Original subtitles

[waves crashing]

[bright orchestral music]

[machinery whirring]

- Well, another day, another dollar.

- How'd you like to take in the follies tonight, Charlie?

- Rough spot.

- Yeah?

[yelling]

Looks like fun again.

- I hope it tastes that good.

- Hey, you guys give me a beverage.

- Hi gang.

[all speaking]

- Hey boss, give me a cup of java.

Oh boy a couple more days, this job will be past tense.

- It suits me.

I'm fed up with these cold mountain roads.

- Frosty, this is California.

- Yeah well, I get bigger geese here than any place.

- In California, everything's fair.

[chuckles]

Best job we ever had was that airport in Panama.

Gee it was nice and warm down there.

- Well hiya gang.

[everyone yelling]

- Hi Woody, can I come back with ya?

- Sure, wait til ya hear.

- Who wore the outfit for ya?

- Yeah, regular Beau Bungler.

- Gosh it's good to see you guys. The same old face.

- There's Hank over there. Hank Lincoln, this is my brother Steve.

- I put them on in your place because he covers more territory.

- [chuckles] Oh yeah? More power to you Hank.

- Glad to know you Steve, his brother's only kidding.

- How was Washington Steve?

- Yeah, hot or cold?

- Washington was capital.

- Oh sit down, did you get the contract?

- Don't worry, Pops got something terrific.

- Tell me about.

- Well, I'm gonna let him tell you about it.

He's waiting for you down at the hotel.

Why I should bring the whole gang down.

- I better hurry and get back.

- We'll get cleaned up as fast as we can. Got me curious.

- So long gang, hurry up huh?

- So long Steve.

- The Hollister.

I hope the next job's in the tropics.

I ain't been warm once since we left Panama.

- [glass breaking] - [laughing]

- Well, it's got all over.

- I wonder where we're going? I hope it's some place warm.

- We'll find out in a minute huh Woody?

- Yeah. You guys go ahead, I gotta stop in here a minute.

Get the old man a new pipe.

- Uh oh. - [gasps]

Wrong room.

212.

Oh, this is my room.

- Yes, Woody, this is your room.

Come on in.

[door closes]

Well have you forgotten me?

- Forget you? Well, I should say not.

I'm surprised for a minute, but just for a minute.

- But you don't act like it.

Aren't you glad to see me?

- Oh yes, yes, sure I am.

- Would you kiss me?

- Oh sure.

Whew.

- You never used to kiss me like that.

- Well I do a lot of things I didn't used to do.

[knocking]

Pardon.

- Frosty told me that you, oh--

- This is my brother Steve, Miss...

- Hey, what are you trying to do? Introduce me to Ann Caswell?

- Sticky face.

- You big fake, you didn't know me from Adam.

- As I live and breathe, Sticky face.

What are you doing in my room?

- The hotel is jammed so I thought maybe

you would double up with me for a day or two and let Ann bunk here.

- Steve, remember when she used to have a yen for me

and I wouldn't go for it?

She used to be chewing on those long,

black licorice things all the time.

- Shoelaces.

- Yeah, yeah, that's it. And you were all over sticky.

- It's funny, I don't remember that.

- Oh, you always had your nose in a book.

I used to cry my eyes out about Woody.

You always said he was too old for me.

[chuckles]

- I was 16, you were six. How's your dad?

- He's waiting for us right now, come on,

we're holding up an important meeting.

- Yeah, let's go.

- She's marvelous isn't she Woody? - Marvelous.

- You know she showed me quite a time in Washington.

Took me to all the right places.

[everyone talking]

- Well sport! - Now here we go again!

[grunting]

You fight like you talk. But one of these days...

I'm convinced.

You know some day, I'm gonna teach him that trick.

You remember Blair Caswell, Woody?

- Yes. Still got the old moxie, hasn't he?

- He certainly has.

- Good to see you again Woody. - Nice to see you.

- What do you think of my two roughnecks, Blair?

A couple of chips off the old block.

- Hey pop, what about this new job?

He was over there treated like a military seaman.

- [chuckles] Wouldn't you like to know.

All right, men, let's get on with it.

- Ah wait'll Nick sees it, won't even be in the league.

- Shut up you mugs. Pop wants to talk.

- Quiet, quite! - [gavel banging]

- As you know, Steve and I went to Washington

after a new road contract.

While there, we ran into Blair Caswell.

One of my oldest friends and one

of the greatest highway engineers we have.

As far as I'm concerned, the greatest.

Instead of getting the job I went for,

I finished up with another job, a much bigger one.

I want Mr. Caswell to tell you about it.

- Gentlemen, for a great many years now I've had a dream,

a road connecting our country with Alaska.

It was to be the beginning of an international highway

that would eventually link us to our sister republics in Latin America.

- Ann, how about--

- However, on December the seventh,

an Alaskan highway suddenly became an urgent military necessity.

A few hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked,

we were given the go signal.

The Army Engineer Corps has been assigned the job

of pushing this road through on a nine month schedule.

You men have seen some tough assignments,

but none to compare with this.

When I suggested Jack Ormsby as the one man who could

best boss the pioneering unit that would blaze the trail,

he didn't hesitate for one moment.

So gentlemen, I give you back your boss.

No longer Pop Ormsby of the Ormsby Road Building Company

but as of next week,

Major John Ormsby of the Army Engineer Corps.

[everyone cheering and clapping]

- Attaboy pop, you're a Hollister.

