“While Fang” is New Jack London Thriller

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

“While Fang” is New Jack London Thriller

MICHAEL WHALEN, JEAN MUIR HEAD CAST (State: Screening To-day). The lawless North-country, vibrant with romance and drenched with drama, once again flashes across the screen in “White Fang," Jack London’s thrill-laden sequel to his “Call of the Wild." Featuring an exceptional cast, headed by Michael Whalen and Jean Muir, and including Slim Summerville, Charles Winninger, John Carradine, Jane Darwell and Thomas Beck, "White Fang" is a stirring story of adventure ranking with the screen’s greatest outdoor dramas. Whalen, iresh from triumphant roles in "The Country Doctor" and . "Professional Soldier," here has his most ambitious part and gives promise of becoming one of the outstanding young men oi the screen. Jean Muir, lovelier thau ever in a setting as picturesque as her own beauty, contributes a noteworthy performance while the remainder of the cast is uniformly good. Slim Summerville aud Charles Winninger, especially, deserve mention for tiicir hilarious comic characterisations.

Thomas Beck, a newcomer to the North, persuades Whalen to guide him to a gold mine that has been oequeathed to him and his sister. Whalen undertakes the task, but refuses to permit the girl to accompany them as winter is just beginning and the trip wiH be long and arduous. Whalen and Beck set out but the miles of trackless

snow are to much for Beck an e goes mad and jumps over a cliff. Whalen falls unconscious in the snow, and a pack of wolves attack him. One of the oeasts, lighter in colour than the rest, is drawn to the man by some strange bond, and drives the remainder of tno pack away.

Whalen is rescued and adopts the dog, naming it "White Fang." Papers found in his pocket by his rescuers lead them to believe that Whalen is Beck and he encourages them in their mistake, believing that he will be able to assume possesison of the mine easier.

John Carradine, a rascally outlaw, is working the mine when Whalen arrives and is furious when ordered off the territory. Carradine doubts Whalen’s identity and his suspicions are not dispelled when Miss Muir arrives and greets Whalen as the brother. Beck’s body is found in a snowbank—with a bullet through his skull. It is apparently a case of murder and Carradine incites a mob that sets out to enforce the law of the frontier and lynch Whalen.

How “White Fang," tho half-dog, half-wolf, and Miss Muir save Whalen highlights a rousing climax replete with thrills.