Never Cry Wolf (1983)

Director:

Carroll Ballard

Writers:

Farley Mowat (book)
Ralph Furmaniak (writer) ...

Release Date:

7 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

A True Story.

Plot:

A government researcher, sent to research the "menace" of wolves in the north, learns about the true beneficial and positive nature of the species.

Plot Keywords:

Biologist | Camping | Alaska | Environmental | Nature

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins

Cast

Charles Martin Smith	...	Farley Mowat / Tyler
Brian Dennehy	...	Rosie
Zachary Ittimangnaq	...	Ootek
Samson Jorah	...	Mike
Hugh Webster	...	Drunk
Martha Ittimangnaq	...	Woman
Tom Dahlgren	...	Hunter #1
Walker Stuart	...	Hunter #2

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Inuktitut

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Amarok Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

The US Copyright Notice field with the Library of Congress lists Curtis Hanson as co-writer.

Goofs:

Factual errors: According to Tyler's background narrations, it is early April when the snow melts and the lake is completely unfrozen by early May. In reality, snow in the Arctic doesn't melt until June.

Quotes:

Tyler: In the end there were no simple answers. No heroes or villians; only silence.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Sopranos: Unidentified Black Males (#5.9)" (2004)

Only the most awesome film I've seen.

NEVER CRY WOLF is my number-one favorite nonfiction film. It's an eye-opener as to the feeding and social habits, and the true value of the wolf, and opens a window into the personality of individual wolves and their family interactions.

Although we don't think of wolves as having any scrap of silliness in their natures, it seems they can sometimes look like silly puppies playing to humans. And the film shows us humans in scenes apparently looking pretty silly to wolves.

The mutual curiosity and mutual respect of man and wolf as portrayed in the film is striking. And the learning that apparently went from wolf to man was good to watch.

Having first read the book, I was prepared for the story line, but SEEING these things happen made them so much better in this film. (Usually I like the book better: Raised-on-radio kids have great imaginations!)

My attitudes toward the wolf as a ravening beast (and scientists as dry sticks) were forever changed by this film, and I saw to it that all old friends and every new friend I made watched this. Even my (now) husband had to pass the "wolf test" before I'd go out a second time with him.

NEVER CRY WOLF is a film I wish I had on either VHS or DVD —not knowing it would ever go out of print, I foolishly never bought a copy of it. -=Dayonda