- I knew you'd be aboard, Woody.

- That's great, but what happens to us?

- When I joined up, I figured I was joining for all of us.

Steve is already signed, he'll be a technical sergeant.

Now how about the rest of you bow hunters?

- Major, it's for you to commandeer and me to serve.

[chuckles]

- Well, when do we start? - You gotta ask your wife first.

- Are you kidding? This is the opportunity

to go where I don't have to ask her nothing.

[laughing]

- I told you how'd they take it.

- Wait a minute, Pop. Frosty hasn't said anything.

- Alaska? Brr.

- Here's your application blank.

Fill them out and bring it back tomorrow.

Here's yours Woody.

- Oh thanks, dad.

I want to fight the Japs all right,

but building a highway is not my kind of fight.

- You got it all wrong Woody, this is important.

- Yeah, yeah, I know.

I want to sling leather at the Japs, not mud.

- Steve, take care of the boys.

- Okay, pop.

- Come in here a minute Woody.

- Well dad.

- This this is something I never figured on son.

- Sorry you feel bad about it.

Waiting for you to get back so I could tell you.

Frosty and I are going to join the Marines.

- I could have understood Steve wanting to go back

to college for his engineering degree, but you?

- Steve and I are a little different.

- Sure, you were always more like me.

You wanted to work with me side-by-side,

but now on the biggest job of all.

But well I, I can't believe you won't be there.

- I hate to be stubborn about it, but that's how I feel.

- Well, that's the way it is.

- I knew you'd understand.

- Let's get back to the meeting.

[everyone talking]

- There you are pop.

- Thanks, Steve.

We'll need more bulldozes than we figured on.

- Well you ask for anything you need, I'll rush the recommendations.

Well, Steve, will you ask Ann to hurry with that equipment file?

She's been gone 10 minutes.

- You bet. She probably stopped to powder her nose, you know women.

[door opens]

- I'm sorry!

- Oh, it's just a scratch.

I had them all in alphabetical order.

- Here I'll help you, here's an N.

Here's a Q.

Hey, you did powder your nose, didn't you?

- Yes, what about it?

- Nothing, 'cept it's the cutest nose I've ever seen.

- [chuckles] As if you've seen them all.

- No but best of all, it's got the face to go with it.

Here's an X.

Hey, we don't have any equipment with an X.

- Yes we have, silly, excavate.

[both laugh]

- Ann, how about making up your mind right now?

This town's loaded with preachers--

- Steve, instead of worrying about that right now

you should be concentrating on getting

that stubborn brother of yours to change his mind.

- Well now wait a minute, don't get the wrong idea about Woody.

He's the best there is.

- I'm serious. He can do a much better job on the highway

than any other branch of the service.

- Woody's mind's made up, I can't do anything about it.

Never could.

- No? Maybe I can.

- There, that's got it.

- [Ann] Oh speak of the devil in wolf's clothing.

- Hi kids, what gives?

He's still at it, hot and heavy.

- Here's your file, Dad. - Thanks Ann.

- You guys ready to put on the feed bag?

Better not stop now, Woody. He'll have something sent up.

- All right. - Not this girl.

I'm dying for one of those nice juicy steaks

with some air that's not all cluttered up

with bulldozers and tractors.

- What's the matter, they getting you down?

Hey, give me that coat will ya?

- Hey, I might go for one of those steaks myself.

You better stick with us, Steve.

These forms are gonna go out in tonight's air mail.

- Yes, sir, major'll agree?

Don't let her near any juke boxes, Woody.

She'll squander your last nickel.

- [Woody] Thanks for the tip, Steve.

- Frosty, have you read the weather forecast for tonight?

- What'd it say?

- Stormy, lowering temperature.

- It did? I better get my heavy muffler and mittens huh?

- I wouldn't take a chance. - I'll be right back.

- Let's hurry. - Aren't you gonna wait for him?

- Look sticky face, we got 10 years to catch up on.

What do we want with him?

Let's take the stairs, come on.

[gentle music]

You know Ann, when I kissed you this afternoon,

I, I really didn't know it was you.

- [chuckles] If I didn't know.

- So you see that welcome wasn't for you.

Let's start all over again, huh?

- Behave yourself.

Steve's younger than you, but in many ways more grown up.

- Oh, you mean as a student or a boy with a career,

you bet your life, but of course he hasn't got my charm.

Or has he?

- Your dad's terribly disappointed you're not going along.

- I know he is.

Well, let's talk about something else. You, for instance.

- Woody, they need men like you up there.

My dad gave his entire career for that road.

Almost gave his life.

He fell off a cliff while back in the territory.

He'll never walk straight again.

But that didn't stop him.

- Ann if we're gonna spend the whole evening arguing,

look some guys like to go out and build roads.

I want to go out and fight.

There'll be plenty of fights,

with one difference.

They won't get any headlines and medals

if that's what you're after.

- Oh, for the love of Mike,

I thought we came out to have a good time.

Now, if you're gonna lecture me all evening, why...

- Maybe I'm spoiling your evening?

- Maybe I am.

Oh come on, don't be a wet blanket.

- Wow, maybe I better go back.

- Oh, wait a minute, you're like a firecracker aren't you?

The evening's only begun.

- I'm sure you can find somebody more amusing than I.

- Oh but Ann.

- I don't want to be anybody's wet blanket.

- Yeah but Ann, sit down like a nice little girl and eat your steak.

