Inclubabu Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Neil Doyle Too bad THE CALL OF THE WILD wasn't filmed in color because it looks mighty picturesque in classic B&W cinematography filmed in Washington state. CLARK GABLE, as a gold prospector, and LORETTA YOUNG, as his female interest, provide the right chemistry for the romantic angle of the tale. JACK OAKIE is along to supply some laughs that seem forced and not really necessary--but fans of outdoor adventures will surely like this Jack London tale that has been turned into a vehicle for Gable and Young.BUCK, the dog, is especially impressive as an animal caught between the "call of the wild"--wolves, that is--and his human relationship with owner Gable. He's good at showing little nuances that indicate he's uncertain whether to leave Gable or not to follow his natural instincts when he hears the cry of the wolves.REGINALD OWEN makes an impressive villain and FRANK CONROY is fine as Loretta's husband. Most chilling scene of all has the greedy men who steal the gold drowning in the rapids when their canoe overturns and they're dragged down by the weight of the gold they're carrying.The chemistry between Gable and Young is strong--and she looks lovelier than ever in all her close-ups. Most fans know that she and Gable were having a torrid romance at the time.

nnnn45089191 Based very loosely on the Jack London novel,this is a star-vehicle for the rough and likable Clark Gable.Thrown in there's a dog named Buck and Jack Okie as his comic sidekick, for Gable to bond with.Then there's beautiful Loretta Young for him to romance (which he also did in real-life,resulting in an illegitimate child.)Shot on location in Washington State the movie has a rugged outdoor look from which it benefits immensely.The portrait of the rough and tumble gold mining town of Skagway looks almost authentic.The performances are pretty standard.Gable is his rough and likable self,Jack Okie,the likable buffoon ,Loretta Young,a good love-interest and Reginald Owen a despicable villain.All in all an entertaining adventure movie.

weezeralfalfa Gable has it all for a short while: easy pickings gold nuggets, a gorgeous girlfriend he found in the wilderness, a half-wild soul mate lead dog and a bashful wisecracking partner. But, his grasp on all of these is slippery, as the plot develops. I don't fault Hollywood for departing so flagrantly from London's story, which too was just a yarn. I found this version much more entertaining and profound, despite the stereotypical boss-sidekick relationship between Gable and Jack Oakie.Gable seems to represent sort of an ideal adventurous entrepreneur: a riverboat gambler at heart, who is willing to take big risks and to work for his fortune when necessary, but who tries to grab all he can and beat out the competition. The chief villain is a stereotypical pretentious cutthroat tycoon: the worst kind of capitalist. In contrast, Gable recognizes certain limits in gaining his fortune and honors his commitments to his partners, be they human or animal. Loretta's creed is yet more tempered: You will get what you want only if you deserve it. See the movie to find out how these various creeds interact to determine the outcome. This is perhaps Gable's most enjoyable role, along with those in "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Boom Town". As in most of his best roles, Gable comes across as rakish: part hero, part scoundrel, but never dull. Like Gable, Loretta is at her physical peak at this time, making for a very romantic-looking couple.

alice liddell There are some brilliant things in CALL OF THE WILD, such as the vivid portrait of frontier life at the turn of the century. This is, though, largely a disappointing version of Jack London's novel. Much of his anti-capitalism is here, but reduced to the emotional progress of Clark Gable. The theme of tame/wild is invoked - dog, woman, nature - but the crucial Buck plot is sidelined and made cute. The acting irritates in its refusal of depth, although Loretta Young's entrance could be straight out of Cocteau. The landscape is beautiful to look at, but there is little sense of nature as devouring or malevolent.