Never Cry Wolf

Released 1983
Stars Charles Martin Smith, Brian Dennehy, Zachary Ittimangnaq, Samson Jorah
Directed by Carroll Ballard

Carroll Ballard's 1983 adaptation of Farley Mowat's autobiographical novel turns his life-changing experience studying the wolves in Canada's inhospitable North into a moving drama of one man's courage and discovery of nature's majesty. Charles Martin Smith plays green biologist Tyler, sent by the Canadian government to "prove" that the wolves are depleting the caribou herds, but what he finds is a natural world in perfect harmony where he becomes a tolerated outsider. Dumped unprepared in the wilds by a hard drinking bush pilot (Brian Dennehy), Tyler learns survival skills from the aged Eskimo who saves his life and the rules of coexistence from a neighboring wolf (which results in a literal pissing contest as man and beast mark their respective territories). Tyler's journey culminates in the majestic run with the wolf pack, an exhilarating sequence where for an instant he becomes one with natural environment of the wilds. For all its beauty, however, Tyler's experience becomes a bittersweet lesson as the encroachment of hunters, tourism, and the social landscape threaten the natural order. As in his previous film, the delicate and lovely The Black Stallion, Ballard's astounding visual treatment captures the awesome natural beauty of the Canadian wilderness with power and poignancy. Kevin Costner's Oscar-winning Dances with Wolves explores many of the themes presented in this film, but without the resonance or beauty of Ballard's unsung masterpiece.

Summary by Sean Axmaker

What stunning cinematography and sound. The entire project is amazing, and it must have been quite difficult to film. Mowat's (why did they change his name to Tyler?) story would have made a great documentary, but it works well as a dramatic recreation. I haven't read the book, but I'm sure there's a lot of humor since there's so much in the film. It's surprising how much humor there is despite the fact there's almost no dialogue. The premise of Mowat's mission was absurd--to prove wolves were causing the extinction of the caribou. I'm sure the study was the result of some big Canadian ranch lobby, but it resulted in valuable observation of the wolves. I don't know if Mowat was losing his mind in his solitude or just trying his best to observe the wolves, but I couldn't watch all of the mice eating. Ewwwwww. --Summary by Bill Alward, September 11, 2004