- I'm not hungry.

- Oh but please, you gotta eat your steak to keep your strength.

- Will you let me go?

- Oh Ann, please.

- Let me go.

- She means it.

[crowd talking]

- Hi kid.

- Hello Woody. - Hello Woody!

- Hi Woody how's it going?

[everyone talking at once]

- You guys oughta be going with us.

- Get him.

While you guys are up there freezin',

Woody and me is gonna be on some tropical island

surrounded with nothing but moonlight and sarongs.

- If you run into Dorothy, get me her autograph.

- Oh, think you're funny, huh?

Just for that, I'm gonna give Shorty my electric blanket.

I won't need it no more.

- Gee thanks.

How does it function?

- It's full of coils.

- Goils?

- Not goils, coils.

- Where?

- You press the button, then you turn up the thermostat

as hot as you want it.

- Say, that's very practical, thanks.

- Oh, here's the battery that goes with it.

- You'll need a ground crew with that blanket.

- [Announcer] Train 22 San Francisco, Portland, Seattle leaving...

- That's us.

- Well see you goons when this is over.

[overlapping chatter]

- Get me a Jap! - Me too!

So long fellas, take good care of that blanket, Shorty.

- So long Steve. - So long Frosty.

- Gee pop, I wish you was goin' with us.

- Good luck here Frosty.

- Excuse me, I gotta make a purchase.

- Wish you'd change your mind Woody.

- Pop will be mighty proud of you up there Steve.

- So long. - So long fella.

- You better get the men aboard Steve.

- Yes sir.

- Well Squirt.

- Better look out for those squaws up there Pop.

They'll flock around that uniform.

- Don't you worry about me, take care of yourself.

- Goodbye son. - Goodbye sir.

- Well, goodbye Mr. Caswell.

- Goodbye Woody. - I'll be with you in a minute dad.

- All right dear.

- I want to apologize for the other night, Woody.

- Sorry we didn't get to know each other better.

- I guess we're going in opposite directions.

- I'm afraid so.

- Goodbye then.

- Bye.

Ann.

- [Announcer] All aboard!

- Hey Woody, Woody, look what I picked up at the news stand.

Just the thing for where we're going huh?

♪ Sweet malarky ♪

♪ Heavenly power ♪

Hangnails.

- Come on.

[upbeat music]

[train whistle blowing]

[upbeat music continues]

[engine humming]

- Well, Nelson Major, from there on she's your baby.

- Are you warm enough there Ann?

- All except the tip of my nose.

[laughs]

What are you laughing at?

- Frosty, I hope he brought his tropical island,

he'd freeze to death up here.

[laughs]

[engine humming]

- Take it easy, they'll soon be here.

- I'm one big hunk of ice.

- Relax, slap yourself.

- My hands will break off.

I should never have let you talk me into it.

Coming way up here to the world's ice house just for a girl.

- Whatever gave you that idea? We came up here to build a road.

- Hm, wait till I see that Shorty.

I'll take that electric blanket back so quick

he'll get pneumonia.

- Eskimo giver.

Here they come now.

- We'll give 'em a real welcome!

[overlapping chatter]

- Come on guys, this is it.

- [Man] Name of this river?

[men yelling and laughing]

- Hiya there tenderfoot.

That's it lift your skirt, nice and ladylike.

- Look that's bloomin' belly dancin'.

[laughs]

- Wise guys huh?

Very funny, how would you like a punch in the nose?

[horn honking]

- [Woody] Hey sticky face!

- Hi Steve. - Woody!

Greetings major, welcome to Fort Nelson.

- Woody. - We joined up.

- How did you get here?

- Flew, trains make me sea sick. Can I give you a lift?

- Woody, put me down! - In all that mud?

- No. - Well all right.

- So you changed your mind.

- Yep, right after you left.

You were right about the road, that's what I knew best.

One more giggle out of you and I'll drop you right in this goo.

There you are.

- I can't tell you how I feel about this son.

I am going down right now and tell that general

to cut that schedule in half.

[upbeat music]

- [Announcer] It was only the beginning.

As their brothers in arms battled on South Pacific islands

in China and Africa, these men fought the wilderness

inch by inch, foot by foot, mile by mile.

They cut the Alcan highway northward 1600 miles to go.

If the Japs came, the road had to be ready.

[engine humming]

- If the battalion working from Alaska south

is doing as well as we are, we'll beat the deadline.

- Yes, that fella helped us a lot.

I'm glad you came up today.

Come on, I wanted to show you something.

We've reached black rock.

- That's gonna take some cutting around.

- Cutting around nothing, that would eat up a week.

We're gonna blast five days right off the schedule.

[engine humming]

[suspenseful music]

- Think they'll make it?

- Don't worry about them, they got to know how born into them.

- Yeah, sure is haphazard.

One slip, one of them cats go off and we pick up the particles.

[suspenseful music]

[door slams]

[engine roaring]

[horn honking]

- At ease Frosty.

- [Ann] Are Woody and Steve doing the dynamiting?

- [Blair] They're all right, they know what they're doing.

[suspenseful music]

- [Woody] Just taking a cap, Steve.

- [Steve] Okay.

[grunts]

Steve!

- [Steve] Hey! That's a long way down.

- I'm not worried about going down,

I'm worried about what would happen to the dynamite.

Can't mistake.

[suspenseful music]

[grunts]

Woody! Woody!

