DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Far Call remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Okay, The Far Call isn't exactly a lost classic you need to hunt down right now, but if you're into those old, gritty adventure tales with a dash of forbidden romance, it's a pretty solid way to spend an evening. If you prefer your films with fast pacing and clear moral lines, this one might feel a bit slow and murky. It’s got that old-school charm, but also some of the old-school… quirks.
This one’s a weird little beast, a relic from when Hollywood was figuring out how to mix rugged adventure with… well, almost soap opera drama. You’ve got this poacher, Mike Powers (Randolph Scott, looking all rugged as usual), heading out to this isolated Bering Sea island to snag some seals. Not exactly hero material, right? But then the movie tries to make him not entirely bad, which is a balancing act that sometimes wobbles.
The island itself is almost a character, though. You really feel the isolation, the wind, the sheer harshness of the place. Honestly, some of those "seal" shots look a bit… staged, like the seals are just chilling on a set. It's a minor thing, but it pops out to you.
Then Powers runs into this governor, and more importantly, his daughter, Lorna (Leila Hyams). Hyams, bless her, brings a certain sparkle to the role, even when the dialogue gives her absolutely nothing to work with. There’s a scene where she first encounters Powers, and her reaction is this mix of fear and something else, that classic movie moment where the 'good girl' is fascinated by the 'bad boy.' ✨
The whole romance angle, though. It feels like it goes from zero to "deeply in love" in about two scenes. One minute they're arguing about seals, the next they’re gazing meaningfully at each other across a windswept cliff. It’s a classic Hollywood shortcut, but you can almost hear the script saying, "Okay, now they're in love, moving on!" 💨
And then the big reveal. Powers is actually the son of some big shot. This is where the movie really leans into its dramatic side, meant to explain why he’s a poacher, this whole rebellion against his wealthy background. But it feels a little tacked on, a convenient way to make him more palatable for Lorna and the audience.
The acting during these reveals, especially from Charles Middleton as the stern governor, is so serious. You almost want someone to crack a smile, just once! His eyebrows do a lot of heavy lifting.
The climax, involving the poachers and the islanders, gets pretty intense. There’s a moment where a fight breaks out, and it’s surprisingly chaotic, not graceful movie fighting, but rather messy, desperate brawls. One guy actually slips and falls in the background, and they just left it in – love those unpolished bits, it makes it feel more real, somehow.
What stuck with me, oddly enough, wasn't the big romance, but the sheer grimness of the setting. Everything looks cold and damp, constantly. The fur coats everyone wears? They look genuinely heavy and lived-in. It's a small detail, but it grounds the whole thing.
The movie tries to juggle a lot: a moral tale about poaching, a forbidden love story, and a family drama. It doesn’t quite stick the landing on all of them. Some threads just sort of… disappear. You're left wondering what happened to some of the side characters who felt important for a bit.
Like that one grizzled old sailor, played by Warren Hymer, who has a great face but not much to do. He just fades into the background after a few tough-guy lines. You expect more from him.
So, yeah. The Far Call isn’t perfect. It’s got some dated tropes and a narrative that sometimes feels stitched together. But if you appreciate these older films for their raw energy and less-than-perfect storytelling, there’s something here. It’s a glimpse into a time when movies weren't always polished to a sheen. A bit clunky, a bit earnest, and surprisingly engaging in its own peculiar way. Definitely one for the *old film buffs* who don't mind a little dust. 🎞️
IMDb —
1928
Community
Log in to comment.
