Spawn of the North (1938)

60% of users liked it
(100 ratings)

The visual wizardry in this period action picture about Alaskan fishermen won a special honorary Oscar in the years before special effects got its own category. Henry Fonda stars as Jim Kimmerlee, a salmon fisherman in Alaska who has become at odds with a childhood friend, Tyler Dawson (George… More The visual wizardry in this period action picture about Alaskan fishermen won a special honorary Oscar in the years before special effects got its own category. Henry Fonda stars as Jim Kimmerlee, a salmon fisherman in Alaska who has become at odds with a childhood friend, Tyler Dawson (George Raft). While Jim attempts to make an honest living, Tyler, whose frustrated dreams of buying his own schooner don't look to be realized anytime soon, has signed on with a Russian crew that steals the catch from others' nets. While the rivalry between the two one-time pals heats up, Jim begins romancing Dian Turlan (Louise Platt), the daughter of a local newspaperman and renowned tippler, Windy Turlon (John Barrymore). Spawn of the North (1938) was remade as Alaska Seas (1954). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Henry Hathaway
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 26, 1938 Wide
On DVD: Mar 31, 1998

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Half-baked Western set as an Alaskan fish story about childhood friends who become bitter rivals as adults.

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Cast

            George Raft as Tyler Dawson

            Henry Fonda as Jim Kimmerlee

            Dorothy Lamour as Nicky Duval

            Akim Tamiroff as Red Skain

            John Barrymore as Windy Turlon

            Louise Platt as Diane

            Lynne Overman as Jackson

            Fuzzy Knight as Lefty Jones

            Vladimir Sokoloff as Dimitri

            Duncan Renaldo as Ivan

            Richard Ung as Tom

            Lee Shumway as Fisherman

            Stanley Andrews as Partridge

            Guy Usher as Grant

            Henry Brandon as Davis

            Egon Brecher as Erickson

            Harvey Clark as Purser

            Galan Galt as Fisherman

            Monte Blue as Cannery Official

            Irving Bacon as Cannery Official

            Robert Middlemass as Davis

            Adia Kuznetzoff as Vashia

            Alex Woloshin as Gregory

            Arthur Ayleswofth as Fisherman

            Rollo Lloyd as Fisherman

            Archie Twitchell as Fisherman

            Michio Ito as Indian Dancer

            John Wray as Dr. Sparks

            Eddie Marr as First Red's gang

            Frank Puglia as Second Red's gang

            Wade Boteler as Fisherman

            Edmund Elton as Minister

            Seal: Slicker as Himself

            Leonid Snegoff as Red's Gang
See full cast

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