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The Wild North (1952)

4/1/2013

 
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"Listen...for a man, or a mole, or a bird - every day is life and death."


1952 was a good year for Stewart Granger. Riding high at the peak of his career, the British star made four films that year: the early heist film The Light Touch, with Pier Angeli and George Sanders; the wonderful swashbuckler Scaramouche (with its deservedly-famous, 7-minute long climactic fencing duel); the color remake of The Prisoner of Zenda (against baddie James Mason) and, last but certainly not least, the rugged outdoor adventure pic, The Wild North.

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The Wild North is essentially a western (technically, a northwestern), its action taking place in the remote regions of Canada (never stated, but likely somewhere in the Yukon). Granger stars as Jules Vincent, a French-Canadian trapper with a lust for life and devil-may-care philosophy. Vincent arrives in a tiny settlement with furs to sell and the intention of engaging in some drunken carousing. Instead he ends up adopting a couple of strays - a kitten with more backbone than size, and a beautiful Indian woman (played by stunning dancer Cyd Charisse), who's eking out an existence singing and being pawed at by drunken frontiersmen in a saloon. 

Jules brings the cat into the bar with him, and soon is chatting up the sad-eyed crooner. "Does it have a name?" she asks about the kitten. "Does it have to? Do you?" Jules replies. "Do I have to?" she answers back. "No."

Before he knows it, Jules finds himself making a promise to bring the woman back to her people (she's part Chippewa), on the way up to his winter cabin in the north, but not before cheerfully trouncing an inebriated bear of a man named Brody (Howard Petrie) who presumes to lay hands on her. Sure enough, the next morning, the Indian maiden (who never does get named in the film) is waiting for Jules at his canoe. He doesn't remember his drunken promise, but he agrees to take her with him anyway (he's not stupid). A contrite Brody wants to accompany them and vows to be a useful hand with a paddle. Jules reluctantly takes him up on his offer. But it seems Brody has revenge on his mind when he forcibly steers their canoe into deadly rapids. When Brody refuses to turn the canoe towards the shore and safety, Jules is forced to kill him. He leaves the girl with her tribe, with a promise from the chief (John War Eagle) to take her under his protection. He then heads north, wanting to put some distance between himself and the police, who he doesn't trust to take him at his word about the killing being justified.


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Jules thinks no man will chance the brutal coming winter, but he hasn't counted on the tenacity of RNWM Police Constable Pedley (Wendell Corey). Pedley first heads to Jules' summer cabin in the settlement of McQuarrie, where he finds the Indian woman, who - clearly smitten with the larger-than-life Jules - has set up housekeeping. Pedley then tracks Jules down at his remote cabin, slaps handcuffs on him and together the two men head out into the frozen wilderness, Pedley determined to bring Jules in for a fair trial, Jules determined to stay free. A battle of wills begins, not only between themselves, but against the pitiless elements, including rapidly worsening weather, subzero temperatures, treacherous avalanches and ravenous wolves...

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The Wild North is an engrossing adventure story, made by the MGM machine at the top of its game. There were a number of talented technicians behind the camera, including screenwriter Frank Fenton (who wrote many fine films, including River of No Return, Garden of Evil, Escape From Fort Bravo, His Kind of Woman and Station West). Fenton's script hands most of the choice lines to the colorful, lusty Jules. The film features gorgeous cinematography by Robert Surtees, filmed (in "Ansco Color"!) at the MGM lot, with many of the exteriors done at Sun Valley in Idaho and some in the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Bronislau Kaper delivers a suitably big, bold score, and Hungarian-born director Andrew Marton (who had worked with Granger a few years before when he took over the helm of King Solomon's Mines from ailing Compton Bennett) serves up the icy mountain action with practiced ease.

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Usually cast as a smooth, sophisticated type, Stewart Granger grabs the juicy part of Jules Vincent by the throat, and launches into the role with zest, complete with stock French accent ("Hey baybeee!" is his constant refrain). He makes for a fine mountain man, and enjoys great chemistry with both the winsome Charisse and gruff Corey. I've always enjoyed Granger when he's cast as the lead in costume dramas or (less frequently, but also effectively) westerns. The 50s as a whole  show Granger at his best, perhaps an actor of no great depth but one of immense charm, physical dexterity and an easy confidence that makes him perfect for adventure films like this one.