Woody hang on! Hang on!

[suspenseful music]

- [Woody] I can't hold on much longer.

- [Steve] All right, tap that amount.

All right?

- [Woody] Oh, wait a minute.

I gotta get rid of that dynamite.

If the caps hit the rocks, it'll go off.

- Wait a minute.

Get out from under, we're going to drop the dynamite.

Get out from under!

- All right, let it go!

- Okay.

[suspenseful music]

[dynamite blasting]

- All right, now sling it over the other way.

Come on!

Oh Woody! All right.

Look out!

[Woody] Steve, Steve hang on.

- [Steve] Woody. - [Woody] Hang on, wait a minute.

- All right, swing!

[suspenseful music]

- You all right Steve?

- Yeah, thanks.

- Quick blow on that ledge there.

- Okay. - Can you make it?

- [Woody] Yeah. - Atta boy.

- The heights up there.

It's all in a day's work Sticky face.

Let me check Steve's arm, I think he hurt it.

- I'm afraid I'll live.

- Just the same, you get over to first aid.

- Yes sir.

- Took a pretty good bite out of it at that major.

- Well, you certainly did it the hard way.

- Frosty, that's a very fancy band you imported.

- Ah Frosty Gimble sir, nothing but the finest.

- How about this dance?

- Okay.

[gentle music]

Who's that?

- That's Mrs. Devon Van Cleeve,

of the Baltimore Van Cleeves.

Don't look now, her diamonds are showing.

- Really? How revolting.

- Let's drop this.

I'm crazy about you and I have been ever since the day at the hotel.

- Woody.

- I'll be honest with you, I didn't change my mind about the road.

I came here because you were here.

If they'd have been building a road in China I'd have gone there too.

Does that make any difference?

- Not in the least, Sergeant.

- I wanted to thank you for saving me Woody

but I see you've already received your reward.

- Steve. - Hold on Steve.

- What for?

I should have figured this would have happened,

you're the glamorous brother.

- Steve.

- Ann, you've got to tell me the truth.

Am I interfering with anything between you and Steve?

- No Woody, I never made him any promises.

- I'll straighten him out right now.

Steve.

Look Steve, I'm gonna level with Ann.

- I know what you're thinking.

I've probably given you a reason for it in the past.

If I've known you felt that way.

- Don't say that.

- That's the way it is, there's nothing can be done about it.

Let him cool off, he'll be all right.

[exhaling]

- Frosty.

[tongue clicking]

Snagging one of my blankets eh?

- No, no, I was, I was just awake on it.

- That's Steve's bed, remember?

- Not no more, it ain't. He changed tents with me.

It was his idea.

He comes into my tent with all his stuff mind you

and forces mine outside.

Wants me to change with him and and that's all.

Gee, I wish I had my electric blanket back.

- You mean to tell me I haven't got that back yet?

- I hate to ask him for it.

When you give a guy something gratuitous,

you just can't take it back, especially when

he appreciates it like Shorty does.

[grunts]

- What's the matter Shorty, getting a little hot?

- Nope.

[laughing]

You kill me.

- Listen Roughhouse, if you ever turn

this blankety blank blanket up to fever heat again, I'll murder you.

- [laughing] I turned it up half an hour ago.

- Yeah well I didn't think it would hurt Frosty's feelings

why I'd toss this contraption right back in his truck.

The big gift horse.

[laughing]

- Did he say anything about me?

- No, why should he?

Anyway, you don't have to get mixed up in it.

- I'm talking about Steve.

- Oh, I thought you meant Shorty, about the blanket.

If you want that blanket, why don't you go get it?

- I don't like to hurt his feelings

but I'm being too thinned skinned about it.

He's just being patient.

- Maybe he doesn't know you want it.

- Oh no?

Every time I pass him, I shake my geese pimples

right in his face.

He just won't take a hint.

- Then I don't get it.

- Yeah, darn him, that's just what I'm gonna do right now.

- As you were. - Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

- What's happened to Steve?

- What do you mean?

- Now don't start pulling that innocent act.

What is it between you two?

- Oh just a little misunderstanding,

he'll get over it in the morning.

- Not from what he said, Woody.

He wants to be transferred to a combat unit.

- What? - He just asked me.

- If he insists, I'll have to make out the application.

- Oh, he's crazy, I'll go and talk to him.

- I want my blanket Shorty.

Can't do this to me.

I didn't leave it with you.

Didn't know I was coming to Alaska.

Now listen Shorty, I want--

- What's the matter with you?

- Oh, nothing sir, I feel fine.

Frosty, the blanket, the blanket. You better get it out, get out.

- Hi Frosty.

Look ah, how about,

how about ah,

got a cigarette?

- Certainly.

[whimsical music]

- Thanks.

Listen Shorty, I come over to ask you ah...

- What?

- Got a match?

- What's the matter with you?

Here.

- Thanks.

- No kidding, Shorty, about that blanket.

- That blanket is a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

It was really magnanimous of you.

- Oh well, skip it.

- Oh don't go Frosty. Sit down and discuss a while.

- Yeah, thanks.

[soft music]

Blanket makes the tent nice and warm.

- Yeah.

[whimsical music]

- [grunting] - [laughing]

- I better not keep you fellas up.

- Oh, that's all right, Frosty, we never go to bed early.

Do we Shorty?

- No.

- I better be going.

I'm a...

I'm a glad you like that blanket Shorty.

