James Oliver Curwood Movies
Jean-Jacques Annaud directed this unusual and compelling tale of animals in the wild, which tells its tale from the bears' point of view. A pair of carefully-trained bruins deliver remarkably effective "performances" (aided by clever editing and, in some sequences, the use of realistic animated models). A infant bear cub (Douce the Bear) witnesses the death of his mother in a rockslide and is forced to set out to fend for himself. The young bear encounters a giant grizzly (Bart the Bear), who at first cannot abide the young bear's presence. However, the grizzly is soon ambushed by a pair of hunters -- Bill (Jack Wallace) and Tom (Tcheky Karyo) -- after an altercation with their pack animals. As the injured beast cleans his wounds in a stream, the young bear comes to his aid, and the giant takes the youngster under his wing. However, Bill and Tom have sworn revenge on the grizzly, and when they capture the young bear, it lures the giant back into the hunters' camp. L'Ours, released in English-speaking countries as The Bear, was based on the novel King Grizzly by James Oliver Curwood. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Douce the Bear, Bart the Bear, (more)
- 1961
- G
One of several feature-length collaborations between Disney Studios and Canada's Calgary productions (others include Big Red and The Incredible Journey), Nikki -- Wild Dog of the North concentrates on the adventures of the eponymous canine and his master, trapper Andre Dupas (Jean Coutu). Nikki, a wolf dog, comes across an orphaned bear cub. Oblivious to the fact that the two animals are supposed to be mortal enemies, Nikki befriends the cub and takes it back to Andre. When the master's boat overturns, Nikki and the cub are left to fend for themselves. Tied together, the two beasts have their share of disagreements, but soon discover that they must depend upon one another for survival. (The last time we saw this plot, it was called The Defiant Ones!) Captured by cruel hunter Jacques Lebeau (Émile Genest), Nikki is trained to attack anything that moves, but the dog's friendship for the now-grown bear transcends his new marching orders. Despite many deprivations, the animals have it pretty soft in Nikki compared to the humans, especially when taking into consideration the un-Disneylike climactic fight to the death between Andre and Lebeau. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Coutu, Emile Genest, (more)
- 1954
In this north-western set in the Yukon, a Mountie must investigate the violent deaths of three mail carriers. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1953
Northern Patrol was the last entry in Monogram/Allied Artists' off-and-on "Northwest Mountie" series. Taking time off from his Sky King shooting schedule, Kirby Grant stars as mounted policeman Rod Webb, while second billing is bestowed upon Webb's faithful dog Chinook. In this one, Webb tries to prove that the suicide of a young trapper was actually murder. The film offers a dash of novelty value in having the principal baddie turn out to be a beautiful woman (Marion Carr). Scripted by actor Warren Douglas, Northern Patrol was directed by Rex Bailey, the former assistant to the series' original helmsman, Frank McDonald. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirby Grant, Marian Carr, (more)
- 1953
A courageous Mountie and his trusty dog Chinook traverse the Northwest Territory, through blizzards and other travails in search of illegal trappers in this adventure. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1953
The oft-filmed James Oliver Curwood yarn Back to God's Country is given the Technicolor treatment in this 1953 cinemadaptation. Set in the Great White North, the story concerns a romantic triangle consisting of sea captain Peter Keith (Rock Hudson), his wife Dolores (Marcia Henderson), and his jealous rival Paul Blake (Steve Cochran). Things come to a head during a treacherous trek through the snow, to seek medical aid for the injured Keith. Despite the crooked chicanery of Blake and dishonest guide Frank Hudson (Hugh O'Brien), the day is saved by Keith's faithful Great Dane. Back to God's Country overcomes its old-fashioned plotting with spirited performances and excellent cinematography. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Marcia Henderson, (more)
- 1952
