Customer Reviews

To Build a Fire [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This "To Build a Fire" video can stand up to the short story. In its genre, it is just as effective. Of course, it helps to have the narration of Orson Wells! There are times when the accordian-music background can be distracting, but then again, I suppose it connotes the era of gold-prospecting in the Yukon. I am a high school English teacher who has shown this video for years as a companion piece after reading the classic tale by London, and just the other day, one of my sharp-eyed students exclaimed that he had noticed a man in the background just as the main character stumbles to his death at the video's end. Sure enough! We re-wound the video and discovered a definite technical flaw! A "Three Men and a Baby" ghost! View it yourself and see!

A man and his dog are walking along Henderson Creek in the high Yukon country. It is winter, and winter in the Yukon can be unforgiving to a chechaquo, a newcomer to the land. It's the man's first winter and he is walking on a day he should not. The dog knows this, but the man is a newcomer. The temperature is colder than sixty-five degrees below zero. Jack London's `To Build a Fire' is a classic tale of man against nature, London's harsh Yukon nature that was ruled by the law of club and fang. First published as a juvenile story in the magazine Youth's Companion in 1902, it was changed a bit for an adult audience and published in its final form in the Century Magazine in 1908. A little later it was anthologized in a slim volume of London short stories entitled `Lost Face' in 1910.

TO BUILD A FIRE is a 56-minute episode from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's 1981 mini-series `Jack London's Tales of the Klondike.' Directed by David Cobham, narrated by Orson Welles and starring Ian Hogg as the man, it is a faithful adaptation. Which, in this case, is a mixed blessing. London wrote from inside his characters, and what happened - the action - almost always shared equal billing with the character's reaction to that action. I mean, his masterpiece, The Call of the Wild, is written from a dog's point-of-view! The challenge presented by works like Call of the Wild and To Build a Fire is to bring that inner voice to the surface. This program met the challenge, with middling success, by having Welles read pertinent sentences from the story over the action.

Remove the narration and you have an hour's worth of a man walking across the snow. It doesn't look as cold as I've pictured it, although whoever did the make-up frosted up the man's beard right nicely. The man and dog get along too well, too. London's Man ruled by the club, his Dog challenged that rule with the fang, and neither party ever seemed particularly fond of the other. There are scenes in TO BUILD A FIRE where the dog seems downright frisky and playful. Nowhere in the program is this observation from London's story on display - "On the other hand, there was no keen intimacy between the dog and the man. The one was the toil-slave of the other, and the only caresses it had ever received were the caresses of the whip-lash and of harsh and menacing throat-sounds that threatened the whip-lash. " I never thought I'd ever have occasion to offer this observation, but I think the husky Pepper was miscast. This program needed a surly dog, and they got a Disney-cute one instead. I haltingly recommend TO BUILD A FIRE. It could have been much worse. Do not under any circumstance, though, watch this before reading the story. London's story in its entirety is readily available on the internet, and your first exposure to a story usually sets it in your mind. If you watch this before reading the original you're likely to wonder what all the fuss is about.

This is a well done adaptation of Jack London's story. It's also very straightforward so that you might not find much value in watching it after reading the story. It really doesn't enhance the experience of reading the story, but you might check it out anyway, especially for the narration of Orson Welles.

I can't believe how lightly this guy was dressed! Obviously Jack London has never been out at even 50 below much less 75 below. Jack's temperatures remind me of Cabella's temperature ratings on winter boots! Some are rated down to 150 below!! Now back in 1970 we built a green log cabin on the Yukon river halfway between Eagle, Alaska and Circle, Alaska, 40 air miles south of the Arctic Circle. We had an average DAYTIME temperature for the ENTIRE month of January of 57 below with two weeks straight of 65 below and one night of 80 below. The morning after it dropped to minus 80 it was 40 below INSIDE THE CABIN!! My Big Ben wind up clock had frozen up and stopped ticking at 2 AM! All this is a foundation to say that the movie lacked reality. Anyone dressed with no parka or insulated pants and with those poorly designed mukluks would have frozen in the first fifteen minutes of the movie! Just like anyone walking outside with Cabella's boots at 150 below would be INSTANTLY DEAD!! I've been out to take a leak at 72 below so can talk from experience. Also the "freezing spittle" made for a good movie but spittle doesn't freeze into balls at 75 below it VAPORIZES! When I took a leak at 72 below NOTHING EVER HIT THE SNOW! You could hear a fffffffffffssssst sound while watching the pee vaporize! So, I'd give the movie five stars for entertainment and two stars for accuracy. Gerry Shramek Copper Center, Alaska

I've developed a viewing guide for this film which combines the narration and a "few" excerpts from London's short story -- thus I've spent a great deal of time studying the film and London's original narrative.

What bothers me immensely about "many" Amazon reviewers of films are the "observations" or "criticisms" that the "film versions" don't measure up to original literary works.

Why should they?

These are "film adaptation" and the filmmaker seldom can "match" the creative essence of the original literary work.

Quite often the film adaptations are "far superior" to original literary works in creating significant and lasting literary experiences.

In the past fifty years or so, "electronic literary experiences" have become the primary medium for vicarious literary experiences.

In this case -- the film adaptation of London's "To Build A Fire" -- the filmmaker captures the "essence" of the story. The film version is a classic -- especially well done considering that the film was produced and released 39 years ago, and was never intended to be a major theatrical release.

For you "literature teachers" try a controlled experiment with two groups - use "only" the film with the one group; while using "only" London's story with the other group. Be sure the two groups are comparable -- then compare and contrast. I dare you.

Also, try such a "controlled" experience with recalcitrant / reluctant students in "both" groups. I dare you.

If no one ultimately reads London's story it will disappear, even from the internet.

