Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Spawn of the North Blu-ray Movie Review

A classic worth exploring.

Spawn of the North is a compelling drama featuring a story by Barrett Willoughby. Produced by Albert Lewin (Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, The Picture of Dorian Gray), the feature begins with some interesting visuals of fish jumping out of the water (and other shots showcasing the natural wild life which surrounds the setting of the story). There is a sense of nature itself at the backdrop of the production.

The lives of fisherman can swim as fervently as the sea itself. Longtime friends Tyler Dawson (George Raft) and Jim Kimmerlee (Henry Fonda) grew up with an affection for the sea and the journey of the fisherman. As young men now directly involved in the trade themselves, their friendship is put to the test. While Jim wished for nothing more than a normal life fishing for salmon, Tyler decided to align himself with Russian pirates who loot the sea by stealing fish. Can their friendship survive their new rival alliances?

As the story progresses, Spawn of the North also explores the romances of the characters. The storyline delves in to the relationship between Tyler and his faithful lover, the drop-dead-gorgeous Nicky Duval (Dorothy Lamour). The film also dives in to the romance between Jim and the sweet Dian 'Di' Turlon (Louise Platt). Love at sea.

The performances were compelling and added to the experience. Henry Fonda is especially compelling with his role. There is a sense of vitality to the performance which makes the filmmaking all the more unique. Perhaps the greatest performance in the feature-film is from Dorothy Lamour. Not only is she remarkably beautiful, Lamour gives the character an added sense of depth that she brings to the part. The character is compelling and makes the film all the more fascinating.

Love is in the air!

There were several elements of the production which impressed and contributed to a successful film. The art direction by Roland Anderson (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Reap the Wild Wind) and Hans Dreier (Frenchman's Creek, A Place in the Sun) showcases the landscape of the fisherman's world. There certainly is something noteworthy about the authenticity of the outdoor environments. These are essential elements to the production which make it feel more believable.

The costumes by Edith Head (The Sting, Roman Holiday) demonstrate (once again) how the designer was of such great importance to Hollywood. The costumes designed for both the male/female roles were spot-on. Given the fact that so many scenes are by the sea, the type of clothing worn seemed particularly thoughtful given the characters and the world in which they inhibit.

Ellsworth Hoagland (The Great Lover, Holiday Inn) provided the editing. The cut of the film is quite effective. There were no massive lulls in the storytelling. The pace and rhythm of the filmmaking is noteworthy. While some films can seem to overstay their welcome, Spawn of the North is a film that doesn't seem to carry excess weight from the cutting-room floor. A solid effort by Hoagland.

The lush cinematography by Charles Lang (Some Like It Hot, Sabrina) is another sight to behold. The visuals are key to the filmmaking. The black-and-white visuals are beautiful and often breathtaking. There are several scenes which are highly compelling. Given the storyline, I appreciated the way the cinematography highlighted the action and the drama. The visuals were well matched to these key moments. There is also a music score by the great Dimitri Tiomkin (The Fall of the Roman Empire, The Old Man and the Sea) to enhance the drama. A strong pairing.

Directed by Henry Hathaway (The Trial of the Lonesome Pine, How the West Was Won), Spawn of the North is a compelling experience. The film uses the screenplay by Jules Furthman (The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not) to explore the characters and their respective journeys. Hathaway is a strong filmmaker with a solid understanding of working with actors. The director brought forth the best from his cast. Spawn of the North is worth checking out. Take a look.

Spawn of the North Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Spawn of the North is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The transfer is somewhat inconsistent but it is still generally satisfactory overall. Though there seems to be some sharpening on the video, the print is in reasonably good shape. Detail is noteworthy and the amount of print damage visible on the scan is modest. There are some small scratches throughout but nothing that is too distracting or disappointing. While the Blu-ray release isn't pitch-perfect, the presentation is still watchable and is worth recommending.

Spawn of the North Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS HD Master Audio mono. The track is reasonably impressive and will fit the bill. Dialogue reproduction is crisp, clear, and easy to understand throughout. Though the film seems to have average fidelity, given the age of the elements the track still sounds quite effective. A pleasing audio track.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Spawn of the North Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Author/Film Historian Lee Gambin and Actress/Film Historian Rutanya Alda

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: A Bullet for Joey (HD, 2:08), The Ox-Bow Incident (SD, 2:15), Road to Zanzibar (SD, 2:16), The Black Sleep (SD, 1:36), and Rawhide (SD, 2:27).

Spawn of the North Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Spawn of the North is compelling entertainment for fans of classic cinema. The performances are solid. The cinematography is visually striking. The storytelling is engaging and has some surprises in store for audiences. With outstanding production merits behind-the-scenes, the film soars to even greater heights. The Blu-ray release features a decent video-audio presentation and comes recommended.