Get ready for today’s…Blast from the Past!
From Oscar nominee Carroll Ballard, the director of The Black Stallion (1979), Fly Away Home (1996), and others, comes this adventure true story…
Tyler: [Opening lines: on the train, giving voice-over narration] “I just jumped at the opportunity to go. Without even thinking about it, really. Because it opened the way to an old – and very naïve – childhood fantasy of mine: to go off into the wilderness, and test myself against all the dangerous things lurking there…”
Although the film was released worldwide on the 27th January 1984, Never Cry Wolf was released to limited theatres on this day October 7th 1983, making the film 35 years old as of today.
Based on Farley Mowat’s 1963 autobiography of the same name, the plot follows a government biologist (Charles Martin Smith) who is sent out to the wilderness to study the caribou population, whose decline is believed to be caused by wolves, and along the way learns about the true nature of the Canis lupus.
Fun fact; the film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound – Alan Splet (as Alan R. Splet), Todd Boekelheide, Randy Thom, and David Parker. Also, this was a 2-year film project, as well as the fact that all wolves in the film were tamed, and in reality, Farley Mowat’s research in the Caribou changed the way humans comprehend the stated wild canine species.
While there are some scenes in the motion picture that may be emotionally disturbing to some viewers, some of the film’s highlights include the fascinating story (which some critics believed to a bit hard to believe due to the experience of the harsh conditions in the mentioned environment), cast which also includes Golden Globe winner Brian Dennehy, performances, setting, cinematography, and charming moments.
If you are looking for a brilliant animal feature, then this is for you, or for anyone you know, who likes the aforementioned aspects.
On a personal note, the film will likely be included in my upcoming list; Top 10 Films You Won’t Believe Are Turning 35.
Recommended to fans of Ballard as well as the adventure, biography, and animal genre.
Poster design and artwork: Unknown.