Rio Bravo set a template for John Wayne vehicles which he followed for the next decade: tough role for the Duke, a male co star to play his buddy, a young male juvenile who would usually be played by a ten idol, a feisty female co-star for the Duke to put over his knee and spank, a rapscallion for him to conquer, some gags, flags and gunfire, and glorious colour photography.This movie is very much in that vein, with the added bonus of a fresh setting, the 1900 Alaskan Gold Rush. Stewart Granger plays Duke's buddy, though it isn't much of a role; Capucine is great fun as the prostitute Wayne takes back to Alaska to console Granger (I heard that producer Charles Feldman foisted Capucine on 20th Century Fox because she was his mistress, but she's terrific and a gifted comic actor, something she later confirmed in The Pink Panther); Fabian plays Granger's lecherous younger brother (he's pretty decent, too - sings a song, gets thrown in the water twice by Wayne, and has a funny scene where he drunkenly tries to seduce Capucine); Ernie Kovacs plays a conman.
The production of this film was erratic due to strikes and an uncompleted script, but it works, helped by some sumptuous locations and on-form cast. It bogs down in the second half with everyone panting after Capucine but there are memorable moments: the brawls, the jaunty theme song, Wayne Capucine meeting and first date to a lumberjack picnic (a touching romance, and it really works).
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