Wendell Corey might seem at first glance an unusual choice to play a hard-charging mountie, but he does a nice job here. Best known for playing Jimmy Stewart's wry police detective chum in Rear Window, or perhaps as the losing corner of the romantic triangle in the winning Christmas movie Holiday Affair (with Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum), Corey was a busy and reliable character actor in film and television. I'm more used to seeing Corey in urban settings but he's convincing enough as the morally upright but tough policeman.

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J.M. Kerrigan as the storekeeper Callahan

Cyd Charisse's role as an Indian is yet another example of Hollywood casting for star power rather than authenticity, and will come as no surprise to western lovers accustomed to this very common practice (Debra Paget as James Stewart's doomed love interest in Broken Arrow, the Italian Elsa Martinelli opposite Kirk Douglas in The Indian Fighter, Andra Martin as blue-eyed Wahleeah in Yellowstone Kelly, to name but a few). Famed for her long, long legs and expert dance technique, Charisse was 31 at the time of filming and already had been working a decade in Hollywood, mostly in musicals. It's hard to see what attracted her to her role in The Wild North; it's a pretty untaxing part. Maybe she was assigned to the movie and had no choice but to accept it; maybe she was happy to do something different, a straight role that didn't involve dancing. In any case, she's fine as the subdued, deep-feeling love interest, and with her dark eyes and her lustrous black hair kept in braids for most of the film, is a better-than-average facsimile of an Indian by Hollywood standards.

The rest of the cast are mostly unknown to me but add to the movie's believable tapestry of life on the remote frontier. J. M. Kerrigan makes an impression as the kindly owner of a mercantile store who is continuously caving in to the mute longings of a chocolate-loving, underpaying young boy. Sharp-eyed viewers will likely recognize a brief appearance by Ray Teal, best known to TV addicts for his long-running role as Sheriff Roy Coffee on Bonanza.
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The two leads play well off each other, for much of the picture each entrenched in their own moral corner. Corey's stern but righteous lawman finds himself liking the cheerful, roguish Jules but is nevertheless bound and determined to see the job through and trust the system to which he's pledged his spartan life to see justice done. Granger wisely plays Jules with a touch of ambiguity; for a long while, we're not sure whether he'll do the right thing or fully embrace the life of an outlaw.

Pedley:

Jules:

Pedley:

Jules:

Pedley:

Jules:

Pedley:

Jules:




You're not a bad guy...for a murderer. Why'd you kill the man?

I shot at his shoulder. The canoe swayed. (shrugs)

You fought with him the night before, over the girl.

That was no fight. It was nothing.

Is that why you ran away?

You don't believe me, do you?

I don't know.

That's it, Pedley. See? You're a man who should understand - and you don't believe me. What chance would I have in front of a jury of ribbon clerks?


Gradually, their perilous situation brings them closer together, and initial distrust gives way to grudging respect.

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I've always been partial to movies featuring mountain men; I find such folk's fatalistic embrace of their tough, isolated outdoor lifestyle intriguing. The Wild North is reminiscent of later films wherein a frontiersman heads north to escape the long arm of the law, such as Challenge to Be Free (1975) and Death Hunt (1981). Screenwriter Fenton throws in a late-reel plot development that I didn't see coming and which adds an interesting psychological wrinkle to this man vs. nature tale.

The film delivers plenty of spectacle and excitement, including a fast-cut, nightmarish wolf attack and a final death-defying run down some extremely savage white water rapids. The end result is a very pleasing tale of survival, courage and man's triumph over nature, and acceptance of his own.

