Klondike Annie

Directed by Raoul Walsh, Klondike Annie follows Mae West’s Rose Carlton as she’s forced to go on the run after being accused of murder – with the narrative detailing her character’s efforts at assuming the identity of a missionary in Alaska. It’s perhaps not surprising to discover that Klondike Annie, like most of West’s cinematic output, generally comes off as a tedious endeavor with few redeeming attributes, and there’s little doubt, ultimately, that West’s compelling, sassy performance remains an obvious highlight within the otherwise interminable proceedings. The degree to which the thin narrative unfolds in slow-motion does little to allay the predominantly lackluster vibe (eg West’s figure doesn’t even arrive in Alaska until about the halfway mark!), to be sure, and it’s disappointing, as well, that the picture confusingly (and confoundingly) contains virtually nothing in the way of fish-out-of-water elements – which, when coupled with a rather endless final stretch, confirms Klondike Annie‘s place as a typically underwhelming West vehicle.

*1/2 out of ****