Independent Films, Film Profiles

North to Alaska
by Henry_Hathaway

North to Alaska is a 1960 comedic western directed by Henry Hathaway and starring John Wayne and Stewart Granger. The film script is based on the play Birthday Gift by Ladislas Fodor.The film featured Johnny Horton's hit song of the same name. Though Horton had sung several popular movie tie-in songs, this was the first one that actually appeared in the film being sung over the opening titles.After striking gold in Alaska, George Pratt (Stewart Granger) sends partner Sam McCord (John Wayne) to Seattle to bring back his fiancée. Finding that George's girl had already married another man, Sam brings back prostitute "Angel" (Capucine) as a substitute. There is a misunderstanding: she thinks Sam wants her for himself and begins to fall in love with him on the boat trip back.George rejects the girl, though his young brother Billy (Fabian) is very interested. Meanwhile, con man Frankie Canon (Ernie Kovacs) tries to steal their claim.