The style of the film historians will probably classify Carroll BallardвЂ™s вЂњBlack StallionвЂќ and вЂњNever Cry WolfвЂќ as fable-documentaries or poetic nature-epics and if there is any weakness to note at all, it lies in the rather extreme poetic and romantic polish of the directorвЂ™s vision. Man also appears on the scene in most undignified manner: the wilderness is gradually being exploited for commercial gain without bothering in the lest for relevant ecological needs.ДЄll this said, the most praise goes to the imagery of this poetic fiction-documentary as fashioned by Ballard, cameraman Hiro Narita and soundman Alan R. In the end, when the caribou arrive on a trek of their own, the final proof is garnered on the innocence of the wolf - even though the kill of one weak caribou is registered (itвЂ™s evidence instead of NatureвЂ™s way of removing the weak to strengthen the strong). When Eskimos Ootek and Mike later join him for company, the wisdom of this production surfaces in their light conversation on man and nature. Biologist Tyler, in some of the wittiest, funniest, and most human scenes in the film, comes to know his research-quarry quite intimately as George and Angeline living with their families of three pups in a nearby den. Indeed, itвЂ™s the wolf whoвЂ™s being wantonly hunted for the bounty of his pelt. It turns out to be just like numerous recent articles and MowatвЂ™s own book: the wolf is, after all, an intelligent creature and deft provider with warm family ways, hardly the villain heвЂ™s so often made out to be and certainly not the reason for the ongoing decrease in the caribou herds. When the weather begins to change, Tyler falls through the ice on a lake during an expedition, but finally the idiot-biologist hardens into a practical scientist by learning everything the hard way - including eating mice to survive when his supplies run out. Tyler, a naive lad, could hardly survive a winter alone in any case, so a friendly but reticent Eskimo, Ootek (Zachary Ittimangnaq), fortunately happens by the helpless biologistвЂ™s stake-out in the dead of winter to rescue him вЂ“ both the greenhorn and his supplies are then transported to an isolated hut, whereupon Tyler is left on his own again. Biologist Tyler is sent to survive in the Arctic while investigating whether the predatory wolf is responsible for the gradual disappearance of the caribou herds. The results of this sweat-and-labor are all to be found in the filmвЂ™s powerful images and comprehending feel for the wonders of Mother Nature. The stretch of location shooting in and around Dawson City, Yukon, and Nome, Alaska, tried the talents of the entire crew, from the documentarist Ballard to actor Charles Martin Smith in the role of the young biologist Tyler вЂ“ it was seasonal work requiring proper lighting, patient animal training, and simply two years of hard work.

Never cry wolf