- Nite fellas. - [Shorty] Good night and thanks.

- Good night Frosty.

[laughing]

- Fever heat eh?

Well here's where you get barbecued.

[laughs]

- Steve.

What's all this malarkey about you asking for a transfer?

You're an engineer, you belong here.

- Will you quit running my life?

- I can't help it if Ann and I-

- Well I've seen you operate around women plenty.

- What's Ann got to do with it?

- Nothing sir.

- I'll tell you pop, I can't take it anymore.

I'm sick of being the goat in his family.

- Steve. - Yes, all my life.

- I'm gonna be the great engineer.

I'm gonna make the family name famous.

I've got to keep my nose to the grindstone, but not Woody.

No, he can tear around and do as he pleases.

That's all right, but when he double crosses--

[overlapping]

I can't help it if Ann and I-

- You're a liar, an underhanded, backstabbing--

- Steve!

Ever since your mother died, I've tried for one thing,

to bring up two boys I could be proud of.

Well, I'm not proud of you anymore.

I'm ashamed.

- Oh pop, the only rea-- - I don't want to hear anymore.

- Squabbling like spoiled brats.

I may be a father, but I'm also your commanding officer.

- Yes, sir.

- Tomorrow morning I want you both on the job.

I don't want to hear any more about transfers.

And if there's any more of this scrubbing,

by Jupiter, I'll toss you both in the hooscal.

- Good night.

[everyone talking]

- Choose your mate by mail the lonely hearts way.

We introduce you, you do the rest.

Don't feel less satisfied.

- Not bad. - [Man] Hey Frosty!

- How 'bout some stew?

- Eh, always in a hurry.

Hardly get my coat check settled when you guys

move at 20 miles.

- What have we here?

Choose your mate by mail the lonely hearts way.

Get a load of them specimens.

- Give me that!

- Frosty, you ain't considering matrimony per chance?

- Why not? When this job is over, I got me a plan.

- What do you want to get married for

when a hot water bottle will do the trick?

- Frosty's right, he needs somebody to keep house for him.

- You pick one of those out yet?

- I made up my mind what my type is.

- Now here's a beauty.

I'll bet she weighs at least 180 pounds on a hook.

- Hey, give me that.

- Hey, look at that one. She's built like an hour glass.

- Hey Shorty, I got an idea.

Suppose you and me choose a bride for Frosty, huh?

Now let me see, what are you interested in?

Beauty, efficiency or temperature?

- Give me that before I tear you apart.

- There's no need for that-

- Hurry up with the feed bag you mother.

- I've got miles to make before supper.

What's the matter Frosty?

- Ah them guys ain't got no romance in their souls.

- Hey you muds, outside and get rolling.

We've got miles to make.

[everyone talking]

- Dear lonely hearts,

I am 35

and considered nice looking.

Good looking.

Handsome.

[upbeat music]

- [Announcer] Through muck and muskeg, blasting,

digging, slashing, these uniformed Paul Bunyan's

wrestle with nature.

[dynamite blasting]

Now this road was just a supply line of preparation.

At any moment that Japs might attack,

then it would become a lifeline of necessity.

But might as they might, it wasn't always possible

to beat the schedule.

Eight miles a day, eight miles a day.

- Why don't you handle it the way the Brazilian engineers did

on their road from Rio to Natel?

Corduroy a log road so the cats can get some pudding.

- That's all right, when we get into the worst muskeg.

But right now it's the thick woods that's holding us up.

- Well frankly, John, the general thinks you can move faster.

- You know I'm pushing my men.

From early morning until after dark.

- I know that.

But the unit working south from Alaska

is averaging two miles a day better than we are.

- Yeah? And you also know

that this is a more difficult kind of territory.

We can't get any more out of the equipment, Blair.

- I know that.

Machinery won't do it all by itself.

But from what the general said,

you've got to inspire your men to do more

than they think they can.

He's rather worried about their morale.

- Yeah?

All right.

- Thanks for being so frank, Blair.

I'll inspire them, if I have to whip every one of them myself.

[machines clattering]

- Hey Hank. How about a smoke?

- Wow, be right with you.

[engine roaring]

- Hey Steve, remember when I was telling you this morning

at breakfast about them two pass we had down south?

- Thank you.

- You ought to seen the work different up here.

I don't know, I guess it must be the out-

- Sergeant Ormsby. - Yes sir?

- What the meaning of this layoff?

- Oh just a little rest, sir.

The lead bulldozers are moving fast enough

to keep us working.

- Get Sergeant Ormsby. - Yes sir.

- You men come with me. - Yes sir.

- If you can't shove ahead fast enough to keep

the men behind you busy, I'll have to put someone else

on the lead bulldozer.

- I'm going as fast as I can sir.

- You've got to move faster. - Yes sir.

[engine roaring]

- Thanks for making me the fall guy.

- Well I only told him the facts,

I'm stepping on your heels all the time.

- I suppose you also told him you could do my job better than I can.

- Nope, that's an idea.

- Oh Steve, why don't you grow up, quit pouting.

- You'd like to bet a month's pay I can cover more ground

with one of those babies than you can?

- Oh so I've gotta pin your ears back huh?

- Yep, that's from me.

- It's a bet, you're on.

- You shouldn't be doing this Sergeant.

- You hold the stakes, does anybody else want in?

- [Everyone] Yeah yeah - [talking at once].

- Stay close so you can pay the boys off when I'm through.