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DVD Note: The Wild North is available in Region 1 on a MOD disc from the Warner Archive program. The print used hasn't been remastered but looks much better than most TV airings of the film. Sometimes the image is terrifically clear, and other times more faded, with fluctuating color, the occasional speckling and even one instance of a hair in the gate. Generally speaking, though, the disc looks quite nice; Ansco Color reportedly has a tendency to fade to brownish earth tones, but mostly the colors here are rich and vibrant.
ruth link
4/1/2013 11:29:13 am

Great review as always, Jeff! Sounds intriguing enough, though having been through a long, cold Winter, I don't feel like watching a movie w/ a ton of snow in it! :D

Jeff
4/3/2013 12:43:47 am

Thanks, Ruth! Yeah, I don't blame you not wanting to watch a snow-filled movie after a brutal mid-west winter (must be REALLY cold for someone from Malyasia! :)

Colin link
4/1/2013 06:19:29 pm

Top stuff Jeff. You mentioned this film recently when we were talking about Cyd Charisse, and I pulled it off the shelf to check out the transfer - still haven't watched the film all the way though. I have the Spanish WB release, and the PQ is a good deal weaker than, what I presume are, the screencaps you've taken from the Archive disc. Even so, I need to sit down and watch this one all the way through.

I'm a big fan of snowy films, especially snowy westerns - de Toth's Day of the Outlaw is maybe the cream of the crop of such movies. Granger was very effective as the lead in any kind of outdoor adventure, or any adventure in general. The 50s saw him make some fine films, only a few of which seem to be remembered these days. I also think Corey did a lot of good stuff in the 40s and 50s but he was a very low-key figure and often gets neglected. Also, he had a stiff quality - this was sometimes exploited very well but could be mistaken, I suppose, for wooden acting.

Jeff
4/3/2013 12:47:37 am

Cheers, Colin! Sorry to hear that the PQ on the Spanish disc of this is not so hot; I was generally pleased with WA's transfer.

I've caught parts of DAY OF THE OUTLAW, and it does look like a good one. It's odd, how few westerns seem to be set in snowy climes. Makes the ones that do really stand out.

I totally agree with you re: Granger, very good value in any sort of adventure pic. Corey can be stiff at times, but I think he uses that to his advantage here, following as he is the rigid code of the lawman. I also think he's a treat in REAR WINDOW.

Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) link
4/1/2013 08:52:13 pm

This is a classic example of a film I am certain I have seen but it was probably 30 years ago and dubbed in Italian! The casting of Cyd Charisse would be a bit of a hurdle nowadays, no question, but as you say, very common practice at the time. In my mind I always paired this with Marton's other Stewart Granger action movie, GREEN FIRE, but this one is clearly more interesting - a fine review mate, cheers.

Jeff
4/3/2013 12:51:29 am

Hey Sergio! Thanks for the comment. I find the casting of various white actresses as Indians in westerns amusing, really; like our discussion last time about Fu Manchu, etc., I don't really have any sort of problem with the practice. At least Cyd Charisse is a better fit for that sort of role than many others I can think of.

I haven't seen GREEN FIRE yet but if it has Granger in action/adventure mode, I'm in. I thought Marton did a nice job directing THE WILD NORTH so that's another thing in GREEN FIRE's favor.

Patti link
4/2/2013 03:26:30 pm

Wow, Jeff, you've done a terrific review of this film. I "discovered" Stewart Granger a couple years ago in my quest to see all of Grace Kelly's films. I had never heard of him before watching "Green Fire," but I quickly decided that I liked him and, thus, began seeking out some of his other films. This is one that I have not seen.

I tend to have a low tolerance for Westerns, mostly, I've determined, because there is too much dust and dirt, and the men are grizzled. (I like my men clean-shaven.) Based on the photos you included, I can see that at some point, he will clean up, which pleases me to no end. I believe I could actually watch and enjoy this movie.

Oh, and another example of Hollywood putting a white woman in the role of a Native American was Donna Reed as Sacajawea in The Far Horizons.

Jeff
4/3/2013 12:55:49 am

Hello again, Patti! I appreciate the kind words! It's nice to hear that you're a fan of Granger. Not surprising to see you're not so keen on westerns; you're comment about not liking scruffy men made me laugh. I can certainly see your point there, although I do hope you give the genre another chance in the future...there are some truly incredible films that happen to fall in the western category.

Thanks also for the reminder about Donna Reed in THE FAR PAVILIONS. That's one I've yet to see. I think Reed might just be more believable as an Indian than as a prostitute in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Love her, but I just couldn't buy her in that role.