Monogram's on-and-off "Northwest Mountie" series was on again with 1952's Northwest Territory. Ostensibly based on a James Oliver Curwood story, the film stars Kirby Grant as RCMP officer Rod Webb and Webb's dog Chinook as "himself." Left in charge of the grandson of a murdered prospector, Webb vows to bring in the killers. This he does, but not before encountering all sorts of perils in the Great North. The heroine is played by Gloria Saunders, an actress normally associated with such exotic roles as "The Dragon Lady" on the TV version of Terry and the Pirates. Star Kirby Grant would later achieve TV fame as the star of Sky King. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirby Grant, Gloria Saunders, (more)
- 1952
In this Yukon adventure, a gold mining community is rocked by a murder. A Mountie investigates and encounters a female gambler. Action ensues, but justice prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1951
In this North Woods adventure, the Mounties investigate a series of payroll robberies and discover that it is an inside job. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1950
The third installment in low-budget producer Lindsley Parson's "Chinook" series, Snow Dog was ostensibly based on pulp writer James Oliver Curwood's 1915 short-story "The Tentacles of the North," which was also the working title. Kirby Grant again played Rod McDonald of the Canadian Royal Mounted, and once again the vehicle was stolen by his canine sidekick, the white malamute Chinook. This time, Rod and Chinook are tracking a mysterious white wolf, thought to have killed several of the local traders. The wolf, who bears a startling resemblance to Chinook, is suspected of guarding the White Woods, an area containing several hidden mines. At first Chinook is accused of being the ferocious killer, but with the help of Louis (Rick Vallin) and his sister Andrée (Elena Verdugo), Rod proves that the mysterious wolf is a wild animal captured and trained by a gang seeking to locate the valuable mines. When a captured Louis refuses to produce a secret map to the mines, his sister is abducted by treacherous Indian nurse Red Feather (Jane Adrian). Chinook, of course, tracks down the kidnap victims and Rod can soon arrest the real force behind the killings, Dr. McKenzie (Milburn Stone), Red Feather's supposedly kindhearted boss. As in the two previous Chinook films, leading man Kirby Grant, a former Universal star, left much of the action in the hands of a younger co-star, in this instance Rick Vallin. A remake of the silent Tentacles of the North (1926), Snow Dog was filmed on locations in Southern California's San Bernardino Mountains. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirby Grant, Elena Verdugo, (more)
- 1950
Partially filmed in the San Bernardino Mountains, Call of the Klondike was perhaps the best of producer Lindsley Parson's seven "Northwest Mounted" films starring Kirby Grant and the white malamute Chinook. Written by actor Charles Lang, who had played the villain in the earlier The Wolf Hunters, Call of the Klondike had Northwest Mounted Police Officer Rod West (Grant) and his faithful dog charged with investigating the disappearance of a couple of prospectors. Accompanied by Nancy (Anne Gwynne), the pretty daughter of one of the missing miners, Grant and Chinook discover that the men had been murdered by fellow miner Paul Mallory (Tom Neal) and his sister Emily (Lynne Roberts), who have been stealing their gold through a tunnel leading from their own, dry, mine. But before they can be apprehended, Paul and Emily take Nancy hostage and it is up to Chinook, Rod, and fellow miner Menchek (Marc Krah) to recover her. Like the 1926 silent film of the same name, Call of the Klondike was ostensibly based on a story by pulp writer James Oliver Curwood, but apart from the Northwest setting and the involvement of a clever dog, the two films had nothing in common. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirby Grant, Anne Gwynne, (more)
- 1950
Timber Fury was based on a story by North-Woods specialist James Oliver Curwood. The plot concerns the efforts of a timber shipper to get his logs to the mill on time. Callow young engineer Jim (David Bruce) comes up with a new, efficient method to expedite the shipment, and in so doing wins the undying affection of heroine Phyllis (Laura Lee). Meanwhile, villainous rival McCabe (George Slocum) plots and plans to prevent the shipment from proceeding. Also featured in the cast is ubiquitous character-actor Sam Flint, playing an ill-fated lumberman who seems to have the words "Kill Me First" tattooed on his forehead. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Bruce, Laura Lee, (more)
- 1949