The one who's ahead by quitting time, wins.

- Fair enough? - Right?

- And give me plenty of room.

Those trees will be falling like confetti.

Come on.

[everyone talking]

[engine clattering]

[suspenseful music]

- Better give up, kid.

[suspenseful music]

- Hey!

[tense music]

- Come on, gotta move down there. - Bring on a bigger hook.

- Over here. - Hurry up, bring it over!

- Over here, bring out the hook!

Come on, what's the matter with you fellas? Hurry it up!

- [Man] Here I'll help ya.

- What in thunder am I gonna do with you two?

You not only smashed up two perfectly good pieces

of equipment, but you injured one of my best men.

Lucky you didn't kill him.

- No explanation, sir.

- You bet there isn't.

Here we are breaking our backs trying to put

this road through and you two-

- Well accidents can happen to anybody.

- Not to me anymore, they can't.

The general said the morale of my men was bad.

What do you think it is now?

- It isn't you're fault, we were just a couple of nitwits.

- I asked you for a transfer, sir.

- If that's what you want, all right.

I can't fight the road and you both.

- I only feel it would be better for all concerned, sir.

- I had plans for you, big plans, but,

all right go ahead and quit.

I'll wire for your transport tonight.

- Yes sir.

- If he goes now, he'll never come back to us Woody.

I know that.

- I wish there was something I could do.

- Right now, you can leave me alone.

[everyone yelling]

- Corporal Beale. - Yowsa.

- Private Robbins. - Me.

- Private Gimble. Frosty Gimble.

- He's at the hospital with Hank.

- I'll take care of it, I'll see that he gets it.

- Private Nelson. - I'll take it.

- From the matrimony bureau.

- Baby this is gonna be delicious.

- Gilmore.

- Private Robbins. - Me.

- Corporal Beale.

- Holy Christopher.

- No wonder she wants to commit matrimony.

- What a pan.

- I'll bet she rides around on a broom.

What did she say?

- The usual, Ann, 30, look much younger.

- 30? Are you kiddin' Clementine?

Hey where's the other picture?

- Right here, hold this.

It's lucky I'm a sentimental guy,

otherwise I wouldn't have saved this program from the follies.

[chuckles]

Ah Shorty, you remember that night?

- Do I remember?

[laughing]

- Is this gonna give Frosty a surprise.

[laughing]

Now, we won't spring the real one on him until later.

- That'll pay him back for giving me that blanket.

- Yeah, come on.

- Hold everything, here he comes.

- Hello Frosty. - Hiya.

- How's Hank?

- Busted gam, couple of ribs, he'll pull through though.

- Those guys should have known better.

- Yeah. - Oh, by the way Frosty,

- here's a letter for you.

- Just a form letter, I guess.

- Wait til he sees the form in the letter.

- Oh whoopie!

Yoo hoo, ya ha!

Yoo hoo, whoopie, oh boy!

Whoopie ha ha! Yoo hoo, yoo hoo!

- Hey Frosty, slow down, take it easy,

what's the matter with you, ya-

- Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Meet the woman I am going to marry.

[whistles]

- Simply too, too divine. A goddess.

- What a hunka hunka.

You mean to tell me you get something like that

from a marriage bureau?

- And you guys were so contemptuous.

- Oh Frosty.

Let me be the first to congratulate you.

- Thanks Roughhouse. - Me too.

- Thanks.

- Hey, what did she have to say?

- I won't read you all.

She says here in part, I... [mumbling]

You sound like the type of man

I have been dreaming about all my life.

- So you better write her and sign up the bargain immediate.

Somebody's liable to get to her first.

- Shorty's right, that kind of merchandise

ought to be rationed.

- Yeah, maybe you're right.

Who's got pencil and paper?

Come on and help me look for it.

- Yeah, go ahead.

- I got the table.

[engine humming]

- Major.

- Hello Blair.

- How would you like a nice home cooked dinner

in a non-military atmosphere?

- Get all settled up in the cabin?

- Oh, Ann's been fussing around there all day

just as though we were gonna stay there forever.

Come on up and have dinner with us.

- Not tonight, I don't feel up to it.

- You sound pretty low.

- Give it to me straight, Blair.

Am I too old for this job?

- Read that last part over again.

- This is a firm offer, so don't accept no other propositions.

With all my affection, looking forward, Frosty.

- That's good. - Yeah.

- PS, in case you cannot cook,

well go ahead and write it, write it, write it.

PS, in case you cannot cook, do not worry about it because I-

- Wait a minute, wait a minute, not so fast.

[mumbling]

Because I happen to be a gastro-- [mumbling]

gastrocomical wizard.

- Gastrocomical? What's that?

- Gastrocomical? It's cookin'.

- With gas. - Oh!

- That's it, that should do it. Come on Shorty, let's blow.

Good night Frosty.

- Well happy dreams.

- Good night fellas.

Gastrocomical, with gas.

- When will we spring the real picture on him?

- Tomorrow morning, after he's mailed his letter.

- Hide that.

- Ann.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Your nose is red.

- Oh it's getting colder out.

- Where's the major?

- He couldn't come.

- Anything wrong?

- He wants to resign his command.

- What? - I think I talked him out of it.

- Why would he consider doing such a thing?

He's doing a good job.

- It's other things, Steve's getting a transfer.

I'm taking the wire with me to base camp tonight.

What's come between you?

- Nothing dad!