Patti link
4/3/2013 02:14:13 am

I forgot to mention that Granger is going to be my "man of the month" for May. It is his 100th birthday, so I decided to celebrate him by showcasing some of his movies.

You might be surprised to know that despite my relative lack of regard for Westerns, I adore Audie Murphy Westerns. (He's my man for June.)

Jeff
4/3/2013 06:57:50 pm

Glad to know that you make an exception in Audie's case, Patti! (It helps that he was almost always clean-shaven in his movies, I bet:) I'll be on the look-out for your reviews of some good Granger and A. Murphy flicks in the coming months.

R.A. Kerr link
4/7/2013 10:36:12 am

This looks like a terrific adventure movie. I don't Wendell Corey ever turned in a bad performance and I can imagine he would be good in scenes with Granger.

Thanks for recommending! I will watch for this one.

Jeff
4/8/2013 07:46:59 am

Hey Ruth - thanks for checking in! I like Wendell Corey too in what movies I've seen him in. He does a good job here, but of course it's Granger's movie all the way. Hope you check it out some time.

Rod Croft
4/8/2013 10:56:01 am

Jeff,

Because of its popularity, "The Wild North" returned regularly to our local theatre on "Family Nights", ("Older films-Cheaper prices"), many years ago.

I find it surprising that Stewart Granger is not better "remembered" due to his appearances in such respected action films as George Sidney's, "Scaramouche" and Fritz Lang's "Moonfleet".

He appeared with John Wayne in Henry Hathaway's "North to Alaska"; the beautiful Ava Gardner in George Cukor's "Bhowani Junction" and Richard Brooks' "The Last Hunt", co-starring with Robert Taylor.

Stewart Granger also worked with noted directors, Roger Corman, Robert Aldrich, Curtis Bernhardt, and Compton Bennett, and was a one-time husband of the talented actress, Jean Simmons.

Perhaps current recognition and appreciation of his film career is yet to come.

Jeff
4/9/2013 07:20:58 pm

Nice to hear from you again, Rod! I agree that Granger doesn't get talked about all that much nowadays, but he definitely should be remembered for his numerous grand adventure films - especially SCARAMOUCHE. I haven't seen BHOWANI JUNCTION in many, many years and am eager to see it again. I have THE LAST HUNT and plan to give it a spin sometime soon, time permitting (exceedingly busy around these parts lately).

Sean
4/9/2013 02:17:53 am

THE WILD NORTH is a terrific survival/adventure yarn, and I'm happy to finally stumble across a new review of it (I love reading reviews for movies I consider "buried treasure".)

These rugged, brawny yarns filmed on-location are the types of stuff we could use more of. I agree with you that it pairs exceptionally well with DEATH HUNT, another personal favorite.

I've made a concentrated effort to collect all of these scenic outdoors films, and THE WILD NORTH is near the top of the list.

Cheers!

Sean
4/9/2013 01:37:49 pm

Sorry, just to clarify, I'm a happy owner of THE WILD NORTH (kudos to Warner Archives for releasing it.)

It's just that of all the rugged outdoors films my mind can muster, THE WILD NORTH is among the best.

Ciao!

Jeff
4/9/2013 07:24:50 pm

Hey there, Sean - I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment! Sounds like we have similar tastes in movies. I too am trying to add as many of these old-school "scenic outdoor" adventure films to my personal collection, hopefully in the best prints available. I only have a handful of Stewart Granger movies but am slowly adding some more good ones to the stack. Good to see another fan of DEATH HUNT as well.

Sean
4/10/2013 10:25:31 pm

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for the reply. Funnily enough, THE WILD NORTH was recommended to by an IMDb colleague last winter when I was doing a "cold movie" marathon. I remarked in my review of DEATH HUNT that the two made for an ideal double-feature.

