White Fang

PG

Released Jan 18, 1991

1 hr. 49 min.

Kids & Family

Adventure

List

67%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

This adaptation of Jack London's wilderness tale focuses on young Jack Conroy (Ethan Hawke), who has arrived in Alaska to search for a gold mine. When Jack encounters White Fang, a dog/wolf hybrid who has been cruelly treated by his owner, Beauty Smith (James Remar), he rescues the canine from the jaws of death during a fight with a fierce bulldog. Aided by his friend Alex Larson (Klaus Maria Brandauer), Jack nurses White Fang back to health, and the animal becomes a close companion to the men.

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Critics Consensus

This glossy edition of White Fang shaves off the rough-hewn edges that made Jack London's epic story so distinct, but gorgeous photography and heartfelt performances make this an appealing adventure.

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Brian Y

Doesn't do the book justice. Sanitized and neutered version compared to the book.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/12/23

Full Review

Chris B

I would say a classic. Done in a true Canadian style of film. Enjoying the beauty of nature and cruelty. Not for the faint of heart as it shows the kindness tenderness and compassion of mother nature. It's the fit of survival.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/19/23

Full Review

Alfonso M

La mejor adaptación hecha sobre la novela de Jack London

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/03/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Ethan Hawke plays a young man who travels to Alaska for the Yukon Gold Rush and an orphaned wolf cub must fend for itself. This movie started off really well, then started to drag about halfway through. I found myself checking to see how much longer the movie was. I think it is a small combination of too much going on within the story, and the story seems to slow down as the movie progresses. There are some beautifully captured scenes of Alaska and Alaskan wildlife in this movie, if you like that then check this movie out.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

matthew d

The ultimate boy and his dog movie. Randal Kleiser's survival adventure drama White Fang (1991) is an impressive feat of animal training, heartfelt performances, and stunning natural vistas of Canadian wilderness during Winter. Kleiser's direction is very grounded in realism. You see the survival elements of bracing the freezing elements and harshness of the mountainside. The gold mining adventure, friendship bonding, and beloved animal friendship from Jack London's groundbreaking novel is all here. London's writing is frigid with striking realism and earnest characters, while this Disney movie is sweet and sentimental. Ethan Hawke is amazingly real acting as Jack Conroy alongside Zed the Dog as White Fang the Wolf. Hawke is quite endearing and empathetic towards the feelings of the wolf. He makes you feel like you have to give up this astounding dog yourself by the touching end. Hawke was fresh off of Joe Dante's Explorers and Peter Weir‘s Dead Poets Society, so it's nice that he continued to make earnest dramas. He has nice father and son dynamics with Klaus Maria Brandauer in one of his most likable roles as the survival expert Alex Larson. His kind, yet stern paternal relationship with Ethan Hawke's Jack is very nice. Seymour Cassel's Skunker is funny and likable as this wild mountain man type, who just loves his dogs. Susan Hogan is very sweet as Belinda Casey with a nice chemistry with Klaus. James Remar is such a huge jerk as Beauty Smith. His cruelty towards dogs, Natives, and kids is equally repulsive. He embodies greed and evil. Pius Savage and Aaron Hotch's wise and gentle Native American characters were very likable in White Fang as well. Basil Poledouris' score is fun and atmospheric enough to not distract from the harsher survival scenes, while elevating the tender drama between a young man and his pet wolf companion. Michael S. Bolton's production design makes the old mining towns look dingy and sparse with a surprising realism for a Disney picture. Tony Pierce-Roberts' cinematography is breathtaking with stunning wide shots of the environment. His close-ups on the wolf are too cute. You see every expression and movement of all the animals from Zed the wolfdog, who is wonderful as White Fang. It's remarkable he was also the dog in The Thing. You simply have to see this dog act so naturally that White Fang might upset you in parts due to the simulated animal cruelty, but it was all staged violence so rest assured, the dog was fine. Bart the Bear appears and terrifies Ethan Hawke in a scary sequence. Lisa Day's editing keeps White Fang moving along steadily so that the immense feeling of White Fang's epic family journey never feels too slow. In short, White Fang may not be a phenomenal film, but it's a moving picture with sincere love for animals and a respect for nature.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This nature drama was really good. Ethan Hawke, Jed, Klaus Maria Brandauer, James Remar, and the rest of the cast did a fantastic job in this movie. The plot to the movie was dramatic, adventurous, and thrilling. It's about a friendship between man and animal, which is a great story. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's a must see for an entire family.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Randal Kleiser

Director

Klaus Maria Brandauer

Alex

Ethan Hawke

Jack

Seymour Cassel

Skunker

Susan Hogan

Belinda

James Remar

Beauty Smith

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Variety

Boasts enough nature footage and a strong central performance by Ethan Hawke to win over small fry

Jul 7, 2010

Full Review

Time Out

Despite moments of bravura and shameless tugs at the heart-strings, the film simply meanders towards a resolution. What's Brandauer doing here?

Sep 28, 2007

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

An adventure story well told

Oct 3, 2022

Full Review

TV Guide

There is so much wrong with White Fang that it's easier to point out the good.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 9, 2009

Full Review

Film4

A perennial family favourite is given the Disney treatment, complete with soaring orchestral score and a sheen of sentimentality that all but masks the more serious undertones of the original.

Mar 9, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

This adaptation of Jack London's wilderness tale focuses on young Jack Conroy (Ethan Hawke), who has arrived in Alaska to search for a gold mine. When Jack encounters White Fang, a dog/wolf hybrid who has been cruelly treated by his owner, Beauty Smith (James Remar), he rescues the canine from the jaws of death during a fight with a fierce bulldog. Aided by his friend Alex Larson (Klaus Maria Brandauer), Jack nurses White Fang back to health, and the animal becomes a close companion to the men.

Director: Randal Kleiser
Executive Producer: Lynn Kouf, Jim Kouf
Screenwriter: Jeanne Rosenberg, Nick Thiel, David Fallon
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 18, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.6M
Sound Mix: Surround

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