- I wouldn't want to think that my daughter wasn't playing fair.

- Daddy I'm not in love with him.

- I'm sure he thought you were.

- He took a lot of things for granted.

Maybe there were times in Washington when,

now that I've seen Woody, all that's changed.

- It's Woody then.

- Yes, I knew it the minute I saw him again.

- Oh if you'd only been honest with Steve from the very beginning.

- I have.

He wants to quit his job that's up to him.

Road can get along without him.

- Oh, certainly the road can get along without him.

What about his father?

Those two boys were his whole life

and now he thinks he's a complete failure

and right in the middle of the biggest job he ever tackled.

Don't you see that?

- Daddy, you seem to think it's up to me.

- I do.

- Maybe there is something I can do.

[horn honking]

- Frosty, is Woody there?

- No, sir, he didn't come in from supper yet.

- See that he gets that will you please?

- Yes, sir, soon as he comes in. - Thank you.

- Oh, uh, Mr. Caswell, are you driving back to base camp?

- That's right. - Would you do me a favor?

- Sure. - Mail this?

- Air mail special, must be important.

- Mr. Caswell, that letter's gonna change my whole life.

- In that case, I'll take particular care to see that it gets off.

- Thanks.

- Good luck, Cassy. - Bye.

♪ I dream of lucky with a lost yachtie ♪

♪ Da da da de ♪

- I feel like a bridegroom already.

- Hi Frosty. - Oh, hello, where you been?

- Out. - Uh.

- Here's a note for ya.

Feminine penmanship too.

- See you later Frosty. - Where you going?

- Out. - That's where you just been.

It's after dark, regulations say you mustn't leave camp.

- Ann wants to see me I guess.

- Oh well, we can't blame him, can we honey?

[knocking]

- The wind wants in too.

- How are you? - How should I be?

- A beautiful girl, you, a thousand miles from everywhere.

So you fixed this place up.

- I think I better start a fire up.

- Oh now wait a minute, wait a minute,

girls don't know how to build a fire.

You put a small one on first,

then that log creates a vent.

There you are, a blazing fire, a beautiful girl and me.

How about a little music, huh?

[soft music]

- You know you've got a smudge in that pretty little chin of yours?

- Woody please.

- Ann, what's the matter with you?

- It's been a lot of fun, but I think we better

stop kidding ourselves.

- Kidding?

- You and me getting involved when we didn't mean to.

- Ann, are you leaving me?

- No, Woody.

That's why I sent for you.

[fire crackling]

- Didn't any of the things that happened the other day

mean anything to you?

- Yes they did for a minute.

I guess that's the way I am.

- I don't understand, things don't, don't...

- Woody, a girl can change her mind, can't she?

- Not yet.

Look, I came 3,000 miles just to see you.

You're trying to tell me that-

- I'm sorry, that's the way it is.

- Look Ann, I put myself out on the line for you, for keeps.

- I'm sorry I made a mistake, it won't work out

and there's nothing else to be said about it.

- Steve was leaving just on account of us.

I'm glad you tipped me off in time.

Maybe I can save him from wrecking his life, for nothing.

[suspenseful music]

Come on, let's get out of here!

We can't get out this way.

I'll let you know what to do, now go ahead.

Shorty, take the gentlemen to the canyon and begin backfiring.

- Yes sir, you guys follow me.

- Sergeant Hanson. - Yes sir.

- Take another detail and move the gasoline down.

- Yes sir. - Get going!

The fire's moving that way.

Load all the explosives on trucks and keep rolling away.

- Yes sir.

- Frosty, where's Woody?

- I don't know sir, I came as soon as I heard the alarm.

He must be some place around.

- We've got one chance, down the bottom of the canyon.

Give me that!

[suspenseful music]

You've gotta run.

All right, get going.

- Have your men wet down the tents.

- Yes sir, come on boys.

- Miss Caswell's up in the cabin.

- Well there's only one way to get through, sir, dynamite.

May I have your permission?

- Yes. - Thank you sir, come on Frosty!

- Turn around, drive back to camp.

- Yes sir.

[engine roaring]

[tense music]

- Corporal, tell him to hurry up those explosives.

- Yes sir.

Hey, hurry it up!

[suspenseful music]

[yelling]

- Frosty get over there and rock the boat and gasoline drums.

- I'm helping Steve with the dynamite.

- You heard what I said, get over there and help with those drums!

- That's what I thought you said.

- Hank, get into the Jeep with him and open up that siding

so they won't jam up.

- Yes sir. - I have it sir.

- You think you can get through it that way?

- I think so sir, I'm gonna try to blow a path

- right through those plains. - You'll have to try.

- Okay.

- Gotta find out now fellas, here we go.

[suspenseful music]

- Steve! - Hold it.

[coughing]

- Woody.

We've got to get you to the hospital.

- Woody you gotta come too. - All right.

- Hey hurry that up.

[yelling]

[suspenseful music]

- [yelling] - [suspenseful music]

- It's getting pretty hot corporal.

- All right men, let's clear out.

We have to let the rest go. Get those-

[intense music]

[drums exploding]

- You better go in now, he hasn't much time.

[gentle music]

- Hello Woody.

- Fellas.

- Gee Frosty, I'm sorry, it was all my fault.

- Hey Natty, I slipped that's all.

- If it hadn't been for me, there wouldn't have been a fire.

Made a big shot, all this grandstanding for some girl.

- Forget it pal.

Roughhouse.