At the risk of derailing your thread, the following are all of the "great outdoors" movies I've thus far compiled:

ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI
THE WILD NORTH
THE BIG SKY (this could have really benefited from color photography)
THE NAKED SPUR
RIVER OF NO RETURN
MAN IN THE WILDERNESS (really didn't want to include this one, as it was filmed in the desert, but I figured if I didn't, you would)
JEREMIAH JOHNSON
DELIVERANCE
DEATH HUNT
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
JUST BEFORE DAWN
STAND BY ME
WHITE WATER SUMMER
SHOOT TO KILL
SURVIVAL QUEST
THE BEAR
A CRY IN THE WILD
LAST OF THE MOHICANS
CLIFFHANGER
THE RIVER WILD
THE EDGE
THE GREY

Upcoming:

KILLING SEASON
ENDANGERED (RED MACHINE)

Documentaries:

ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS
GRIZZLY MAN

There's some others that skirt the line, but I didn't want to ramble interminably. If you have any glistening nuggets that I'm missing, please fill in the gaps.

Cheers.

Jeff
4/12/2013 03:07:44 pm

That's a cool list, Sean! Many of those titles I've seen and enjoyed. Re: frozen north outdoor adventures, there's also John Wayne's ISLAND IN THE SKY. THE MOUNTAIN MEN with Charlton Heston and Brian Keith is pretty silly but has its moments. Much, much better is THE TRAP (1964) with Oliver Reed as a French-Canadian trapper, and Rita Tushingham as the mute girl he takes with him up into the remote north. Great movie.

And if we're not limiting ourselves to cold weather climes, there are all sorts of other good adventure/survival flicks, particularly something like SANDS OF THE KALAHARI (which is out on a nice Blu-Ray from Olive).

Colin link
4/12/2013 03:23:35 pm

Sean's list is indeed an excellent one. Since you brought up SANDS OF THE KALAHARI Jeff, could I put a word in for another terrific desert/survival yarn - Roy Ward Baker's INFERNO with Robert Ryan.

Sean
4/12/2013 04:46:05 pm

Hey Jeff,

Own and love ISLAND IN THE SKY; I actually included that one also in the aforementioned winter fest. I think I just left it off because it's not very "scenic". Every fan of Wayne should check that one out.

I want to thank you for mentioning THE TRAP, which I've hitherto been unaware of. That is exactly what I'm looking for, but unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a reliable release. It's a shame, as I'd snatch that baby up in a heartbeat. It seems like it bears some similarities to WILL PENNY (one of my favorite Heston westerns) and another obscure northern adventure currently unavailable on dvd, SILENCE OF THE NORTH. Let's raise our glasses so that somebody may come to my/our aid here.

I'm a survival story guru, and I own Olive's SANDS OF THE KALAHARI blu-ray. If course, if you want to branch off into all-terrain survival movies, this could turn into a long discussion!

Jeff
4/13/2013 11:09:37 am

Thanks for the plug for INFERNO, Colin! I've been eye-balling the Region 2 release of that one for a while now.

And Sean - by all means, let's spin this discussion on to encompass other types of survival films if you'd like to...things like FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX are the cornerstones of that particular subgenre, to my mind. It is sometimes hard to know where to draw the line, though...I mean, is John Boorman's excellent HELL IN THE PACIFIC a survival story, or a WWII action flick? Anyway, feel free to chime in with some more movies of this type..I'm always looking for more I haven't seen.

You mentioned your reviews...what's the link to your website?

Sean
4/14/2013 03:52:04 pm

Hey Jeff,

This thread inspired me to pop THE WILD NORTH back into the player. What a wonderful film. I'm so glad it's found an audience, no matter how small. I kept noting the many elements that could be found in future films like THE NAKED SPUR, RIVER OF NO RETURN (not coincidentally written by Fenton as well), and DEATH HUNT.

A glaring omission from my above list is DELIVER US FROM EVIL, a hidden pearl also resurrected by Warner Archives. A SIMPLE PLAN borrowed liberally from it, I'd say. Filmed in Mount Hood, Oregon, the scenery is jaw-dropping.

I also neglected to mention two Disney films from the 90s, WHITE FANG and IRON WILL. I haven't seen the former (the DVD is $hitty pan-and-scan), but the latter was a childhood favorite.