Compared to his later "A" westerns, director Oscar "Budd" Boetticher's The Wolf Hunters is often exasperatingly slow. This was the second of producer Lindsley Parson's efforts to create a series based on the Great White North yarns of James Oliver Curwood. Kirby Grant plays a Canadian Mountie who follows a fugitive to a small fur-trapping community. Most of the action is handled by Chinook, a handsome German Shepherd. Jan Clayton handles the leading-lady responsibilities, while the supporting cast includes Charles Lang and Helen Parrish, who were then husband and wife (Parrish later married TV producer John Guedel, of People are Funny and Best of Groucho fame). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirby Grant, Jan Clayton, (more)
- 1949
Based on a James Oliver Curwood story, Kazan was one of those "little" pictures of the late 1940s which gained a lofty reputation when it was championed by a handful of film critics. The title character is a huge white dog, running wild in the Canadian wilderness. Mistreated by cruel woodsmen, Kazan learns to trust mankind through the kindness and consideration of government wildlife expert Thomas Weyman (Steve Dunne). Lois Maxwell, the future Miss Moneypenny of the "James Bond" movies, plays the daughter of sadistic Maitlin (Roman Bohnen), who with fellow villain Jepson (Joe Sawyer) hopes to groom Kazan for the illegal dogfight circuit. George Cleveland provides a touch of much-needed comedy relief. Even at 65 minutes, Kazan is a bit too leisurely for its own good, but it's a surefire audience pleaser whenever it pops up on TV. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lois Maxwell, Joe Sawyer, (more)
- 1949
"Suggested" by James Oliver Curwood's novel The Gold Hunters, this low-budget Monogram release was the first film in a series of seven "Northwest" adventures to team former Universal cowboy Kirby Grant and a beautiful white malamute named Chinook. Grant played Bob McDonald, a mountie shot in the leg during a confrontation with a gang of bank robbers. One of the robbers, Jim Blaine (Bill Edwards), was forced into participating by his prospector father Matt (Guy Beach) and is now being held hostage by the gang. With his dying breath, Matt besieges Bob to rescue his son but the injured mountie instead sends his faithful dog, Chinook. The clever pooch manages to free Jim and Bob is nursed back to health by Marie LaRue (Suzanne Dalbert), the daughter of the saloon owner (Dan Seymour). Admitting to holding the loot from the bank heist, Jim then explains that the money was actually owed his father and that banker Dawson (William Forrest) is after the Blaine gold mine. With Chinook's help, Bob, Jim and the Larues set a trap for the villain,, who is consequently caught red-handed attempting to free his henchmen from the local jail. Although famed pulp-writer Curwood's name appears prominently in the credits, B-movie veteran Oliver Drake later admitted that it was he, not Curwood, who conjured up the story. No different from a host of low-budget Westerns despite its potentially colorful locale, Trail of the Yukon was directed by the prolific William Beaudine under the pseudonym of "William X. Crowley." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kirby Grant, Suzanne Dalbert, (more)
- 1946
In this western comedy, the mis-adventures of a bumbling range rider are chronicled. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Lowery
The Rough Riders--Buck Jones, Raymond Hatton and Rex Bell--endeavor to provide a wagon train safe passage through Indian country. With Jones heading the caravan and Bell and Hatton working undercover, the threesome discover that the "savages" planning to attack the settlers are actually renegade whites. The criminals' target is the shipment of railroad supplies being carried in one of the wagons. Normally, the third "Rough Rider" would have been played by Colonel Tim McCoy, but when McCoy was called to active duty in World War II, he was hastily replaced by old-time western star Rex Bell. Dawn on the Great Divide was the last film for Buck Jones, who was killed in the infamous Coconut Grove fire shortly before the film was released. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Buck Jones, Rex Bell, (more)
- 1941
PRC Pictures' final 1941 release, Law of the Timber was based on a story by North Woods specialist James Oliver Curwood. Given that leading man Hal Brazeal has about as much charisma as a spoonful of potato salad, leading lady Marjorie Reynolds offers the most interesting characterization in this tale of the logging business. When her father is killed, Reynolds takes over his logging concern, working day and night to fill a government order on time. Someone is sabotaging her efforts, as witness the scene in which a train is dynamited (the special effects are a bit shaky; this action highlight looks more like a Lionel commercial). Veterans Monte Blue and J. Farrel McDonald also appear in this so-so programmer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1940
