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| Arctic Flight (1952) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 18 2015, 06:28 PM (237 Views) | |
| Fedora | Jun 18 2015, 06:28 PM Post #1 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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, ![]() Wayne Morris & Alan Hale Jr. in the Arctic Circle! Arctic Flight (1952) - 78 mins Starring Wayne Morris, Lola Albright, Alan Hale Jr., Carol Thurston, Phil Tead, Kenneth MacDonald & Dale Van Sickel Directed by Lew Landers Mike Wein (Wayne Morris) is the owner operator of Wein Alaska Airlines, a one-plane outfit based in the Northwest Arctic Borough town of Kotzebue. It’s a volatile area: nearby is The International Date Line, which separates two islands: Little Diomede is part of the US whilst Big Diomede is Russian. 'The distance between the two countries is a lot less than the difference between the two countries' as Mike remarks to new school teacher, Martha Raymond (Lola Albright) who's heading to Little Diomede. There is no visible boundary line between the two islands and they can be reached on foot when that part of the Bering Straight is frozen. Since the Russians have anti-aircraft guns, Mike is concerned about unknowingly invading Russian air space. After dropping Martha off at Little Diomede, Mike flies to Nome and picks up John W. Wetherby (Alan Hale Jr.) - a wealthy Michigan businessman, who has hired Mike to take him a polar bear hunt. Mike becomes suspicious of the friendly and loquacious Wetherby - having noticed a Big Diomede entry card amongst his papers. And it proves out when he realizes that Wetherby is really a communist spy, who intends to take photos of Alaskan military installations, before escaping across to Big Diomede, wherein 'tomorrow is just a few minutes away!' But Mike's efforts to raise the alert are hampered by the fact that the tiny community don't want to believe that Wetherby is a Russian spy - the latter's spent considerably time and money endearing himself to the locals. Only Martha, old Squid Tucker (Phil Tead) and Father Francois (Kenneth MacDonald) believe in Mike's suspicions. Wayne Morris (who also produced) is all power & charisma in this entertaining action adventure film which is beautifully photographed on location in Little Diomede by ace cinematographer and Oscar nominee, John L. Russell. Alan Hale. Jr., still more than a decade away from his defining role as 'The Skipper' in Gilligan's Island, is a likable and engaging foil to Morris. This must have been a rugged shoot for both the stars and crew. Monogram Studios obviously recognized the possibilities of this high adventure story, and would have shelled out significantly more dollars in this on-location production. |
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| Fedora | Jun 20 2015, 03:26 PM Post #2 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Gee, you'd think that a Monogram shot on location in the Arctic Circle would at least elicit a response! Surely there's someone out there with some background on the surprising origins of this film - I was truly blown away by cinematography - and the principal players were all on location in Little Diomede as well I deliberately kept the original post shorter than my normalcy - thereby hoping to attract readers rather than just scanners? Makes me wonder why I bother posting here |
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| Frank Hale | Jun 20 2015, 04:10 PM Post #3 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Mr. Hat, I laughed at your last sentence. It's bewildering, but, of course, the reason is, no matter how desperate the odds, we still love old films and can't help blabbing about them. I can contribute nothing about this particular epic, but I will say that I always liked Mr. Morris, and especially respect him for his war service. |
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| The Batman | Jun 20 2015, 04:16 PM Post #4 |
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Charter Member
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I agree, Mr Hale, the last sentence was funny. I've made many a post around here that has never been replied to, though they have each received views. And I know LG has started many, many threads, including numerous film reviews, that have not received a reply, as of yet. Keeping plugging away, Hat Head. I assume you enjoying posting the reviews. If it's just to receive adulation and feedback, then sometimes you will come away being disappointed. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| Fedora | Jun 20 2015, 05:23 PM Post #5 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Don't want nor expect adulation or praise - far from it! Again it's in the reading: "Surely there is someone out there with some background about the surprising origins of this film" Please, oh please, read - scanning is the scourge of the 21st Century |
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| mort bakaprevski | Jun 20 2015, 05:27 PM Post #6 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Hard to comment on a film I've never seen (& really have no desire to see). However, I'll be glad to comment on Executive Producer, Lindsley Parsons. He went a long way back with Monogram. Back to the early thirties' Lone Star westerns with John Wayne. Had a brief stay at Grand National, in the late thirties, on Tex Ritter westerns, but then returned to Monogram (& Allied Artists) for the rest of his career (except for some TV programs & his last 2 films). |
| "Nov Shmoz Ka Pop." | |
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| The Batman | Jun 20 2015, 05:38 PM Post #7 |
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Charter Member
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I agree, Mort, it is hard to comment on a film one hasn't seen, which seems to be the case with most of Fedora's reviews. There is only so many times one can post, "hey great review, where can I get this film on DVD". If posters want to generate responses to their reviews, I for one would appreciate a sentence that lets one know where to obtain said film. Fedora, to respond to your statements "Surely there is someone out there with some background about the surprising origins of this film", "Makes me wonder why I bother posting here" and "Please, oh please, read - scanning is the scourge of the 21st Century": Apparently, on this site, there is no one with background info about the "surprising" origins of this film. Again, I've posted requests on this site that have elicited no response. That's life on the internet, don't take it personally. Questioning why you are posting here, to let others know of your displeasure in their lack of response to your posts, and that's how you've come across in that respect, will elicit response. You just may not like it. And, speaking for myself, I did read your post. I tend not to respond to posts I have only bothered to "scan". I do look forward to more of your reviews. You have exposed me, and it looks like others around here, to films we aren't familiar with. Just don't expect tons of feedback, every time. Cheers |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| Laughing Gravy | Jun 20 2015, 09:46 PM Post #8 |
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Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
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This thread has about 100 views. Just because people don't respond doesn't mean they don't read and appreciate it. |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
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| Fedora | Jun 20 2015, 11:51 PM Post #9 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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"Don't want nor expect adulation or praise - far from it! Again it's in the reading: "Surely there is someone out there with some background about the surprising origins of this film" With more than 20 film reviews in the last few months, garnering less than a handful of (on topic) responses ... am certainly in no need of appreciation of my posts Just wondering if anyone has any background about: "a Monogram shot on location in the Arctic Circle would at least elicit a response! Surely there's someone out there with some background on the surprising origins of this film - I was truly blown away by cinematography - and the principal players were all on location in Little Diomede as well" Realistically though there is no matter here ... not important ... time to walk away |
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