Call of the Wild (1935)

[8]

William Wellman directs Clark Gable in this loose adaptation of Jack London’s classic novel. While the book is entirely from the point-of-view of Buck, a weathered sled dog, this film version focuses more on human characters. Gable and his comedic sidekick (Jack Oakie) are on a quest for gold in the Yukon when they stumble across a lone woman (Loretta Young) fighting off wolves. Her husband’s been missing for days and is presumed dead, so she reluctantly joins the two men on their journey. At first, sparks fly between Gable and Young — but that’s just Hollywood’s way of telling us they love each other (the two actors even started a real-life affair and had a baby). Their relationship deepens, soon to be tested by a nefarious fellow fortune-seeker (Reginald Owens) and the possibility that her husband might still be alive. Oh, and Buck? He’s still here — in a sizeable co-starring role, fighting off other alpha dogs and ultimately tempted by the ‘call of the wild.’

For all the liberty it takes, the adaptation works. The trio of lead actors have charisma and chemistry, and the Saint Bernard holds his own against them. I appreciate that the plotting is loose enough to give the characters plenty of breathing room. This lends a refreshing escapist quality to the film. We get to sit by the campfire, row down the rivers, and make a home out of an abandoned cabin with these characters. There’s comedy and bitter-sweetness, with shades of Casablanca and Treasure of the Sierra Madre to come. This Call of the Wild is a grand adventure with great personalities that I thoroughly enjoyed.