One of the racier post code movies is filled with insinuations, innuendos, sly winks at the audience and a bit of racist humor thanks to the presence of a seemingly wise servant who has the wit of a Gracie Allen character. It's set way up in Nome Alaska where fights over rights to gold mines are an every day occurrence. When the law tries to step in, they are greeted with gun violence and total opposition. Marlene Dietrich once again is a bar hostess as Cherry, more dressed up with high hair and fashions. John Wayne and Randolph Scott are the two men vying for her attention, and it's clear that she knows more than meets the mine.The Rex Beach adventure novel already had an earlier version, and there would be even one more made just over a decade later. But because of the cast, this is probably the most well known version, adequately entertaining if a bit over the top. The emphasis in the script is based on sardonic humor, with much of it provided by Mariette Canty as Dietrich's dingbat black maid. Harry Carey, George Cleveland and Richard Barthelmess stand out in the supporting cast, with Margaret Lindsay a stark contrast to Dietrich. Great photography and atmosphere make this stand out. Dietrich and Wayne have decent chemistry while Scott makes an outstanding villain.There's some issue with the character played by Canty, sassy but basically stupid, and a plot twist where Wayne disguises himself with blackface and enters Dietrich's bedroom, much to Canty's delight. Earlier she had made a comment about tired of pretending that the darker Eskimos were from the south, and here, she reacts to blackface as is if were an every day occurrence. It's ironic that over a decade later, she would play a much more dignified character that brought her some attention, the role of the loving housekeeper in "Rebel Without a Cause" that was the only source of love Sal Mineo's character had known. Here, she's told by Dietrich to sit on eggs and reacts as if she believed Dietrich was serious. The laughs are there, but come out uncomfortably. A great fight sequence ends the film, that is after you get a chance to see Wayne hiding inside one of Dietrich's feathery costumes.

An entertaining film made possible by big stars, John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich, and Randolph Scott. It was difficult to get accustomed to seeing Scott in a villain's role or Samuel S. Hinds, either, for that matter. You kept waiting for them to turn into good guys a little later on. Now one can never remember Percy Halton ever playing anything else but evil, or a grouch, at least. The scene with the three of them plotting and scheming, took me by surprise. Marlene Dietrich was her usual sultry self that we have come to expect. I hadn't seen Margaret Lindsay in a long while, and I appreciated her good looks and creditable performance.Did you wonder how Harry Carey could fire that single shot flintlock so rapidly? I don't even recall him loading it either.Included was one of the longest brawls you can imagine between Scott and Wayne. Scott was evidently knocked out but Wayne emerged bloody but happy in Dietrich's arms, as the film ended.

John Wayne is a gold prospector who romances Marlene Dietrich and fights crooked Randolph Scott, who's out to steal both his claim and his woman. Strong cast in a fairly typical but enjoyable gold rush western. Dietrich sizzles. She has great chemistry with both Wayne and Scott. Lots of innuendo in her dialogue. For their parts, the two western stars are solid. Scott shines in a rare villainous role. His cohorts in crime in this one are, surprisingly, Samuel S. Hinds and pretty Margaret Lindsay. Duke is good. His climactic bar fight with Scott is the movie's highlight. Harry Carey plays Duke's friend. George Cleveland and Russell Simpson are fun as a couple of grizzled prospectors.

This filming of the oft told Rex Beach tale is a knock down, drag 'em out, shoot 'em up story of a group of your favorite players, transported from the old West to the Alaska gold rush. And it is a whole bunch of fun.You just can't beat the cast.....even to the small parts such as Russell Simpson as Flapjack and the consummate drunk Jack Norton as Skinner. Of course, the main characters, Wayne, Dietrich and Scott are the focal points which pull the story together. They are at their best with Dietrich as the sassy dance hall owner: Randolph Scott playing against type as a unapologetic scoundrel: and Margaret Lindsay,usually the sweet virginal type is also against type here as a schemer with a heart of gold (well, sort of).But there is something about Richard Barthelmess that kept my attention. Here was an Oscar winner (The Patent Leather Kid), who was as big as they got during the silent era but just couldn't seem to make the transition to talkies (with the exception of "Only Angels Have Wings"). And I'm not sure why.....it wasn't his looks, his voice or his acting style. Maybe he just didn't age well (he was only 47 when this film was made but looked older). Whatever the case, he does a good job here but you know from the beginning that he has to die somewhere along the line.....and sure enough, he does.The film includes one of the most famous fights scenes in movie history between Wayne and Scott (although the use of stunt doubles is pretty obvious). They brawl upstairs, downstairs, on the stairs, and out the door. It's a dandy. It's a rousing, good time film that is worth watching......I like it!!