''Nikki: Wild Dog of the North'' is a 1961

adventure film The adventure film is a broad genre of film. Some early genre studies found it no different than the Western film or argued that adventure could encompass all Hollywood genres. Commonality was found among historians Brian Taves and Ian Cameron in ...

directed by Jack Couffer and Don Haldane. 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 dog breed, breed of dog that was originally bred for its strength and endurance, to haul heavy freight as a sled dog. It is similar to other arctic breeds such as the husky, the spitz, the Greenland Dog, Canad ...

dog named Nikki.

Plot

In 1899, Nikki and his kind master, Andre Dupas ( Jean Coutu), are traveling via canoe through the

Canadian Rockies The Canadian Rockies () or Canadian Rocky Mountains, comprising both the Alberta Rockies and the British Columbian Rockies, is the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains. It is the easternmost part of the Canadian Cordillera, w ...

. When Nikki encounters Neewa, a black bear cub whose mother was killed by a

grizzly bear The grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos horribilis''), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America. In addition to the mainland grizzly (''Ursus arctos horr ...

named Makoos, Andre ties the two animals together, plops them in the

canoe A canoe is a lightweight, narrow watercraft, 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 paddles. In British English, the term ' ...

, 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 hometow ...

) 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 (Latin, ) 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, such a factor is a resource used ...

, 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

* Jean Coutu as Andre Dupas *

as Jacques Lebeau (as Emile Genest) * Uriel Luft as Makoki * Robert Rivard as Durante * Nikki as Self * Jacques Fauteux as Narrator

Reception

The film won the 1962 Eddie from the

American Cinema Editors Founded in 1950, American Cinema Editors (ACE) is an honorary society of film editing, film editors who are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing. Members use the ...

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 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 Films with screenplays by Ralph Wright Films directed by Don Haldane English-language Canadian films English-language adventure films {{1960s-US-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links