Belle of the Yukon

Belle of the Yukon

Theatrical release poster
Directed by William A. Seiter
Produced by William A. Seiter
Screenplay by James Edward Grant
Story by Houston Branch
Starring
Music by Arthur Lange
Cinematography Ray Rennahan
Edited by Ernest J. Nims
Production
company
International Pictures
Distributed by RKO Pictures
Release dates
  • December 27, 1944 (1944-12-27) (U.S.)[1]
Running time
83 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Belle of the Yukon is a 1944 American film produced and directed by William A. Seiter and starring Randolph Scott, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Dinah Shore.[2] Based on a story by Houston Branch and set in the days of the great Canadian Gold Rush, the film is about a "reformed" con artist-turned-dance hall owner whose girlfriend, played by Gypsy Rose Lee, tries to keep him on the straight and narrow. In 1946, Belle of the Yukon received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song and Best Music Scoring.[3]

Plot

In a Yukon town called Malemute, a saloon owned by "Honest" John Calhoun gets a new star performer, Belle De Valle, while he's away. A stranger in town, Sam Slade, offers to keep an eye on things until the boss returns, while saloon manager Pop Candless and crooked town marshal Maitland keep a suspicious eye on him.

As soon as Honest John gets back, Belle hits him with a vase. They were acquainted in Seattle, where according to Belle, he was actually a con man known as Gentleman Jack who ditched her after becoming wanted by the law for his dishonest ways.

Pop's attractive daughter Lettie is attracted to Steve Atterbury, the piano player. Pop is leery and finds a letter indicating that Steve is already married with children. Steve is ambushed and put on a boat to Nome, giving the impression that he has coldly left Lettie behind.

Honest John is secretly plotting a gold theft. He gains the town's trust and is named bank president. Belle discovers the scheme and starts a run of the bank, making Honest John pay off customers with money he'd planned to use in his scam.

Everything turns out for the best, though, because Steve jumps ship and makes it back to Malemute to win Lettie back, helped by the arrival of his sister, Cherie, and their wealthy father, C.V. Atterbury, who vouches that Steve is unmarried and, as a gesture of good faith, places $100,000 in the bank. Honest John promises to actually be honest from now on.

Cast

Radio adaptation

Dinah Shore and Gail Patrick in the CBS Radio studio at a rehearsal for "The Belle of the Yukon" for The Screen Guild Theater (1945)

Belle of the Yukon was presented on Screen Guild Players February 12, 1945. The 30-minute adaptation starred Scott, Shore, Burns and Gail Patrick.[5]

See also

References

  1. "Belle of the Yukon: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  2. "Belle of the Yukon". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  3. "Awards for Belle of the Yukon". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  4. "Full cast and crew for Belle of the Yukon". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  5. "Those Were The Days". Nostalgia Digest. 39 (2): 32–39. Spring 2013.

External links

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