WHITE FANG

US, 1991, 107 minutes, Colour.
Ethan Hawke, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Seymour Cassell.
Directed by Randal Kleiser.

White Fang is a Walt Disney production of the celebrated Jack London novel, previously filmed by an Italian company as well as for television.

The film was directed by Randal Kleiser, better known as the director of Grease and The Blue Lagoon. However, he also made The Flight of the Navigator for Disney.

However, the Alaskan photography by Tony Pearce Roberts is outstanding - and audiences will enjoy the immersion in the experience of Alaska, its beauty and ruggedness, its seasons and dangers. The sequences with the animals are also quite telling, especially with the wolves and the giant bear - however, probably for younger audiences, the dog-fights are rather muted, sometimes filmed in slow motion - and briefly.

The film is an enjoyable family feature - with the caution that impressionable audiences may find some of the scenes with the wolves and the dogs somewhat terrifying.

1.Entertaining family film? Animals? Humans and animals? Alaska? The adaptation of Jack London's story and his perspective on Alaska at the turn of the century?

2.The Alaskan locations, the beauty, ruggedness? Re-creation of the period, the towns, the mines and the claims? The atmosphere of the turn of the century? The dramatic score?

3.The title, the focus on the wolves and the dogs? The relationship between dogs and humans?

4.The opening, the credits and the photos of Alaska and travelling to Alaska for the gold rush? The arrival of Jack? His hopes and ambitions? The clash with Beauty and his friends, the fight, conning him, the robbery? His finding Alex, the memories of his father, the claim? Alex's willingness to take him - and the beginning of the adventure?

5.The dangerous journey with Alex and George, the ruggedness, the snow, the storms, the broken ice, the accidents, hunger, the pursuit by the wolves, getting the firebrands to ward the wolves off, the fights, George and his friendship, love for the dogs, pursuing them and taken by the wolves? The ruggedness of this journey and its effect on Jack? Their finally being rescued?

6.The counterpointing of the story of the dogs, the dogs and wolves, the winter, trying to find food, chasing the rabbit, mothers feeding the dogs, the caves? On the prowl, pursuing the humans? The wounding of the wolf, death? The young pup, looking at Jack, running by himself, the rabbit trap and his being caught, being taken by the Eskimos? The training by the Eskimos? Going into the town, Beauty and his friends and their setting the dog on him, the fight? The threats to the Eskimo, the wolf becoming the fighter, trained by hatred?

7.The town, the difficulties of travel, the transporting of goods to the town, the inns, hotels? Alex and his friendship with Belinda, at the hotel, telling Jack to get accommodation? The meeting with Belinda, the invitation to the meal, Jack bargaining with Alex, leaving him with Belinda? Going out to the claim, Jack and his wonder at the claim, the memories of his father and his sadness, getting everything established, persuading Alex to help him, the setting up of the claim, teaching Alex to read? The encounter with the dog in town, rescuing the dog, its staying with them on the claim, the mining, the explosions, the discovery of the gold? The collapse - and White Fang coming to Jack's aid? Going into town, the gold, Jack making Alex a partner?

8.The success of the claim, Alex wanting to return to San Francisco with Belinda, Jack's agreement? With White Fang, letting him loose? Jack's change of heart, the return? White Fang's return and the love between dog and boy?

9.White Fang and his experiences, from the wild, to the Eskimos and being trained, to being a fighter, Beauty training him with hatred, starving him and frustrating him, the anger in the fights, winning the fights, the defeat by the bulldog, the rescue by Jack? Jack trying to tame him, bring him back to normal, White Fang's anger, gradual accommodation, the friendship with Jack - and rescuing him from the bear? The build-up of memories between man and dog? Beauty and his friends attacking the hut, the shooting and the fire, White Fang attacking and so saving Alex and Jack and their taking the men prisoners into the town?

10.Alex, his background in Alaska, his devotion to friends, taking the body for burial, friendship with George, the risks with Jack, friendship with Belinda, helping Jack, learning to read, becoming wealthy and returning home? George, the Alaskan type, with the dogs, friendly, his death?

11.Beauty and the villains in the Alaskan cities, robbery, setting up dog-fights, unscrupulous, violence?

12.The picture of Alaska at the turn of the century, the Golden Staircase and the number of miners arriving, trekking to the top in single file, their hopes, hopes dashed, the hardships of the terrain, the weather, the poor claims? The towns? Part of the American heritage?