The frozen, unforgiving terrain of subarctic Canada is the setting as screen giant John Wayne heads an all-star cast in the meticulously restored adventure drama. Set after World War II, Wayne plays Dooley, a former arny pilot flying transport missions, who is foreced to crash-land his fuel-starved pane on a frozen lake after it strays from its course. A desperate game of suvival begins as Dooley and his men confront a meager food supply, limited shelter, inadequate clothing, a primtive emergency radio transmitter and an impending arctic storm. Meanwhile, Dooley's fellow pilots and their crews launch a seemingly overwhelming air search of the bleak, uncharted landscape - grimly realizing that the rescue of the missing men dimishes with each tick of the clock.