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The Call of the Wild

Original title: The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon
  • TV Movie
  • 1997
  • PG
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Call of the Wild (1997)
Adventure

Jack London's classic story from 1903 about Buck, a dog kidnapped from his home in California and taken to the Yukon where he is mistreated until a prospector discovers him and relates to hi... Read allJack London's classic story from 1903 about Buck, a dog kidnapped from his home in California and taken to the Yukon where he is mistreated until a prospector discovers him and relates to his situation. Although the two are bonded, Buck yearns to run free with the wild dogs in th... Read allJack London's classic story from 1903 about Buck, a dog kidnapped from his home in California and taken to the Yukon where he is mistreated until a prospector discovers him and relates to his situation. Although the two are bonded, Buck yearns to run free with the wild dogs in the wilderness.

  • Director
    • Peter Svatek
  • Writers
    • Graham Ludlow
    • Jack London
    • Egerton Ryerson Young
  • Stars
    • Richard Dreyfuss
    • Raymond Ducasse
    • Eric Hoziel
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Svatek
    • Writers
      • Graham Ludlow
      • Jack London
      • Egerton Ryerson Young
    • Stars
      • Richard Dreyfuss
      • Raymond Ducasse
      • Eric Hoziel
    • 11User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos25

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    Top cast36

    Edit
    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Narrated by
    • (voice)
    Raymond Ducasse
    • Judge Miller
    Eric Hoziel
    Eric Hoziel
    • The Kidnapper
    Deano Clavet
    Deano Clavet
    • The Baggage Man
    Barry Blake
    Barry Blake
    • The Man in the Red Sweater
    Luc Morissette
    Luc Morissette
    • M. Perrault
    Robert Pierre Côté
    Robert Pierre Côté
    • François
    • (as Robert-Pierre Côté)
    Bernard Ranger
    • The Government Clerk
    Burke Lawrence
    • Charles
    Bronwen Booth
    Bronwen Booth
    • Mercedes
    • (as Bronwên Booth)
    Charles Edwin Powell
    Charles Edwin Powell
    • Hal
    • (as Charles Powell)
    HoJo Rose
    HoJo Rose
    • The Savvy Prospector #1
    • (as Howard Rosenstein)
    Michel Perron
    Michel Perron
    • The Savvy Prospector #2
    Rutger Hauer
    Rutger Hauer
    • John Thornton
    John Dunn-Hill
    John Dunn-Hill
    • His Partner Hans
    • (as John Dunn Hill)
    Jack Langedijk
    Jack Langedijk
    • His Partner Pete
    Lynne Adams
    Lynne Adams
    • Maggie
    John Novak
    John Novak
    • Mr. Matthewson the Gambling Man
    • Director
      • Peter Svatek
    • Writers
      • Graham Ludlow
      • Jack London
      • Egerton Ryerson Young
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    6.31K
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    Featured reviews

    eddy-28

    An unforgettalbe film by Jack London

    I enjoyed this film alot what I hated was that the people harmed the dogs. The film is about a dog named Buck taken to ben trained with other dogs. The film is also hosted by Richard Dreyfuss. This was a great film and also made me cry like I am today after I saw it. Watch the film or read the novel by Jack London.
    6allyatherton

    A great book sadly diluted.

    Starring Rutger Hauer and Richard Dreyfuss ( Narrator).

    Written by Jack London ( Novel), Graham Ludlow ( Screenplay.) Directed by Peter Svatek.

    This is a case of a really good book being totally diluted.

    Jack London's classic was beautifully written from the dog's perspective and was an incredible read. Sadly everything that made the book great has been lost in this film adaptation. It just felt like I was watching a trailer for the actual book. The beauty of the book simply didn't come across and we are left with something that is threadbare. The narration was probably an honest attempt to see the movie through the ayes of Buck but it was quite irritating.

    Not great.

    6/10
    10dietrich87

    True to the book, and hardly a Children's movie.

    Jack London's story about man and dog is very finely rendered in this cinema version. The book is usually found in the Children's section of the library, but the theme is hardly kid-stuff, and this movie version is true the book. London went to Skagway and soaked up the gold-rush fever that led thousands of desperate fortune-hunters to venture into the Arctic in 1898. The film recreates that historic setting. If you have never read the book, get it and read it before viewing this film. London wrote a lot of books set in the frozen north, but my favorite is his short "story" entitled "To Build a Fire". Start with that, if you can find it, as an introduction to this prolific and great American writer.
    10irfant

    Best movie based on London's book so far

    It is a pity that we have yet to see good movies doing justice to Jack London's "Call of the Wild" and "The Sea Wolf" novels. This movie is the best I have seen for the former. The background music is great, scenery is spectacular, acting is good, and Jack London's great story is well narrated. The novel remains the best dog story ever told (I don't have any pets), but this movie should appeal to all who love outdoors. Besides, there is plenty of depth in this movie, dealing with nature and nurture, survival of the fittest etc. I give it 9 out of 10.
    8v-56289

    I liked it better than the book...

    In fact I didn't really enjoy the book... But as a movie, it is great.. even the story is much more clear.. Especially I enjoyed the last half an hour.. There could have been better sceneries, but yet the movie is good... I am soon planing to watch the version from 2020, so I will have something to compare it with ;)...

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    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the original novel, Buck is a crossbreed that looks like a large wolf. In this version, he is portrayed as a Leonberger.
    • Goofs
      Sol-leks appears to be a black-and-white Siberian Husky with sectoral heterochromia, but the film is set in Alaska in the 1890s, and Siberian Huskies were not imported to Alaska until 1908. Prior to this time, Alaskan Malamutes were the most common breed of sled dog in Alaska (and almost the only sled dogs used in the Gold Rush). Furthermore, Siberian Huskies did not develop their blue eyes until around the 1940s.
    • Quotes

      [referring to Buck, the Yukon Dog]

      Narrator: And he knew that John Thornton was dead. It left a great void in him somewhat akin to hunger, but a void that ached and ached...and which food could not fill.

    • Connections
      Version of The Call of the Wild (1908)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • arabuloku.com
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Поклик пращурів
    • Filming locations
      • Quebec, Canada(exterior scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Hallmark Entertainment
      • Fries/Schultz Film Group
      • Kingsborough Greenlight Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31m(91 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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