I don't have a website; rather, I'm an avid IMDb poster. Here's the links to ISLAND IN THE SKY, JEREMIAH JOHNSON, and DEATH HUNT if you're interested:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045919/reviews-62
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068762/reviews-110
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082247/reviews-59

I'd be more than happy to streamline this thread into a veritable "who's who" among the survival genus. Love FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX, and I suppose HELL IN THE PACIFIC could fall into that category. That's a difficult film for me to pigeonhole, as I absolutely adore it; my favorite Boorman film.

Cheers.

Jeff
4/14/2013 11:33:44 pm

Hey there, Sean! Thanks for bringing DELIVER US FROM EVIL to my attention (I've been to My. Hood a few times, so that makes it doubly interesting to me)...I love so many of those early 70s TV movies. Great stuff. Good to hear our discussion inspired you to give THE WILD NORTH another spin. A really strong film that I would never likely have known about if it wasn't for the Warner Archive.

I remember liking IRON WILL pretty well, but haven't seen the newer Disney WHITE FANG. By all means, let's keep this discussion going; who knows, we may bring up some more hidden gems. Pleased to see you've got a lot of time for HELL IN THE PACIFIC. That's a special piece of work. Have you seen the virtual TV movie remake with Darren McGavin and Mako called THE CHALLENGE?

Jeff
4/14/2013 11:35:45 pm

Oh, and I meant to say also that I'll check out some of your IMDB reviews forthwith, Sean!

Sean
4/15/2013 05:59:23 am

Jeff,

THE CHALLENGE is brilliant stuff; in addition to being a survival nut, my particular forte is "mano a mano" films, and THE CHALLENGE certainly does the job. It's got one of the most intriguing premises ever, and McGavin and Mako make for awesome adversaries. This is another one sadly neglected by dvd, but I'm routinely on the lookout for updates. I wouldn't call it a remake of Boorman's film, but there definitely similarities.

There's a giant overlap in the subjects discussed in this thread, so to avoid redundancy, I'll try to assemble a list here of man vs. nature/survival films not previously mentioned:

THE LOST PATROL
ICE COLD IN ALEX
ALIVE
THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME/THE NAKED PREY/APOCALYPTO
RESCUE DAWN
THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS
INTO THE WILD
CAST AWAY
JAWS
NEVER CRY WOLF
WALKABOUT
OPEN WATER
THE PERFECT STORM
THE WAY BACK
TO BUILD A FIRE (1969)
WHITE SQUALL
ROBINSON CRUSOE
THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON

Btw, I managed to locate a decent-looking copy of THE TRAP from a reputable seller on ioffer.com after we last jawed. It's paid for, I'm just awaiting shipping confirmation.

P.S. Read those reviews at your leisure, lol.

Cheers!

Sean
4/16/2013 12:03:05 am

After reviewing that list, it's in dire need of Hitchcock's LIFEBOAT and Herzog's AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD.

And I suppose it's dubious to include THE LOST PATROL and leave off stuff like SAHARA and SOUTHERN COMFORT. This can actually be very confusing!

Jeff
4/17/2013 07:34:59 am

Sean,

Thanks for the clarification re: THE CHALLENGE. It's been sooo long since I've seen it, it and HELL IN THE PACIFIC kind of blended together in my brain. I like your list. I can't believe I forgot to mention THE NAKED PREY (when is Criterion going to put that on Blu-Ray?), one of the best of its type ever produced, as far as I'm concerned. WALKABOUT is a really special film as well. LIFEBOAT for sure, ditto ABANDON SHIP with Tyrone Power. It does get confusing, as the "survival" genre often has so many elements of other genres (such as your example of SAHARA/ THE LOST PATROL etc.)

Speaking of the Warner Archive, have you seen BACK FROM ETERNITY, with Robert Ryan? I've been considering pulling the trigger on that one for some time. Sounds interesting, perhaps more focused on character than action, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Laura link
4/16/2013 04:16:09 am

What fantastic photos in this post! It's been a long time since I last saw this film, I need to revisit it.

I really like Stewart Granger. I found his lesser-known Western GUN GLORY especially appealing and recommend it to fans of Granger and Westerns. It's available from the Warner Archive.

