Plenty of Americans remember the name Jack London from their school days, as his classic works such as The Call of the Wild are staples of curricula for young readers. Those who haven't thought about that title since elementary school might have missed the fact that Harrison Ford starred in a 2020 The Call of the Wild movie adaptation.
In fact, there have been more films based on Jack London stories than many movie buffs may realize. It's a rich vein, because even though London published his work more than a century ago, his stories are no less relevant for the passing of time.
The Call Of The Wild (2020)
The Call Of the Wild is based on Jack London's novel of the same title that follows the story of a dog named Buck who gets stolen to be sold as a sled dog in Alaska. This movie's cast includes film stars such Harrison Ford and Omar Sy, and it's directed by Chris Anders, better known for writing movies such as Lilo & Stitch and Mulan.
This film version of Jack London's novel is the most family-friendly one. Disney did what it knows best and made the story very appealing, moving, and entertaining for the young audiences without losing the overall lessons about freedom, bravery, and companionship. The story's main message about finding a true purpose in life through self-discovery is untouched and well-delivered.
Na Grani (2017)
In this long film adaption of To Build a Fire, two travelers face the deadly cruelties of winter. Survival makes them start acting based on their instincts and they lose all hope and humanity. The adventure drama is directed by Anton Boroda and is set in Russia.
Even though it drifts from the original story of Jack London, the adaptation successfully covers all the important notes of the novel. Seeing the explorers face imminent death against the wild and fall into their more primitive and vulnerable behaviors is discomfiting to watch. The movie definitely succeeds in making viewers empathize with the explorers and making them question themselves about what would happen if they were on their shoes.
White Fang (1991)
The endearing classic novel of London tells the story of White Fang, a wolf-dog that becomes domesticated by Weedon Scott, a loving and nurturing owner. One of Disney's best dog movies, the 1991 White Fang starring Ethan Hawke captures the heartwarming friendship between man and dog and recovers the endless lessons to be learned from the relationships and experiences that wildlife can provide to humans.
As in The Call of the Wild film adaptation, the movie is somewhat different from the original story given that it was adjusted for younger audiences. That said, it still offers a tender and moving story that touches all of London's favorite subjects concerning nature, wild animals, the journey of self-discovery, and freedom.
Martin Eden (2019)
In Jack London's novel, readers get to know Martin Eden, a low-class sailor whose dream is to become a famous writer. He falls in love with Ruth Morse, a high-class student whose affection is challenging for a number of reasons. The movie is quite faithful to the novel, although it changes some aspects of the story. Overall, it respects the most important events that touch on subjects such as love, inequality, dreams, and grief.
The movie offers a strong and compelling narrative that effectively addresses all the struggles encapsulated in social and economical inequality. It can be as romantic as it can be heartbreaking, given it portrays how the real world can affect love and relationships, and how it can also bring down the strongest of dreamers.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is an anthology film that tells six different stories staged in the Old West, and one of those is an adaptation of Jack London's "All Gold Canyon," the short story of a prospector searching for gold in a mountain. The movie is directed by the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, who have filmed other masterpieces that still hold up today like The Big Lebowski and Fargo.
"Old Gold Mountain," which stars singer/songwriter and sometimes actor Tom Waits as the grizzled old prospector, is a high point of the film. In addition to the simple but dramatic story by London and the winning performance from Waits, the film features stunning cinematography that brings London's tale to vivid life on the screen.
To Build A Fire (2016)
This 2016 animated short film directed by Fx Goby follows the story of an unnamed male protagonist (just as in the short story of the same title) who is followed by a dog into a freezing forest. The literature classic touches on big subjects and questions regarding the fight of men against nature that, even though it was written in 1902, today are more relevant than ever.
The fact that this short film is animated is refreshing, given that most of Jack London's film adaptations are live-action. The color palette of the piece, as well as its detailed sound effects, capture powerfully the sense of being trapped and doomed within the endless deathly landscapes of mother nature. With such effective and beautiful visuals, it is admirable how the film doesn't need any dialogue to transmit everything it needs.
The Sea Wolf (1941)
The Sea Wolf is a great out-to-sea movie about a writer called Humphrey Van Weyden who becomes a castaway that is rescued and held prisoner with other two people (George and Ruth) by Wolf Larsen, a very well-known and feared sea captain. Jack London's novel of the same title was a success and sold many copies, and although the same cannot be said of the movie adaptation, the film was well-received by most viewers.
It successfully transports all the psychological aspects and characteristics of the novel into the narrative, dialogue, characters, and shots of the movie, and it makes it work quite efficiently. It is true that it does not follow the novel's story faithfully, but it achieves an overall original and good re-invention of it. Although it is not a masterpiece, watching it is not a waste of time and most of the actor's performances are definitely worthwhile.
Cara De Luna (2011)
This Spanish animated short film of 2011 and directed by Enrique Diego, Rocio Galilea, and Dani Hernandez, is based on Jack London's short story: Moon Face. Both in the book and in the short film, the story follows an unnamed male protagonist who irrationally loathes John Claverhouse, who is said to have a "moon face".
The animation and storytelling of the short film are very light and charming. The cartoons feel so colorful and childish that it is hard to remember it is a story not that suitable for kids. John Claverhouse is depicted hilariously and even though the film lasts a couple of minutes, the screenwriters achieved to make him annoying enough for viewers to pick the side of the grumpy main character.
Lost Face (2016)
Only Jack London could have such a variety of book titles that two of them have a Disney adaptation, and another one, in this case, Lost Face, has a brutal opening scene where enslaved native Americans rebel against their "masters" and massacre them. In this movie adaptation, Martin Dubreuil tries to negotiate for his life with the tribe's chief and tells him that he knows how to make a medicine that toughens the skin.
The short film has the viewer hooked from the very first minutes. With just a few glimpses of snow, blood, clothing, tribal paint, and a few dialogues, it becomes more interesting than most movies can be in such a small amount of time. The rest of the short does not disappoint and it does not lose quality, but it somehow becomes even better.
Jack London's Love Of Life (2012)
In this 2012 movie directed by Kevin Swigert, Jack, the protagonist, has to face the cruelties and challenges of the wilderness all by himself after his partner leaves him. To live hunger and illness inside the scenarios of mother nature can be quite brutal, but it also confronts any survivor with the unique experience of finding the true meaning and value of life.
The film was acclaimed by the audiences and movie critics for its beautiful yet realistic approach to life and the human condition. The narrative and visuals are so powerful that the entire film feels like a deeply emotional and moving experience, and it definitely leaves every viewer with a new vision and understanding of living.
