The Alaskan (1924)

Thomas Meighan single-handedly saves Alaska in this James Oliver Curwood tale of the Northwest, which was shot on-location in British Columbia and Alberta. The Holt family wants to stop big business from destroying Alaska's pristine beauty. The elder Holt is killed, and his son, Alan (Meighan), is left to continue the fight. He heads for Washington to stop John Graham (Alphonse Ethier) from carrying on his dirty dealings in Alaska, but the government won't step in to help. On the ship returning home, he meets Mary Standish (Estelle Taylor), who is being watched over by Rossland, Graham's lieutenant (John St. Polis). Just before the ship reaches the port, Mary leaps overboard. Alan searches frantically for her and finds her at the home of one of his men. She reveals that she is married to Graham, who abuses her mercilessly. Graham insists that Alan give up Mary, and when he refuses, goes after them. Graham and Alan come to blows, and one of Graham's henchmen, in an attempt to shoot Alan, kills his boss instead. Because of Graham's death, Mary is conveniently freed up to marry Alan -- and Alaska is saved. Anna May Wong, who would shortly make her mark in Douglas Fairbanks Sr.'s Thief of Baghdad, has a bit part as Keok, an Eskimo girl. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi