When you're looking for someone to direct a family adventure film in the style of Lassie then the name of splatter icon Lucio Fulci doesn't exactly spring to mind. Nonethless, Fulci was on hand (at an early stage in his career and before he became typecast as a horror director) to direct this expensive-looking and glossy family film which is a successful cross between spaghetti western motifs and the more traditional family adventure, with the heroic dog of the title (so called because he's half wolf, and thus has gleaming white fangs) rescuing small Eskimo boys who have fallen into the ice and biting the arms of the bad guys. The reason this works is because it looks so good; a crisp, colourful and sometimes beautiful movie that makes as good a use of its lush locales as Fulci's DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING did. Complimented by quality sets, a fine cast, and fast pacing, WHITE FANG is one of the director's superior movies and a delight to watch.
Fulci's later penchant for extreme gore and violence is in evidence here in bits and pieces, violent scenes which are surprising for a kid's movie. Men are stabbed, shot and bloodily mauled, and there are also a couple of real-life animal fights between two dogs (and later a dog and a bear) which definitely weren't faked and are pretty hard to take in some ways - unsuspecting parents be warned. The script is strong and focuses on characters over action, making this a people-orientated drama and therefore stronger than most. In fact, despite a few minor interludes and the excellent finale involving an exploding dam, there isn't all that much action here, at least not action in the traditional sense - there's only one fist-fight for instance. Exciting sequences are highlighted by a strong stirring score and good camera work, with none of the eyeball close-ups which later distinguished the director's work.
There's an ensemble cast rather than one lead here, so although Franco Nero gets top billing he doesn't play that pivotal a role. He's a journalist who comes to blows with the wicked villain Beauty Smith, but he doesn't really get to do much in the action stakes which is a shame (all of the dangerous stunts and fights are left to the dog, which is easily as likable as Lassie and even dragged a few tears from these hardened eyes during a moment in which we're led to believe White Fang is no more). Still, Nero's presence is a pleasure and he would go on to return in the sequel, A CHALLENGE TO WHITE FANG, reuniting the director and much of the same cast. Next up are the two female characters, Virna Lisi who gives some authenticity to the performance of the charitable nun Sister Evangelina; and Carole Andre who has the young romantic interest part.
Stealing most of his scenes is the underrated John Steiner, here excelling as the incredibly slimy villain of the piece with a fine taste in clothing, an impeccable accent, and long floppy hair. Exuding charm and menace wherever he goes, Steiner is one of those villains you love to hate and his performance here is another in a long line of solid, rewarding turns. The rest of the cast perform well, with familiar faces like Rik Battaglia turning up in supporting roles, and even Missaele, playing the Eskimo Boy, isn't too grating although thankfully he isn't required to do much to further the plot along and therefore the camera doesn't focus on his character too closely. Mainstream film fans will no doubt enjoy WHITE FANG as being a well-made, if rather violent, family adventure yarn which the kids will no doubt like whilst fans of Italian cult cinema ought to watch it to see the cast and director star in a film a little different from, but no less appealing than, their normal fare. Recommended.
Fulci's later penchant for extreme gore and violence is in evidence here in bits and pieces, violent scenes which are surprising for a kid's movie. Men are stabbed, shot and bloodily mauled, and there are also a couple of real-life animal fights between two dogs (and later a dog and a bear) which definitely weren't faked and are pretty hard to take in some ways - unsuspecting parents be warned. The script is strong and focuses on characters over action, making this a people-orientated drama and therefore stronger than most. In fact, despite a few minor interludes and the excellent finale involving an exploding dam, there isn't all that much action here, at least not action in the traditional sense - there's only one fist-fight for instance. Exciting sequences are highlighted by a strong stirring score and good camera work, with none of the eyeball close-ups which later distinguished the director's work.
There's an ensemble cast rather than one lead here, so although Franco Nero gets top billing he doesn't play that pivotal a role. He's a journalist who comes to blows with the wicked villain Beauty Smith, but he doesn't really get to do much in the action stakes which is a shame (all of the dangerous stunts and fights are left to the dog, which is easily as likable as Lassie and even dragged a few tears from these hardened eyes during a moment in which we're led to believe White Fang is no more). Still, Nero's presence is a pleasure and he would go on to return in the sequel, A CHALLENGE TO WHITE FANG, reuniting the director and much of the same cast. Next up are the two female characters, Virna Lisi who gives some authenticity to the performance of the charitable nun Sister Evangelina; and Carole Andre who has the young romantic interest part.
Stealing most of his scenes is the underrated John Steiner, here excelling as the incredibly slimy villain of the piece with a fine taste in clothing, an impeccable accent, and long floppy hair. Exuding charm and menace wherever he goes, Steiner is one of those villains you love to hate and his performance here is another in a long line of solid, rewarding turns. The rest of the cast perform well, with familiar faces like Rik Battaglia turning up in supporting roles, and even Missaele, playing the Eskimo Boy, isn't too grating although thankfully he isn't required to do much to further the plot along and therefore the camera doesn't focus on his character too closely. Mainstream film fans will no doubt enjoy WHITE FANG as being a well-made, if rather violent, family adventure yarn which the kids will no doubt like whilst fans of Italian cult cinema ought to watch it to see the cast and director star in a film a little different from, but no less appealing than, their normal fare. Recommended.