An American action adventure; A story about a transport plane which crash-lands in the icy wastes of northern Canada, and its captain who leads his crew in a fight for survival. This aviation story is based on a true story, and an account written by Ernest K. Gann. The film holds tension well with its effective picture of endurance and grim reality of being marooned in the wildlands. The black-and-white cinematography aided the atmosphere of the story. John Wayne is suitably heroic and his portrayal is regarded as believable and realistic based on the true story of the downed aircraft's captain. However, clichéd dialogue and drab character building cannot match the action's pictorial conviction for entertainment.