Channing of the Northwest

Norma Shearer returned to her native Canada — at least in spirit — for this routine Northwoods melodrama produced in Northern California by Lewis J. Selznick, father of David O. Selznick. Eugene O’Brien starred as a foppish Londoner who joins the Royal Canadian Mounties and breaks a smuggling ring that includes the vampish Nita Naldi. Channing of the Northwest was Shearer’s fifth film (excluding her work as an extra) and gave no indication that she would one day become the queen of the Metro lot. A former Broadway actor, Eugene O’Brien is perhaps best remembered for his onscreen partnership with Norma Talmadge.