Alaska Highway (film)

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Alaska Highway
Alhwypos.png
Directed by Frank McDonald
Charles Kerr (assistant)
Written by Lewis R. Foster
Maxwell Shane
Produced by William H. Pine
William C. Thomas
Starring Richard Arlen
Jean Parker
Ralph Sanford
Cinematography Fred Jackman Jr.
Edited by William H. Ziegler
Music by Freddie Rich
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • 1943 (1943)
Running time
66 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Alaska Highway is a 1943 American drama film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, and Ralph Sanford.

Contents

Plot

In February 1942 a road construction gang working in Northern California are summoned to a meeting. The boss of the gang, Pop Ormsby, has been commissioned as a Major in the US Army Corps of Engineers and signs up the entire crew with his two sons, Woody and Steve, gaining direct entry as Technical Sergeants to build the Alcan Highway.

Woody wants to enlist in the US Marine Corps to fight the Japanese rather than build another road. He changes his mind when he meets Ann, the daughter of one of the heads of the project, Blair, with the two brothers fighting over her as they build the highway.

Their feud is forgotten when a fire breaks out.

Cast

Production

The script was written in December, when Pine-Thomas renewed their deal with Paramount. [1] At one stage William C. Thomas was going to direct the film. [2]

Pine-Thomas based their film's headquarters in Reno. Filming took place in the Chilkoot Mountains. Filming started 4 January 1943. [3] Release of the film was sped up to take advantage of the Invasion of Attu. [4]

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References

  1. "News of the Screen". The Christian Science Monitor. Dec 14, 1942. p. 11.
  2. "Variety (November 1942)". 1942.
  3. "News of the Screen". The Christian Science Monitor. Dec 24, 1942. p. 11.
  4. Schallert, Edwin (May 18, 1943). "DRAMA AND FILM: Betty Rhodes Will 'Co-Sing' With Crosby Ray Bolger Will Play Jack Donahue Role in 'The Life of Marilyn Miller'". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.