La llamada de lo salvaje

At first glance, I couldn't understand why I would be writing the very first IMDb review of this film made for television way back in 1976 until I searched the website under the topic "Call of the Wild" and found no fewer than 50 or so titles with the same name listed above it, including many individual episodes of several tv series through the years. Jack London, the original author of the iconic novel, would be very gratified knowing how many times his one literary source has been filmed. Unfortunately, as a result of so many offshoots, this production did not receive the attention that it should have achieved.

I was surprised to discover the only filming locations on this website as two areas of southeastern Virginia, Brunswick County and Chesterfield, since spectacular mountains covered in snow appear throughout the movie. Other websites list the filming locations as the Teton Mountains in Wyoming and the "Sierra Madre Mountains" without specifying whether the latter range is located in the California or Mexico varieties. In any case, the photography of Matthew Leonetti is very commendable as is the direction of Jerry Jameson. Both men earned extensive credits mostly in the television industry extending from the 1970's well into the twenty first century. The musical score by Peter Matz is excellent and contributes significant drama to the action. James Dickey, the author of "Deliverance", wrote the screenplay.

Unlike other filmed versions of London's novel, this one tells the story as it was originally written through the eyes of the true star, Buck the dog. The narrator is Marvin Miller, whose distinctive voice was instantly recognized by me as that of the host and narrator in the immensely popular 1950's tv show, "The Millionaire". Yes, I'm that old! John Beck does a fine job as the other human star, John Thornton, the young prospector who adopts Buck and shows him kindness for the first time since he was sold to traders by a cruel, selfish, and ignorant employee of the original California estate where he lived a very comfortable existence.

Being a lifelong dog lover, I was immediately captivated by Buck, whose harrowing journey from the cushy estate to a life of hardship and harshness should teach us all very important lessons about the possibilities of drastic reversals in life and the ability to survive under the most difficult of circumstances. Through it all, Buck is able to adapt and eventually to thrive as a welcome member of a Yukon wolf pack. The shots of Buck romping in the wild with his canine relatives are magnificent and spiritually uplifting.

I discovered this film buried deep within my own, personal collection of VCR tapes. I hope that it is available to others because it should not be missed as one of the best films made for television that I have seen.

In my revisiting movies process "The Call of the Wild's John Beck 1976" which never watched it again since 1978 aired in TV when I was a teenager at my parent's house, it somehow disappears from the sight, in any format at all, even in countless versions released on DVD, it never came out here in Brazil last night looking at Youtube I'd found a restored copy in aspect ratio 4 x 3 almost full-frame in bright colors, thus I go back into 1978 for one hour and thirty nine minutes, what a glorious picture named in Brazil as "Caninos Brancos" that means White Fang.

The basic story from Jack London's novel, the unexpected narration by Marvin Miller differentiating itself from others versions only, the stronger dog Rayfield living a comfy life at Miller's farm at Santa Clara Valley California, sold by a debt-ridden employee by measly fifty dollars for an outlaw catcher of dogs, taken by wagon and pass on to another at railroad the dog lost his sense of direction toward San Francisco's harbor to send by ship to the north where the gold rush takes place.

Rayfield reaches at frozen place as never seen before on newest French owner that beaten up him without pity aiming for becomes tame, soon a French François (Bernard Bresson) takes an interesting on dog, however he can afford 300 dollars, then came out John Thornton (John Beck) that have the same matter, thus he make an agreement between them they'll split the charge and get the dog to themselves, although both have opposite directions on gold mining area, after an exhaustive travel thru a massive snowy land they arrives at first post kept by a old blind man.

Afterwards both clash themselves in a fight because the early agreement wasn't adhered by François that would rather going to another place, Thornton stayed injured due a stab in his leg, he must stay there until his wound should healed, at starting a travel in the raft which Rayfield took place the dog's leader refuses lift up upon so tired previous travel, then François is willing kills Rayfield, therefore a Thornton's gun aimed to François's head, thus he left the dog there, at cabin at last Rayfield receives an another name "Buck" sadly the call of the wild from their ancestors came unexpected.

Shot entirely Pocahontas state park at Virginia was so beautiful landscape with strong similitude with Canada or Alaska as the book suggest, as a TV movie the tight budge is easily noticed on some scenes, also the gran-finale is spoiled by an unparallel outcome, the remaining is really great, the star of the picture Rayfield-Buck had a great performance, I'm so sorrow as wrote the another reviewer who posted here the complaining over so lowest rating and now two reviews only, not enough to fine version of the immortal tale of Jack London.

Resume:

First watch: 1978 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 7.5.