- Yeah Frosty?

- My fiancee, the picture, did it get burned up?

- No, no just scorched a little.

- Gee, I won't be ever able to go through with my betrothal.

- Ah, sure you will.

- Don't kid me.

She deserves somebody better than me anyway.

- No, no Frosty.

You would have made her a swell husband.

- [Frosty] You think so Roughhouse?

- Sure.

- Woody, remember Tannenberg, Woody?

Gee and it was so nice and warm.

[gentle music]

[melancholic music]

[paper ripping]

- At ease Woody. - Yes sir.

- Too bad about Frosty.

- Yeah.

Did the request for Steve's transfer gone through yet?

- No, Caswell was taking the wire

to base camp last night but he came back.

- Good, forget about it.

- You mean he's changed his mind?

- No but if I go he'll stay.

- Woody, what in the name-- - Stop it, Pop.

Steve's the one that always wanted to be an engineer.

And you said yourself, if he quit now he's through.

He'd be giving up a whole career.

I'm not giving up anything.

I didn't want to come here in the first place.

I lied to you when I told you I changed my mind.

- It was the girl.

- Yeah, that's all over now and if I go, I,

maybe Ann and Steve can get together.

That's all he wants.

- Well you don't have to go because of that Woody, you can--

- It's not only that, it's Frosty.

If I could get a gun in my hands and get into a scrap,

maybe I could forget it.

- Whatever, on a big job like this they're always casualties.

- Frosty was no ordinary casualty.

I started that fire myself

as a direct result of disobeying orders.

- Thanks for the lift soldier.

[engine roaring]

- Woo hoo.

- Keep your mind on your work, Rogers.

- Yes sarge.

- Rogers!

- Okay go ahead.

- [Ann] Steve.

- Hold it. - [Ann] Steve!

- Do you want me?

- Woody's transfer came through.

He's leaving today.

- What about it?

- We can't let him go like this.

Feeling bitter.

Steve, you may never see him again.

Won't you at least go talk to him?

- There's nothing I can say.

Ann.

- All set, Sergeant? - Hang on to this, will ya?

- Ready to leave eh?

- Well you won't be needing me now that you're

getting all these new men.

- Read it.

- Japanese forces have occupied Aleutian Islands.

Kiska, Attu, and Agattu.

Crisis demands we double efforts in opening the highway

before scheduled time.

Certainly pouring it on, aren't they?

- I guess there's no use talking anymore, Woody.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye sir.

Everything will be all right when the war's over, dad.

Give my regards to the infantry.

And write us once in a while.

- Yes, sir.

- Bye Mr. Caswell. - Woody.

[siren blaring]

[everyone talking]

- There's a landslide sarge, top of the mountain with the new cut.

It started a crack away, we're trying to get machines out

before she gets completely.

- Corporal Veal. - Yes sir.

- Bring up every available man at once.

- Yes sir. - Johnson, you bring up

- the ambulance, we may need her. - Yes sir.

- I'll go back with you. - Yes sir.

- Sergeant, you follow us. - Yes sir.

- Good bye Woody. - Bye sir.

- Write to me.

- [siren blaring] - [engine starting]

- Do you have room for another passenger?

- We certainly have.

[suspenseful music]

[rocks rumbling]

- Go on, hurry up and get that equipment on!

Keep it moving!

[suspenseful music]

Keep those trucking moving on. Here, you take this one.

- I'll get it chief. - Okay Roughhouse.

Come on fellas, get a move on!

[intense music]

- Come on, give me your arm, I'll get you out.

- No, no!

- What's the matter? - My leg.

- Okay, wait a minute.

- Steve and Roughhouse.

Woody be careful!

- Where's Steve?

- Right there.

Never mind me, get Steve!

[suspenseful music]

- There ya, Pop.

[suspenseful music]

You get Roughhouse out, I'll get Steve.

[dramatic music]

Drop a little.

- Let me get a fresh hold. - Okay.

What in Jupiter?

I thought you'd be in the infantry by now.

- Ah look at the hair on those ears.

Once an engineer always an engineer.

[tense music]

Sergeant, get him in.

- Yes, sir.

- His leg.

Get him back to camp.

- You all in one piece, kid?

- Yeah. - Woody!

You got hurt.

- I think you mean Steve.

- She means Woody, I know that now.

Come on men, bring it up.

What do you think this is? A picnic?

Come on, we've got a job we're trying to do here.

Come on everybody, back on the job.

[upbeat music]

- [Announcer] With the Japs clawing at the Aleutians,

shifts were doubled.

More men, more machines, day and night.

One unit pushing North.

Another Southward from Alaska.

A miracle of bulldogs day after day

and American know-how.

Until just six months from the starting day.

[engine rattling]

[gentle music]

- Hey soldier, where you headed for?

- Me? I'm headed South. - South?

- Yeah, how come you were headed North?

- Hey, this is it, hey gang, come here!

Steve, Shorty!

- [Everyone] What's the matter?

- He's headed South, we're headed North.

It's open! The Alcan Highway!

[cheering]

[gentle music]

- [Announcer] A few days later, several hundred miles

to the North, in the grip of an Alaskan freeze,

representatives of the Canadian

and United States governments cut the tape

and the Alcan Highway was officially open for business.

The convoys moved northward.

Men, munitions, supplies and a solid strengthening stream,

the engineers' job was done.

They had met the wilderness and beaten it.

[upbeat music]