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Call of the Wild

Original title: The Call of the Wild
  • 1935
  • Approved
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
Clark Gable, Loretta Young, and Buck in Call of the Wild (1935)
During the Klondike Gold Rush, a traveler purchases a dog to lead the way toward the treasure, but reconsiders his journey when he finds a jilted married woman.
Play trailer1:45
1 Video
64 Photos
AdventureDramaFamilyWestern

During the Klondike Gold Rush, a traveler purchases a dog to lead the way toward the treasure, but reconsiders his journey when he finds a stranded widow.During the Klondike Gold Rush, a traveler purchases a dog to lead the way toward the treasure, but reconsiders his journey when he finds a stranded widow.During the Klondike Gold Rush, a traveler purchases a dog to lead the way toward the treasure, but reconsiders his journey when he finds a stranded widow.

  • Director
    • William A. Wellman
  • Writers
    • Jack London
    • Gene Fowler
    • Leonard Praskins
  • Stars
    • Clark Gable
    • Loretta Young
    • Jack Oakie
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    2.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William A. Wellman
    • Writers
      • Jack London
      • Gene Fowler
      • Leonard Praskins
    • Stars
      • Clark Gable
      • Loretta Young
      • Jack Oakie
    • 29User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:45
    Trailer

    Photos64

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    Top cast66

    Edit
    Clark Gable
    Clark Gable
    • Jack Thornton
    Loretta Young
    Loretta Young
    • Claire Blake
    Jack Oakie
    Jack Oakie
    • 'Shorty' Hoolihan
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Mr. Smith
    Frank Conroy
    Frank Conroy
    • John Blake
    Katherine DeMille
    Katherine DeMille
    • Marie
    Sidney Toler
    Sidney Toler
    • Joe Groggins
    James Burke
    James Burke
    • Ole
    Charles Stevens
    Charles Stevens
    • Francois
    Lalo Encinas
    Lalo Encinas
    • Kali
    Thomas E. Jackson
    Thomas E. Jackson
    • 'Tex' Rickard
    • (as Tommy Jackson)
    Russ Powell
    Russ Powell
    • Bartender
    Herman Bing
    Herman Bing
    • Sam
    George MacQuarrie
    George MacQuarrie
    • Mounted Policeman
    • (as George McQuarrie)
    Buck
    Buck
    • Buck
    C.E. Anderson
    C.E. Anderson
    • Fourth Poker Player
    • (uncredited)
    Edwin Argus
    Edwin Argus
    • Dawson Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    William Arnold
    • First Faro Player
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William A. Wellman
    • Writers
      • Jack London
      • Gene Fowler
      • Leonard Praskins
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    6.82.7K
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    Featured reviews

    7planktonrules

    as long as you don't mind that it's not really CALL OF THE WILD, you are fine

    If you are a lover of Jack London's CALL OF THE WILD, then you probably should skip this film, as it takes a lot of liberties with the book. In many ways, the original story is really forgotten and it's only a very rough approximation of the book. So, as a rendition of the original it stinks. BUT, if you ignore the book and just watch it for the fun of it and let go of your preconceptions, it's a wonderful film for anyone except Literature teachers.

    Clark Gable is at his best and Loretta Young is absolutely beautiful in the film. While I never thought she was one of the prettiest actresses, the cinematographer really did his work and make her look radiant (I mean that in a good way--not in the CHARLOTTE'S WEB way). Jack Okie is fine as the loyal friend and the movie strongly concentrates on people and not the dog--now that's an interesting choice, huh? Overall, one of the better adventure films of the era and well worth watching.
    8jotix100

    North to Alaska with Buck

    Wiliam Wellman is the director at the helm of this version of Jack London's immensely popular novel. As an adventure, this movie offers a lot of fun because of the enormous appeal of its star, Clark Gable. He is a man's man. Mr. Gable projected such an aura about himself that he carried from film to film, making him one of the favorites of all audiences. The gold rush is presented as it should have been for the people that went in search of riches in the inhospitable confines of Alaska.

    In this version, Loretta Young plays Claire Blake, the woman who conquered Jack Thornton's heart. The rumored affair between Ms. Young and Mr. Gable is fun to look at. What's real, and what not? It's up to the stars to know and for us, the viewers, to guess. Ms. Young and Mr. Gable were appealing players, as they prove in this film.

    In other roles, Jack Oakie, Reginald Owen, Frank Conroy, and other old faces from films of the era make wonderful appearances. Above all, Buck, the great St. Bernard dog in the film is amazing. It's a joy to watch Mr. Gable's scenes with Buck as they compliment one another in that frigid background.
    6barnabyrudge

    Adaptation of a classic novel which rather ignores its source material. Still, an enjoyable and agreeable adventure.

    Jack London's novel The Call Of The Wild is pretty much ignored in this 1935 adaptation. The title remains the same and there IS a dog named Buck involved in parts of the action, but apart from that the similarities are virtually non-existent. Far greater emphasis is placed on the human characters in the film than in the book. One has to assume that the film was written as a vehicle for Clark Gable, a big outdoor adventure yarn in which the star could get in to and out of a variety of hair-raising escapades in the frozen wilderness. The fact that London's novel is essentially an animal story with a few human characters passing through the narrative is of little significance to scripter Gene Fowler and director William Wellman. That's not to say The Call Of The Wild is a disposable film; the unusual and expensive decision to film on genuinely cold, mountainous locations (Washington state standing in for Yukon) shows that this was envisaged as a serious box office winner.

