Review of Untamed

Untamed (1940)
Technicolor soap opera set in the Canadian wilderness
13 January 2001
Handsome surgeon Milland travels to the Canadian wilderness for some much need R & R. He because good friends with Tamiroff, a French-Canadian trapper with a young and very beautiful wife (Morison). While Tamiroff is away hunting . . . well, need I go on?

Tossed into the story are gossipy old women, a blizzard, an epidemic, and a race against time and elements to get a vaccine.

This isn't a great film, but it's also not the turkey that the Maltin review suggests. The filmmakers obviously took care to make a quality picture, as it boasts good production and beautiful Technicolor photography. The scenes set during the blizzard are quite convincing, as frost from the actors' breath is visible.

Milland gives a sincere performance and draws upon his casual debonair. Patricia Morison, an actress who was usually wasted in unsympathetic supporting roles (the scheming villainess, the haughty "other woman," etc.), is a lovely and charming heroine in this film (love that long, dark hair of her's!) The supporting cast is also fine.

If a romantic soap opera is your cup of tea then this film is one that might make for pleasant time filler. Just make sure you see it in a good Technicolor print.
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