The 1932 Edward G. Robinson adventure film "Tiger Shark" had at least three unofficial remakes that kept the basic plot but change the occupation of the leading characters. 1938's "Slim" and 1941's "Manpower" were A films, while this, made in between those two, is an obvious programmer. It has the benefit of dealing with the logging industry, a subject matter I'm fascinated by because of how the trees are cut and transported, and mostly because these films are usually set in the far north of the United States.
Character actor Stanley Ridges plays the role which Robinson played in both "Tiger Shark" and "Manpower", a gregarious lumberjack who quickly be friends newcomer John Payne and instantly becomes jealous when he realizes that there's something going on between pain and his new wife Gloria Dickson whom he married out of spontaneity, turning into a nasty boss even before she has thought of straying. Ridges enthusiastically creates a character that never has any consistency of behavior or personality, and therefore I found his performance to be completely false.
Dickson is a bit better, but her character isn't really given much chance to develop outside of the fact that she obviously appreciates his interest in her but is in fact desperately in need of a meal ticket. Payne, one of the sexiest actors of the early 1930s, is a decent romantic hero, although one with a past. Character actors Jimmy Conlin and Victor Kilian (as the evil saloon owner) add spice to the familiar story. The real star, however, is the cameraman, especially when he focuses on falling trees and a runaway train going over a collapsed bridge. The ending is lightened up from the other three films to truly turn Ridges' character into a complete buffoon. Certainly not unwatchable, this still left me wanting more than the script and performances gave me.
Character actor Stanley Ridges plays the role which Robinson played in both "Tiger Shark" and "Manpower", a gregarious lumberjack who quickly be friends newcomer John Payne and instantly becomes jealous when he realizes that there's something going on between pain and his new wife Gloria Dickson whom he married out of spontaneity, turning into a nasty boss even before she has thought of straying. Ridges enthusiastically creates a character that never has any consistency of behavior or personality, and therefore I found his performance to be completely false.
Dickson is a bit better, but her character isn't really given much chance to develop outside of the fact that she obviously appreciates his interest in her but is in fact desperately in need of a meal ticket. Payne, one of the sexiest actors of the early 1930s, is a decent romantic hero, although one with a past. Character actors Jimmy Conlin and Victor Kilian (as the evil saloon owner) add spice to the familiar story. The real star, however, is the cameraman, especially when he focuses on falling trees and a runaway train going over a collapsed bridge. The ending is lightened up from the other three films to truly turn Ridges' character into a complete buffoon. Certainly not unwatchable, this still left me wanting more than the script and performances gave me.