John Wayne starred alongside Stewart Granger in the 1960 Western,North to Alaska, which proved to be the funniest movie of his career, but also often underrated. Recognized as one of the most successful actors to ever emerge from Hollywood’s Golden Age, John Wayne made a name for himself in the movie industry for his roles across the war and Western genres, from his first leading role inThe Big Trial(1930), all the way through to his final movie,The Shootist(1976). Some ofJohn Wayne’s best moviesincludeSands of Iwo Jima(1949) andThe Quiet Man(1952).
Although he did appear in several dramas andstarred alongside Maureen O’Hara in five moviesacross the romance and comedy genres, the actor arguably found his biggest success in the Western genre —John Wayne starred in more than 80 Westernsacross a 53-year-long career.John Wayne’s most career-defining moviesin the Western genre includeFord Apache(1948),The Searchers(1956), andTrue Grit(1969), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor and established him as a legendary Hollywood star.Many of John Wayne’s movies achieved box office successand were critically acclaimed, but this 1960 movie stands out as his best comedic performance.
How North To Alaska Is Different From Most John Wayne Westerns
North To Alaska Was Directed By Henry Hathaway
Directed by Henry Hathaway,North to Alaskastars John Wayne as “Big” Sam McCord, who strikes it rich in Alaska with his business partner, George Pratt (Stewart Granger). Their financial success results in George sending Sam to Seattle to collect his long-time fiancé, Jenny. Upon discovering Jenny is already married, Sam decides to bring another woman, Angel (Capucine), in her place but soon questions his own feelings for her. Meanwhile,Sam and George must fight to keep their newly acclaimed riches from falling into the hands of Frankie Cannon(Ernie Kovacs), a conman who wants their money for himself.
What makesNorth to Alaskastand out among John Wayne’s list of Westerns is that the movie presents itself as a romantic comedy as opposed to a serious Western movie. Unlike other Westerns, it is more light-hearted and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Director Henry Hathaway explained that he wantedNorth to Alaskato offer something different to viewers than was seen in previous Westernsand chose to remove all melodramatic moments from his original script and add more humor and emphasis on the characterization, stating that “the situations [became] funny within the legitimate story” (viaVariety).
John Wayne Proved His Talent For Comedy In North To Alaska
North to Alaska Stood Out Among Wayne’s Other Western Movies
Although John Wayne’s performances in the Western genre solidified him as one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, he faced some criticism for what many perceived as the same character throughout all of his movies. One notable example was whenWayne played the character, Stoney Brooke, eight timesacrossThe Mesquiteersfranchise in a span of two years. Wayne responded to the criticism in a 1969 interview, saying “they give me that John Wayne stuff so much, claim I always play the same role” while also highlighting he played different characters in The Quiet Man and Yellow Ribbon (viaRoger Ebert).
This Iconic John Wayne Western Movie Was Secretly Inspired By A Real-Life Tragedy
Released in 1956, one of John Wayne’s most iconic Western movies was based on a tragic event that occurred in real life almost two centuries ago.
The movieNorth to Alaskaallowed him the opportunity to further expand his ability to play the romantic lead,as seen through Wayne’s movies with Angie Dickinson, and explore his comedic skills through his overly dramatic and self-referential portrayal of “Big” Sam McCord. Wayne’s comedic timing throughout the movie was widely praised, with critics pointing out that his performance “subtly parodied his distinctive mannerisms and the way he played a Western hero” (viaMovie Metropolis). While significantly underrated compared,North to Alaskaallowed John Wayne to portray somebody different from his more serious Westerns.
Sources:Variety,Roger Ebert,Movie Metropolis
North to Alaska
North to Alaska is a comedy-western film directed by Henry Hathaway. Starring John Wayne as Sam McCord, the movie follows his efforts to help his friend George (Stewart Granger) win the heart of a French girl, while also dealing with his own romantic entanglements. Set during the Alaskan gold rush, the film combines elements of humor, adventure, and romance against a rugged backdrop.
