Never Cry Wolf (1983) - a REAL walk on the wild side:

Never Cry Wolf

This Disney production, directed by Carroll Ballard, released in the United States on October 7, 1983, is a somber and beautiful nature movie, set in the snow-bound Canadian wilderness.

Charles Martin Smith plays Tyler, a Government biologist, sent to the harsh and unforgiving region to ascertain whether wolves are responsible for the alarming decline of the Caribou herds.

On the outset of his mission, Tyler encounters Rosie (Brian Dennehy), who initially seems friendly – even though borderline psychotic, but later emerges as an astute fortune hunter.

Symbolizing the worst of mankind, Rosie is there only to destroy the habitat in a money-making enterprise.

Early in the story, Tyler is rescued and befriended by Ootek (Zachary Ittimangnaq), and learns about the lifestyle of the indigenous Inuit people.

Never Cry Wolf is a visual feast; the landscape scenery is breathtaking, and Mark Isham’s music score is haunting.

It’s based on the autobiographical book by Farley Mowat, presented here as the character, Tyler.

The slow and thoughtful pace of the movie is lightened with the comic scenes of Tyler drinking tea by the gallon, and urinating around his base camp, scent-marking it as the wolf establishes his territory.

It turns into a battle of the wills and bladders between man and wolf, until the wolf finally accepts the boundary of Tyler's territory.

Later, Tyler learns the wolf is not the culprit and vital to the balance of nature: culling only the injured and slowest Caribou – effectively keeping the herd strong.

The wolves’ main food is the multitudes of field mice – of which Tyler also chows on as an experiment, after the mice swarm his tent and his own food reserves are depleting.

I believe in conservation and I love the wolf in particular.

Never Cry Wolf is delicately compelling and melancholic.

I empathized with Tyler, and appreciate the necessity to conserve and protect this beautiful planet: our home.

One of my favorite scenes is near the end: Tyler, with the heavy snow and the brutal winter set in around him, sits at the edge of a lake and blows hard on a bassoon.

The sound is heard by a distant wolf pack, and they howl back, acknowledging the distance between them, a declaration that neither Tyler, nor the rest of mankind, belong there.

Never Cry Wolf moved me with two reflective and potent realities of the region: sadness and silence.

Everything there seems to be on an inexorable path towards extinction: the caribou, wolves, Inuit people, and even the habitat itself.

The illusion of a place where the only things to cut through the silence are the howl of a wolf, or the wind, is that time appears to stand still.

Charles Martin Smith and Brian Dennehy played great roles.

However, like the wilderness, this movie belongs to the wolves.

One particular line resonates with me, and I hope it never becomes prophetic of the wolves and the plight of the natural world:

I believe the wolves went off to a wild and distant place somewhere, although I don’t really know, because I turned away and didn’t watch them go.

– Charles Martin Smith, as Tyler.

On this day in movie history - American Graffiti (1973):

American Graffiti

directed by George Lucas,

written by George Lucas, Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck,

was released in the United States on August 1, 1973.
Music by Kim Fowley, Karin Green and George Lucas.

Cast:

Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Wolfman Jack, Bo Hopkins, Manuel Padilla Jr., Beau Gentry, Harrison Ford, Jim Bohan, Jana Bellan, Deby Celiz, Lynne Marie Stewart, Terence McGovern, Kathleen Quinlan, Ty Crowley, Scott Beach, John Brent, Gordon Analla, John Bracci, Jody Carlson, Del Close, Chuck Dorsett, Stephen Knox, Joe Miksak, George Meyer, James Cranna, Johnny Weissmuller Jr., William Niven, Al Nalbandian, Bob Pasaak, Christopher Pray, Susan Richardson, Fred Ross, Jan Dunn, Charlie Murphy, Ed Greenberg, Lisa Herman, Mark Anger, Kay Lenz, Caprice Schmidt, Joe Spano, Debralee Scott, Ron Vincent, Donna Wehr, Cam Whitman, Jan Wilson, Suzanne Somers, Flash Cadillac, Linda Christensen, Jeannette Dilger, Dennis Falt, Warren Knight, Paul Lambert, Ken Martinez, Rick May, Sam McFadin, Kris Moe, Linn Phillips III, George Robinson.

On this day in movie history - More American Graffiti (1979):

More American Graffiti

directed and written by B.W.L. Norton,

was released in the United States on July 27, 1979.
Music by Gene Finley and George Lucas.

Cast:

Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Anna Bjorn, Richard Bradford, John Brent, Country Joe McDonald, Barry Melton, Robert Hogins, Robert Flurie, Peter Albin, Harold Aceves, Scott Glenn, James Houghton, John Lansing, Manuel Padilla Jr., Ken Place, Mary Kay Place, Tom Ruben, Doug Sahm, Will Seltzer, Monica Tenner, Ralph Wilcox, Carol Ann Williams, Wolfman Jack, Rosanna Arquette, Tom Baker, Eric Barnes, Becky Bedoy, Buzz Borelli, Ben Bottoms, Patrick Burns, Tim Burrus, George Cantero, Chet Carter, Dion M. Chesse, Gil Christner, Don Coughlin, Mark Courtney, Michael Courtney, Denny Delk, Frankie Di, Steve Evans, Nancy Fish, Rocky Flintermann, Michael Frost, Jon Gries, Paul G. Hensler, Julie Anna Hicks, Robert Hirschfeld, Erik Holland, Jay Jacobus, Naomi Judd, Leslie Gay Leace, Delroy Lindo, Dwight Reber, Sandra Rider, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Morgan Upton, John Vella, Dan Woodworth, Clay Wright, Wayne Coy, Harrison Ford, Darrell Mapson.

On this day in movie history - The Untouchables (1987):

The Untouchables

directed by Brian De Palma,

written by David Mamet,

based on the book by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley,

was released in the United States on June 3, 1987.
Music by Ennio Morricone.

Cast:

Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe, Brad Sullivan, Billy Drago, Patricia Clarkson, Vito D'Ambrosio, Steven Goldstein, Peter Aylward, Don Harvey, Robert Swan, John J. Walsh, Del Close, Colleen Bade, Greg Noonan, Sean Grennan, Larry Viverito Sr., Kevin Michael Doyle, Mike Bacarella, Michael P. Byrne, Kaitlin Montgomery, Aditra Kohl, Charles Keller Watson, Larry Brandenburg, Chelcie Ross, Tim Gamble, Sam Smiley, Pat Billingsley, John Bracci, Jennifer Anglin, Eddie Minasian, Anthony Mockus Sr., Will Zahrn, Louie Lanciloti, Vince Viverito, Valentino Cimo, Joe Greco, Clem Caserta, Bob Martana, Joseph Scianablo, George S. Spataro, Melody Rae, Robert Miranda, James Guthrie, Basil Reale.