggs and the sound effects artist

Loren L. Ryder Loren L. Ryder (March 9, 1900 – May 28, 1985) was an American sound engineer. He won five Academy Awards and was nominated for twelve more in the categories Best Sound Recording and Best Effects. After serving in World War I, Ryder st ...

, with assistance from Harry D. Mills, Louis Mesenkop and Walter Oberst.

References

External links

* * 1938 films 1938 adventure films American adventure films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films Films scored by Dimitri Tiomkin Films about fishing Films directed by Henry Hathaway Films set in Alaska Paramount Pictures films Films with screenplays by Jules Furthman Films that won the Best Visual Effects Academy Award 1930s American films {{adventure-film-stub