White Fang (1975)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Blistering performances.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

When you're looking for someone to direct a family adventure film in the style of Lassie then the name of splatter icon Lucio Fulci doesn't exactly spring to mind. Nonethless, Fulci was on hand (at an early stage in his career and before he became typecast as a horror director) to direct this expensive-looking and glossy family film which is a successful cross between spaghetti western motifs and the more traditional family adventure, with the heroic dog of the title (so called because he's half wolf, and thus has gleaming white fangs) rescuing small Eskimo boys who have fallen into the ice and biting the arms of the bad guys. The reason this works is because it looks so good; a crisp, colourful and sometimes beautiful movie that makes as good a use of its lush locales as Fulci's DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING did. Complimented by quality sets, a fine cast, and fast pacing, WHITE FANG is one of the director's superior movies and a delight to watch.Fulci's later penchant for extreme gore and violence is in evidence here in bits and pieces, violent scenes which are surprising for a kid's movie. Men are stabbed, shot and bloodily mauled, and there are also a couple of real-life animal fights between two dogs (and later a dog and a bear) which definitely weren't faked and are pretty hard to take in some ways - unsuspecting parents be warned. The script is strong and focuses on characters over action, making this a people-orientated drama and therefore stronger than most. In fact, despite a few minor interludes and the excellent finale involving an exploding dam, there isn't all that much action here, at least not action in the traditional sense - there's only one fist-fight for instance. Exciting sequences are highlighted by a strong stirring score and good camera work, with none of the eyeball close-ups which later distinguished the director's work.There's an ensemble cast rather than one lead here, so although Franco Nero gets top billing he doesn't play that pivotal a role. He's a journalist who comes to blows with the wicked villain Beauty Smith, but he doesn't really get to do much in the action stakes which is a shame (all of the dangerous stunts and fights are left to the dog, which is easily as likable as Lassie and even dragged a few tears from these hardened eyes during a moment in which we're led to believe White Fang is no more). Still, Nero's presence is a pleasure and he would go on to return in the sequel, A CHALLENGE TO WHITE FANG, reuniting the director and much of the same cast. Next up are the two female characters, Virna Lisi who gives some authenticity to the performance of the charitable nun Sister Evangelina; and Carole Andre who has the young romantic interest part.Stealing most of his scenes is the underrated John Steiner, here excelling as the incredibly slimy villain of the piece with a fine taste in clothing, an impeccable accent, and long floppy hair. Exuding charm and menace wherever he goes, Steiner is one of those villains you love to hate and his performance here is another in a long line of solid, rewarding turns. The rest of the cast perform well, with familiar faces like Rik Battaglia turning up in supporting roles, and even Missaele, playing the Eskimo Boy, isn't too grating although thankfully he isn't required to do much to further the plot along and therefore the camera doesn't focus on his character too closely. Mainstream film fans will no doubt enjoy WHITE FANG as being a well-made, if rather violent, family adventure yarn which the kids will no doubt like whilst fans of Italian cult cinema ought to watch it to see the cast and director star in a film a little different from, but no less appealing than, their normal fare. Recommended.

This adventure movie is set in 1896 , on the Klondike region of Yukon, Canada . It has the wolf-dog named White Fang befriends an Indian boy and his father (Daniel Martin , A fistful of dollars) . Later on , the dog teams up a journalist (Franco Nero, Djanjo) along with an adventurer (Raimond Harmstorf) who arrive in the small gold town named Dawson City . There they find a priest (Fernando Rey, French Connection) , his daughter , a gorgeous saloon-girl (Carole Andre, Sandokan) and the nun Sister Evengelina (Virna Lisi, How to murder your wife) . The reporter and his faithful mate , the wolf-dog , attempt to stop the evildoer , an ambitious , snarling businessman (John Steiner, Tepepa) and hoodlum (Rik Battaglia) . They're deceiving by faking manner to the prospectors who are working in the Alaskan gold mines and to profit from them .It's a tepid and light-hearted adventure about known and classic novel by Jack London . Lumpy blend of adventures , action , villainy , though needlessly violent and aimed to young people . The talent of diverse and wasting casting is redeemed in part for the spectacular outdoors filmed on Austrian landscapes . Weak screenplay written by Peter Werbeck or Harry Allan Towers who produced in similar premise : 'Jack London's Call of the wild (directed by Ken Annakin and starred by Charlton Heston) . Atmospheric and evocative musical score by Carlo Rustichelli . The film is rated PG-13 (Parents guide) , because containing some violent scenes about killing , a cruel fighting between bear and dog and brutal biting . The motion picture is regularly directed by Lucio Fulci , a famous expert in gore and splatter (N.Y ripper , House outside cemetery , City of the Living dead) . Followed by an inferior sequel ¨The return of White Fang¨ (Fulci , 1974) with similar characters and actors . Other adaptations about Jack London's classic are : ¨White Fang(1991¨ by Randal Kleiser with Ethan Kawke as young prospector and Klaus Maria Brandauer and ¨The return of White Fang(1994¨ by Ken Olin with Scott Bairstow and once again Ethan Hawke .

This movie makes an adult go back to childhood. Honesty, love or respect for animals, and justice of course is what Lucio Fulci wants to emphasize in this great movie. Yes, it contains some violent scenes but unfortunately, violence is part of our lives and children must know it to try and avoid it in the future.Great performances from all the actors. John Steiner performs perfectly the bloody villain. Franco Nero is wonderful as always and White Fang is adorable, the dog that everybody would like to have.

Based on the Jack London story, White Fang was well done. The main drawback is its violence. Lots of fighting and killing, including graphic scenes of shooting, stabbing and animals fighting. My young children (5 and 7) were upset by this. It is surprising that the video had a PG rating.Otherwise, acting was good, cinematography was excellent. English-language dubbing was a bit slipshod and noticeable.