Best wishes,
Laura

Jeff
4/17/2013 07:26:36 am

Thank you, Laura! I appreciate you taking the time to comment, considering how busy you must be with the Noir City Film Festival! Thanks for the plug for GUN GLORY, that's one I haven't had a chance to see yet. I'll add it to my Warner Archives' wishlist.

Sean
4/18/2013 11:09:18 pm

Hey again Jeff,

For some reason, I'm only able to reply out of sequence.

Never heard of ABANDON SHIP, but again, it's another one that doesn't appear to have been officially released on dvd. Damn!

I have not seen BACK FROM ETERNITY, but I have seen the 30s film that it's a remake of, FIVE CAME BACK. It was okay, very "character-driven", as you noted about its update. I had no idea that Warner Archives plucked that one from obscurity as well. They're good!

Rod Croft
4/19/2013 12:29:34 am

Jeff,
I believe Sean will find "Abandon Ship" was released, at least in Australia, and probably in many other countries under the title, "Seven Waves Away". Filmed at Shepperton Studios in the UK and released by Columbia in 1957, it was reportedly based upon a true story.

Written and Directed by Richard Sale the film starred Tyrone Power and Mai Zetterling with Lloyd Nolan, Stephen Boyd and a strong supporting cast.

Colin link
4/19/2013 07:52:55 am

For those interested, and multi-region capable, ABANDON SHIP/SEVEN WAVES AWAY has been released on DVD in Spain:
http://www.starscafe.com/en/movie/abandonen-el-barco.aspx?e=dvd

Jeff
4/21/2013 08:11:36 am

Thanks for the further information on ABANDON SHIP, Colin and Rod! I neglected to mention the overseas title SEVEN WAVES AWAY. Sean, I hope you get a chance to check that one out, it's a good one and quite a bit tougher than (the admittedly wonderful) LIFEBOAT. I hope it gets a Region 1 release someday. I haven't seen FIVE CAME BACK or the Robert Ryan remake, but they sound like fun potboilers, at least.

Appreciate the comments, fellas!

Sean
4/24/2013 12:50:42 am

Have any of you blokes seen THE MOUNTAIN, with Spencer Tracy and Robert Wagner? It looks like reception is mixed.

Sean
4/27/2013 02:08:06 am

Jeff,

I'm happy to report that THE TRAP came in, and not only was the DVD presentation exquisite (casing/artwork, animated menus, clear and crisp image/audio presentation in glorious widescreen), the film was absolutely wonderful and EXACTLY the type of film I'm always on the lookout for. It's always a pure joy when you stumble upon something like this when you had previously thought there was nothing left to discover.

THE TRAP is a fantastic addition to my collection, and it's one that I will gladly revisit in the future. If only I can track down SILENCE OF THE NORTH now...

Cheers!

Jeff
5/1/2013 12:03:15 am

Hey there, Sean! Thanks for getting back to me re: THE TRAP. Very happy to hear that you enjoyed it. It truly is a special and unique film, and both Rita Tushingham and especially Oliver Reed are wonderful in it. Glad to hear the transfer on the DVD was a good one (was this the German DVD you got?) Look forward to reading your review of the film on IMDB sometime. Cheers!

Mary Cervantes
5/7/2013 01:52:58 am

I have been a fan of Stewart Granger for years and years, but I had never seen this film until May 6, 2013 (on TCM). Your review was spot on. In general, I like Granger's performances when he is older, as in The Secret Invasion and The Last Safari, but as you stated, he grabbed this role by the throat and ran with it. Bit of trivia about this film -- many outdoors scenes were done in 90+ degree heat. Due to the cold-weather gear he wore, Granger passed out from heat exhaustion. Always the trooper, he recoverd quickly and went right back at it -- furs and all.

Jeff
5/7/2013 07:55:19 am

Thank you, Mary, for your comment and for sharing that fun and interesting story about Granger filming THE WILD NORTH. Happy to hear you enjoyed the film, and good to know TCM is bringing it to the attention of new viewers...it's a recent discovery of mine also. I enjoy Granger's late-career performances too (he's extra supercilious and slimy in THE WILD GEESE, for example), but I must admit I prefer him in his more youthful swashbucklers.


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