The Call of the Wild (1972 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = The Call of the Wild

| image = Call of the Wild 1972.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| writer = Peter Yeldham
Tíbor Reves (uncredited){{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Harry Alan Towers (as Peter Welbeck)
Win Wells (as Wyn Wells)

| based_on = {{Based on|The Call of the Wild||Jack London}}

| producer = George H Davis
Peter Manley
Harry Alan Towers
Artur Brauner

| starring = Charlton Heston
Michèle Mercier
Raimund Harmstorf
George Eastman

| cinematography = John Cabrera

| editing = Thelma Connell

| music = Carlo Rustichelli

| studio = Massfilms Limited

| distributor = Intercontinental Releasing Corp.

| released = {{Film date|1972|11|30|Italy|1975|03|1|United States|df=yes}}

| runtime = 103 minutes

| country = United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
West Germany

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The Call of the Wild is a 1972 family adventure film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Charlton Heston, Michèle Mercier, Raimund Harmstorf, George Eastman, and Maria Rohm.

Based on Jack London's 1903 novel The Call of the Wild,{{r|Gale 2015 p. 12}} the film follows the adventures of a dog that is brought north to Canada to be used as a sled dog.

Plot

John Thornton (Charlton Heston) a prospector in the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush is trying to eke out a living in the harsh conditions of the bitterly cold Yukon region of Canada, with Buck the German Shepherd dog he befriends. Thornton struggles against unscrupulous rivals and natural hazards in the extreme conditions and is greatly helped by Buck who has his own story to tell: he was abducted from a family home and taken north to become a working sled dog. Man and dog forge a true bond of friendship, working together to survive life in the treacherous frozen North. Thornton is killed by Yeehat Indians, but Buck kills the men to avenge John Thornton. At the end of the film, Buck comes to the White River to mourn the place where he died.

Cast

Charlton Heston – John Thornton
Michèle Mercier – Calliope Laurent
Raimund Harmstorf – Pete
George Eastman – Black Burton (dubbed by Robert Rietty)
Maria Rohm – Mercedes
Juan Luis Galiardo – Seze
Sancho Gracia – Taglish Charlie
Friedhelm Lehmann – Charles
Horst Heuck – Hal
Rik Battaglia – Dutch Harry
Alfredo Mayo – Judge Miller
Sverre Wilberg – Colonel

Production

The film was shot on location in Finland, Norway, and Spain.{{r|AllonCullen2001}}

Reception

Charlton Heston in his autobiography In the Arena: An Autobiography made it very clear how unhappy he was with this film and asked people to not watch it.{{r|Heston1997}}{{Page needed|date=March 2014}}{{r|Moore 2014 p. 154}} Although it was poorly received upon release, and was not released in the United States until 1975, today the film is seen in a better light. Contemporary British and Irish Film Directors: A Wallflower Critical Guide described it as a "swinging back to action-adventure", starring "Charlton Heston at his best", another in the "long line of Annakin's panoramic films featuring a myriad of beautiful locations".{{r|AllonCullen2001}}