White Fang

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.

White Fang is a very broad film (at times a bit confusing) that revolves around various stories taking place in this small town. The film is enjoyable and also suitable for children. You can definitely see Fulci's direction at play, but while the plot is nice, it's a little on the confusing side. Franco Nero still delivers a fantastic performance, and the dog White Fang symbolizes justice (in fact, he later becomes friends with Franco Nero). I recommend watching it to really understand it, but it's truly a charming film. Recommended.

I watched this movie since i figured out it was directed by one of my favorite directors, Lucio Fulci. And i know there are people who call this a family or kids flick, i can assure you that it's non of the above. It's filled with mean spirited characters and actual animal cruelty, they could've easily rated it R because of the visceous animal fights. An dog obvisousily appears to be "dead" after it fought a bear, i just say what i saw myself. And a dog gets poked at with sticks while it's locked up in a cage, yeah real family entertainment. The story itself looks like an adventure movie because of the relation between an american native child and his dog, but i'm pretty sure the dog had to be replaced a few times if you know what i mean. The story is placed in a western like background, probably in the 1800's, and yes the actors do a great job and some of them are likable. And if they kept it like that the movie could have receive a PG rating which it did get, how idiotic do you have to be to rate a movie filled with cruelty PG. I do understand those were different times, but still, judge for yourself.

Fulci's 'White Fang' is a struggle both in terms of its plot and audience participation, the horror maestro bringing his sadistic brand of storytelling to bare upon an overlong tale of an Inuit boy who befriends a wild wolf.

Picturesque but regularly brutal, Rey is a standout as the immoral priest, Brit expat Steiner plays his usual brand of cool, calm and ultimately sadistic villain and Italian siren Lisi features in the supporting role of a nun whose travelled to the gold fever town of Dawson to offer medical services. Also good to see the big Bavarian Raimund Heimstorf as Nero's faithful companion and French-American Carole Andre playing his somewhat tainted love interest.

The savage dog fight between White Fang and Battaglia's prize hound Satan is uncomfortable to watch even if it's perhaps not entirely what it seems, but the bear vs dog fight that soon follows is just plain barbaric.

Fulci's White Fang '73 (followed by 'Challenge' a year later) is little more than a violent spaghetti western set in the Yukon and despite some vague allusions to a positive new frontier theme, it's dark, sombre tone and bloody body count proves you can take the boy out of horror, but not horror out of the boy.