Copyright 22 March 1943 by Columbia Pictures Corp. U.S. release: 27 May 1943. Australian release: 24 August 1944. 5,240 feet. 57 minutes.
COMMENT: Enhanced by a considerable amount of actual location shooting, this Charles Starrett vehicle is further embellished by an attractive heroine and William Berke's surprisingly proficient direction. We're even treated to an extended tracking shot with dialogue, all filmed in one take, plus many excitingly staged action spots including several chases, a landslide and a couple of fist fights.
Unfortunately, Law of the Northwest lacks a fast and furious climax. Starrett's double disarming the villain's double by throwing him over his shoulder kung-fu style is somewhat of a letdown - especially when the mine location would seem to lend itself to a nice chase sequence through the tunnels.
OTHER VIEWS: William Berke is one of those fast-shooting specialists who uses no reverses. Too time-wasting and too complicated. So he shoots every scene in long shot, group shot and inserted close-ups. This unimaginative, lackluster approach gives Law of the Northwest a heavily old-fashioned air - especially when the screenplay is weighed down with painfully obvious instant information dialogue. The players can do little with this sort of tedious talk except to get it over with as fast as possible.
Fortunately, when the film moves outside the studio and forgets the wartime propaganda, the scenery is quite pleasing. It gives rise to a fair bit of action too - though not enough to counteract all the talk. It's just as well the lovely Miss Patterson does more than her share to take our mind off the banal.
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