    Struggling gold prospector Jack Thornton (Gable) and his goofy sidekick Shorty Hooliham (Jack Oakie) travel around the Yukon in the 19th Century, searching for an elusive gold strike that will make them richer than rich. They are helped in their adventures by a St Bernard dog named Buck. Also busily scouring the land for gold is the sinister English-man Smith (Reginald Owen), a cruel rival who has a mysterious past and even a little history with Thornton's dog. During their wanderings, Jack and Shorty come across a woman called Claire Blake (Loretta Young) whose husband has gone missing in the snowfields and could be dead. Claire teams up with Jack, Shorty and Buck, but it isn't long before she finds herself falling for Thornton's roguish charm, even though she cannot be sure if her husband is dead or alive.

    The movie is very enjoyable in its old-fashioned way. I'm a believer in the theory that films should try to be faithful to their source material, at least to a reasonable extent, so in some ways I felt dismayed at the lack of respect towards London's original story. However, once I'd got that small irritation out of my system I found The Call Of The Wild a perfectly likable star vehicle. Gable is solid in a role that asks little of him other than to appear rugged and fearless. Owen is very good as the villain of the piece, while Young shares a good chemistry with the hero (in real-life, she and Gable were lovers). Jack Oakie is the least impressive of the key actors, mugging rather embarrassingly as the inevitable comical sidekick. The location work in Washington state adds a sense of authenticity to the film that is very uncommon for a movie made in the studio-bound '30s. On the negative side, though, the film settles for a very convenient ending which ditches plausibility so that the course of true love and personal success can run smoothly (indeed, IMPROBABLY smoothly) for the main protagonists. Of its type and era, however, The Call Of The Wild is watchable and entertaining fare.
    7Cinemayo

    The Call of the Wild (1935) ***

    This is my first exposure to anything regarding THE CALL OF THE WILD. Meaning that I haven't read Jack London's original novel, never saw any of the earlier film versions, and did not see any of the later remakes. Even as a Charlton Heston fan I've so far avoided his 1972 edition because it's said to be pretty bad; even Heston begged his fans not to see it! But all that may soon change, as I enjoyed the 1935 version, starring Clark Gable and Loretta Young.

    Gable is well cast as Jack Thornton, a rugged and adventurous type who travels the Yukon on a hunt for gold with the aid of his comical sidekick Shorty (Jack Oakie) and man's best friend, Buck the dog. In the midst of their quest they stumble upon a shaken woman (Young) whose husband has disappeared in the wilderness and may or may not be dead. Fearing the worst, Young joins the expedition and the expected romance with Gable gradually takes shape.

    For me, one of the highlights of the picture was British actor Reginald Owen who scores high with his portrayal of a nasty rich man who's also competing with Gable for the loot. Never short on snobbish insults, and harboring a personal vendetta against Thornton's dog Buck, Owen is a delight in every scene he's in. The same cannot necessarily be said for Jack Oakie, however... as Shorty, his goofy shenanigans sometimes verge on the overbearing.

    A nice mixture of adventure, villainy, romance, and some comedy that occasionally works, makes for a mostly good time. I was a little let down by the convenient ending. *** out of ****
    8bkoganbing

    Man's Best Friend

    The last time Clark Gable got loaned out for a film was the year before and he won an Academy Award. This time Louis B. Mayer got a good price for him from Fox for Call of the Wild.

    Fox also did something unusual in that the film was shot on location with the mountains of Washington state serving as the Canadian Rockies. Some really stunning cinematography is done for this film, especially in the river scenes. Too bad color was not in use back then.

    Watching Gable, Loretta Young, and Jack Oakie on a raft pulling it to shore in what must have been freezing water reminded me so much of the stunts Gable did for The Misfits. Of course back then he had the youth and vim and vigor to do such things.

    The film served as the meeting place for Gable and Young they carried on a torrid affair that resulted in Loretta Young giving birth. Back then it would have been a career death sentence for a star to give birth to an out of wedlock daughter, especially for the very Catholic Ms. Young. A whole elaborate charade was concocted with Loretta adopting her own daughter as a single mom.

    No Oscars this time for Gable, but a good strong performance as a rugged prospector up in the Klondike during the gold rush. Of course being involved with Loretta sure helped in the love scenes. Young plays a woman apparently abandoned in the snow by her husband who's presumed dead.

    Jack Oakie as Gable's sidekick and Reginald Owen as the English villain engaged in some claim jumping are the best two of the supporting actors. Of the human variety.

    Then there's Buck, Gable's trusty St. Bernard who he rescues from Reginald Owen. In that rugged country good sled dogs can come in mighty handy and Buck sure proves his worth. Up there, they are indeed man's best friend.

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    Related interests

    Still frame
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    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. in The Searchers (1956)
    Western

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Like many films of the era, this production was originally slated to film in the Southern Sierra Nevada near Sonora. In fact, production had already begun when a warm front melted the snow and forced a hasty and expensive move to Washington state.
    • Goofs
      Why call this a goof? It's just a funny way of saying he'd knife someone.
    • Quotes

      Jack Thornton: Me? I'll take bourbon. It kills you slower, but a lot more pleasant like.

    • Alternate versions
      Originally released at 95 minutes; later cut to 81 minutes for a re-issue. For many years only the cut re-issue version was available for television showings, and it is also the version released on DVD in 2006 as part of the Clark Gable Collection. The original length version remained unseen until it was released on blu-ray in 2013.
    • Connections
      Featured in Only the Lonely (1991)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 9, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Un grito en la selva
    • Filming locations
      • Mount Baker Lodge - State Route 542, Mount Baker, Washington, USA
    • Production company
      • 20th Century Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Wicmar and Blue Seal Noiseless Recording
      • Magnaphone Western Electric
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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