Previously filmed in 1920 and 1931, James Oliver Curwood's River's End was given a third go-round by Warner Bros. in 1940. Dennis Morgan plays a dual role as falsely accused murderer John Keith and stalwart Canadian mountie Sgt. Conniston. When Conniston is accidently killed, Keith takes his place, and while in Redcoat guise manages to solve the murder for which he was accused. George Tobias dominates the proceedings as French-Canadian Andy Dijon, who spends most of his time trying to get into trouble to get out of an unwanted marriage. The heroine is Elizabeth Earl, of whom little was heard after River's End ran its course; the same could not be said of supporting player James Stephenson, who would skyrocket to stardom in 1940 by virtue of his performance in William Wyler's The Letter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis Morgan, George Tobias, (more)
In this saccharine Klondike adventure, a brave female reporter who has a rapport with wild animals heads north to cover a story. Included in her animal entourage are a pair of bear cubs, a talking rook, and a homeless collie. After she gets lost, a handsome guide shows up to lead her out of the wilderness. It is an arduous journey fraught with many natural dangers, and the travelers nearly die from hunger until another man shows up to save them. When he begins pursuing the reporter, the guide gets jealous and a terrible fight erupts. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Arlen, Beverly Roberts, (more)
- 1937
With Wild Horse Round-Up, cowboy star Kermit Maynard put his "Canadian Mountie" film series behind him to concentrate on orthodox western action. Maynard plays Jack Benson, who gallops to the aid of heroine Ruth Williams (Betty Lloyd). She cold-shoulders him, assuming that he's but one of the many villains who's been trying to force her off her property. But Jack proves his noble intent by rounding up the bad guys just in time for the railroad to make a generous offer for Ruth's spread. Wild Horse Round-Up affords Kermit Maynard ample opportunity for the spectacular riding stunts which made him famous. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kermit Maynard, Dick Jones, (more)
- 1937
Kermit Maynard, the talented brother of cowboy legend Ken Maynard, stars in this low-budget horse opera. The elementary story has Jim Langley (Maynard) and his pal Scrubby (Ralph Peters) mistaken for bandits. Adding to our hero's burden is the fact that his infant nephew has been kidanpped by the genuine miscreants. And as if that weren't enough to worry about, the bad guys abduct herioine Helen Hobart (Beryl Wallace) to take care of the baby. Needless to say, Langley brings the crooks to heel and rescues the girl and the kid before the alotted 6 reels are over. As usual, Kermit Maynard is consistently better than the script, especially during the action highlights. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kermit Maynard, Ralph Peters, (more)
Kermit Maynard, the less-popular but arguably more talented brother of cowboy star Ken Maynard, heads the cast of Roaring Six Guns. Maynard plays Buck Sinclair, whose romance with heroine Beth (Mary Hayes) is hampered by the activities of her bombastic father (Sam Flint). Beth's dad covets a patch of government range land -- the same patch also coveted by Buck. The two men continue feuding until Buck wins Daddy's undying friendship by proving that the old man's business partner (John Merton) is a no-account crook. Budd Buster raises a few laughs (very few) as Maynard's comical sidekick. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kermit Maynard, Mary Hayes, (more)
- 1937
Cowboy star Kermit Maynard's series for Ambassador Films was evenly divided between Northwest-Mountie adventures and traditional westerns. Firmly ensconced in the latter category is The Fighting Texan, with Maynard cast as strong silent frontiersman Glenn. Riding into the middle of a range war, Glenn rises to the defense of cattle rancher Walton (Frank LaRue) when the latter is framed for murder. Our hero is nearly gunned down himself by the minions of all-around villain Hadley (Ed Cassidy) before he's able to prove Walton's innocence. The heroine in The Fighting Texan is played by Elaine Shepard, who later abandoned hoss operas to become an international newspaper correspondent. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kermit Maynard, Elaine Shepard, (more)
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