White Fang

Good family-oriented movie from the Walt Disney Studios proves that sometimes less is more. The story is about a Yukon gold hunter's (Ethan Hawke) friendship with the titled Alaskan husky. Jack London's wonderful novel is methodical both in the book and on the silver screen (this is a major plus). Every frame here is a joy as wonderful editing and cinematography enhance a deceptively smart screenplay and noble direction. Hawke, one of the more under-rated actors of his generation, proves he can handle a major production and take the reigns as the primary focus. Supporting actor Klaus Maria Brandauer shines throughout. One of the finer family films produced in the 1990s. 4 stars out of 5.

***SPOILERS*** Heartwarming Jack London tale of a hybrid wolf/dog puppy who was out on his own trying to survive the harsh weather and the Alaskan Yukon's frozen and dangerous countryside.

The pup, who's mother was caring for it until she died, due to being shot by a gold prospector, was trying to go it alone with no family or wolf pack to provide food care or safety for it is later caught in a trap by a local Inult Eskimo Grey Beaver, Plus Savage, who gives the puppy the name "White fang" due to it's over-sized dagger-like killing canine teeth.

Later at the local town when Grey Beaver, with White Fang, was there to trade in furs for food and supplies some of the people spotted the unusual wolf/dog and set a huge sled dog on White Fang who the wolf/dog made short odor of. The owner of the sled dog Beauty Smith, James Ramer,forces Grey Beaver to give up White Fang to him for compensation for what he did to his lead sled dog and trains the wolf/dog to be a fighting dog at the local illegal dog fighting pen.

White Fang terribly abused and brutalized by Beauty to be a killer wins dozens of dog fights for his greedy owner until one night in a fight with a much younger and powerful bull-dog is almost killed only to be saved by young Jack Conroy, Ethan Hawke,as the Royal Mountie Police broke into the dog fighting pen discontinuing the vicious savagery going on there. White Fang saved Jack's life earlier in the film, before he was taken from Grey Beaver by Beauty Smith, when the powerful and courageous wolf/dog stared down a giant Alasken Bear who was about to maul and kill the wounded young man and now Jack was returning the favor.

Back at the shed Jack was with his partner Alex Larson, Klaus Maria Brandauer,a friend of Jack's late father who died in the wild Alsaken wilderness and left the claim to the shack and mine to him. jack patching the wounded canine showed the love and kindness to White Fang that he never knew and soon became Jack's, as well as Alex's,best friend.

Striking a gold load at the mine Jack,together with White Fang, go to town to see if the gold he found in his mine is genuine which it proves to be. Beauty Smith spot's the young man and his former fighting wolf/dog and together and with a number of his criminal associates follows them back to the shack in order to kill both Jack and Alex and steal their gold but They didn't count on White Fang. The brave and ferocious wolf/dog put the whole gang out of commission and ended up plowing his ferocious teeth into the hated Beauty's derrière.

Touching tearful and uplifting ending with White Fang coming back to Jack who earlier chased the wolf/dog into the wild. That was after he decided to leave the Yukon with Alex and his girlfriend Belinda, Susan Hogan, for San Francisco to open a hotel, with the money they made from the gold mine, with Jack being a co-partner. Wonderful story for kids and grownups of all ages with some of the most scenic and beautiful photography, around the towns of Halnes & Skagway Alaska, ever put on film.

Ahh. White Fang. The very title itself brings warmth to my heart as it was the first novel I ever read. Now, this isn't quite an exact adaption of Jack London's novel, that would be difficult. What is does do is take the fine wildlife elements of the novel and fuse them onto the tale of a boy rather than vice versa as in the novel. This is more the story of Jack than the wolf itself. As a film adaption however, it was the correct road to take and makes for splendid entertainment. There are many recognizable moments from the book however to ensure the film is deserving of the title. It's beautifully shot, with amazing scenery so it certainly realizes the vision of the book. It also has top performances from the two leads and nice support from Remar as the snarling Beauty. The bottom line though is whether you're familiar with London's touching novel or not this film will warm your heart. Recommended to anyone who likes a good old fashioned yarn.

Niz

i remember watching this film when i was kid back in 1991. I was and still am a lover of Wolves, and this film really got to me. I just purchased the DVD last night, and am so excited to re-live what was once my all time favorite movie. The acting and the scenery in this film are amazing, i can still remember sitting in my bedroom watching Ethan Hawke's character walking up that huge slope to get to the top and meet with the people he is going to mine gold with. Along the way White Fang comes along and helps him and protects him. It is one of the greatest movies having to do with the gold mining and wildlife. White fang was my hero as an animal as i was growing up, and i had always wished that i could find a wolf, and live in alaksa with it by my side.

In 1991 it was a ok family film . In 2022 it's great. Filmed in real locations , real animals, good acting . It's an almost surreal experience imo . The story is really basic and some bad cuts in the beginning. The actors don't really have much to work with but they have great presence in all the scenes. The settings is strikingly beautiful.