{"id":39757,"date":"2017-12-07T23:07:30","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T06:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39757"},"modified":"2020-12-02T15:00:54","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T22:00:54","slug":"call-of-the-wild-1935","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39757","title":{"rendered":"Call of the Wild (1935)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Well, they wanted gold &#8212; now they got it.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Poster-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-39758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Poster-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Poster-92x128.jpg 92w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA prospector (Clark Gable), his buddy (Jack Oakie), and their new dog accompany the rescued wife (Loretta Young) of a missing prospector (Frank Conroy) on a search for a legendary gold mine during the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Klondike_Gold_Rush\">Klondike Gold Rush<\/a> &#8212; but a weaselly rival (Reginald Owen) is determined to get there first, and will stop at nothing to claim the plot for himself.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clark Gable Films<\/li>\n<li>Gold Seekers<\/li>\n<li>Loretta Young Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Rivalry<\/li>\n<li>Star-Crossed Lovers<\/li>\n<li>William Wellman Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nWilliam Wellman&#8217;s very loose adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Call_of_the_Wild\">Jack London&#8217;s novel<\/a> (which <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Call_of_the_Wild_(1935_film)\">&#8220;omits all but one of the book&#8217;s storylines&#8221;<\/a>, and adds in a romance) is best known as the film during which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzfeed.com\/annehelenpetersen\/loretta-young?utm_term=.uaY0vYaQP#.ehWrQNA71\">Clark Gable and Loretta Young had an affair<\/a> that resulted in a child Young claimed was adopted, but who looked <a href=\"http:\/\/judy-lewis.com\/\">unmistakably like a hybrid of them<\/a>. Indeed, the obvious chemistry between the on-screen pair (especially when we learn that Young&#8217;s presumed-missing husband is still alive) helps drive the narrative forward:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1655\" height=\"1023\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple.png 1655w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple-1024x633.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple-768x475.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple-1536x949.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Couple-437x270.png 437w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1655px) 100vw, 1655px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; that, and the convincing rapport between Gable and the lovable St. Bernard playing &#8220;Buck&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1669\" height=\"1027\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck.png 1669w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck-1024x630.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck-1536x945.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Gable-Buck-439x270.png 439w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1669px) 100vw, 1669px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As an adventure story, <em>Call of the Wild<\/em> is pretty standard fare, though Owen is as dastardly as they come, and cold-blooded enough to pose a serious threat to the protagonists. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1625\" height=\"1025\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen.png 1625w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen-1024x646.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen-768x484.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen-1536x969.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Owen-428x270.png 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1625px) 100vw, 1625px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s unfortunate that dehumanization of Native Americans bookends the film: in an opening scene, a large Native woman is shown pulling a man on a sled, clearly exhausting herself through heavy manual labor on behalf of white men:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1669\" height=\"1023\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman.png 1669w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman-1024x628.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman-768x471.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman-1536x941.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman-440x270.png 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1669px) 100vw, 1669px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and in the final scene, another Native woman is shown toting gear like a sherpa, and is literally referred to by Gable as &#8220;it&#8221;. Perhaps we should thank Hollywood for preserving evidence of the casual normalcy of racism during this era. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1665\" height=\"1025\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2.png 1665w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2-1024x630.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2-1536x946.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Native-Woman2-439x270.png 439w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1665px) 100vw, 1665px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> We recently visited a restaurant in Mt. Baker, Washington (where much of the film was shot), and I took some photos of memorabilia scattered across the walls: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1894\" height=\"2560\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-scaled.jpg 1894w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-222x300.jpg 222w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-758x1024.jpg 758w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-95x128.jpg 95w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-768x1038.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-1136x1536.jpg 1136w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-1515x2048.jpg 1515w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still1-200x270.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1894px) 100vw, 1894px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1761\" height=\"2021\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55970\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2.jpg 1761w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2-261x300.jpg 261w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2-892x1024.jpg 892w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2-112x128.jpg 112w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2-768x881.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2-1338x1536.jpg 1338w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still2-235x270.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1761px) 100vw, 1761px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1767\" height=\"2323\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3.jpg 1767w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3-779x1024.jpg 779w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3-97x128.jpg 97w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3-768x1010.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3-1168x1536.jpg 1168w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3-1558x2048.jpg 1558w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Mount-Baker-Still3-205x270.jpg 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1767px) 100vw, 1767px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Young and Gable&#8217;s obvious romantic chemistry<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1663\" height=\"1021\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55976\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry.png 1663w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry-1024x629.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry-768x472.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry-1536x943.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Chemistry-440x270.png 440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1663px) 100vw, 1663px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine use of outdoor locations at Mt. Baker, Washington<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1665\" height=\"1027\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55977\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker.png 1665w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker-1024x632.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker-768x474.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker-1536x947.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Call-of-the-Wild-Mt-Baker-438x270.png 438w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1665px) 100vw, 1665px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s worth a look for Gable and Young&#8217;s chemistry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0026164\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/call-of-the-wild\/review\/126142\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/62348\/call-of-the-wild\/\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Well, they wanted gold &#8212; now they got it.&#8221; Synopsis: A prospector (Clark Gable), his buddy (Jack Oakie), and their new dog accompany the rescued wife (Loretta Young) of a missing prospector (Frank Conroy) on a search for a legendary gold mine during the Klondike Gold Rush &#8212; but a weaselly rival (Reginald Owen) is determined to get there first, and will stop at nothing to claim the plot for himself. Genres: Clark Gable Films Gold Seekers Loretta Young Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=39757\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39757"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55984,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39757\/revisions\/55984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}