This 56-minute film is, according to the video, 'Jack London's short story, narrated by Orson Wells and filmed with complete fidelity to London's graphic narrative' and 'could be called a screen short story in its purest form.' It is certain that the film follows the original story faithfully, but the effects of watching the filmed story is not the same as the feeling you might get while reading this well-known story.

The events described are identical to those in London's original. A man is travelling among the Alaskan wilderness with his dog. As Orson Wells's solemn voiceover suggests, this man is perhaps unprepared for the climate. At first, things look easy, but as his toes get numb because of the temperature and the traps the nature provided, to build a fire finally becomes a matter of life and death.

The original short story is, if I remember correctly, written from the viewpoint of the man. The sentences are about how he feels, not how he looks. The film, on the other hand, is about how he does look on screen, and the feelings of the traveller are explained by the acting (of the actor Ian Hogg) and the narration of Orson Wells (who, as you know, scared the people by his fake announcement about the killing Martians). His narration is very good, but you might think, if we have his good narration, why should we watch the screen? A taperecorder will do.

I don't have complaint about the film itself, but I still cannot understand why this film should be made. Chilly experience and the struggle for survival are here, to be true, but you must read Jack London's story (before or after watching the film) to really start to care the severe situations of this traveller. Otherwise, you might find it pretty dull to see a middle-aged man slowly, very slowly frozen.

The film is like reading a Cliff Note; you understand what happens in the tale, but it remains true that you don't feel anything without actually reading the tale. (By the way, does someone know anything about the film itself? Some say it's made in 1969 while others not, and director's name on the jacket is David Cobham while the film is credited to another person at other places. Did anyone see it in theater?)

I was very impressed with this movie. After reading, and re-reading this wonderful Jack London short story for years, I just heard it was made into a movie and I placed an order to have it overnighted to me. I watched it as soon as FED-EX delivered it, and I was riveted to it from the beginning to the end. I loved hearing Orson Welles voice as he narrated the movie. The period dress and scenery was perfect, just as I had imagined it in my head all the years as I read the story. I watched it with my 14 year old son, and he loved it also. Those who have spent time in the wilderness and in the bitter cold as I have will identify with the movie. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I will rewatch it many times I am sure. I highly recommend !.

VCI Home Video and A David Cobham Production presents "TO BUILD A FIRE" (1969) - Jack London (56 mins Color) . . . under director David Cobham, script by David Cobham and Anthony Short, sound by Peter Dodson and Mike Billing, Technical adviser Alan Innes-Taylor, director of photography John McCallum, additonal photography Ian Stuart, music by Paul Lewis, film editor Terence Twigg, narration by Orson Welles --- cast includes Ian Hogg as the Chechaquo and his faithful husky . . . . . our story is based on a Jack London short story, with the golden throat narration of the late great Orson Welles...a man is traveling through the great North American wilderness, in temperatures of seventy degrees below zero, with only his dog for a companion...pictures of a chilling image with stark realism fills the viewer with respect for the man as he crosses a frozen stream, a misstep puts his foot through the ice...he knows he must find a way to build a fire to warm himself, or face death...frenzy and desperation take over, challenging all attempts to survive...the man realizes his death is now inevitable...he makes vain attempts to make a run for the camp that always end in his falling after a few hundred feet...he lies down and starts to feel drowsy, realizing a sleep-like death will soon overtake his body...in his delirium he mutters his last words to the old-timer of Sulphur Creek: "You were right, old hoss; you were right." The husky stands around for a while. After smelling death, it howls and trots off on the trail towards the camp.

CHAPTER STOPS:
1. Opening Credits
2. 75 Degrees Below Zero
3. Ice Trap
4. Hot Lunch
5. Wet Feet
6. Safety
7. Another Attempt
8. The Matches
9. Killing the Dog
10.A Mad Dash
11.The Bitter End
12.End Credits

COMING ATTRACTIONS
1. Room at the Top (1959) - featuring Laurence Harvey (nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor)
(winner of 2 Academy Awards for Best Screenplay:Neil Patterson)
(co-starring Simone Signoret winner Academy Award Best Actress)
2. The Lone Ranger (1938) (Motion Picture Version of the Classic Cliffhanger Serial)
3. Ride in the Whirlwind (1965) - written and produced by Jack Nicholson - Monte Hellman's Film -
featuring Jack Nicholson, Millie Perkins, Cameron Mitchell and Harry Dean Stanton
4, The Shooting (1967)- Monte Hellman's Film - produced by Jack Nicholson
featuring Jack Nicholson, Millie Perkins, Will Hutchins and Warren Oates.
5. The Glass House (1972) - Truman Capote's Film
featuring Ala Alda, Vic Morrow, Billy Dee Williams, Dean Jagger and Clu Culager
6. Gargoyles (1972) - featuring Cornel Wilde, Jennifer Salt and Scott Glenn
7. Quackser Fortune has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970) - Gene Wilder and Margo Kidder
8. Secrets of the Millennium - four part series on the planet and decades of questions.

Specal footnote, author Jack London became the best-selling, highest paid and most popular American author of his time."The Call of the Wild" (1903) was his biggest success. "The Sea-Wolf" (1904) was turned into the first full-length American movie. Later came "The Iron Heel"(1908), a premonition of the Orwellian world, and the autobiographical "Martin Eden" (1909). The highest-paid writer of his time, he earned over 2 million dollars, yet he was always broke. In 1905 he bought a ranch in California, where he designed the first concrete silo in the state. His books provided operating income. He once said: "I would write a book for no other reason than to add three or four hundred acres to my magnificent estate." His ecological approach and effort to adapt the ideas of Asian sustainable agriculture was ahead of his time. In 1913 his Big House was ruined by a devastating fire and Jack London was financially and mentally hurt. He built a small cottage and made big plans, but he lived only 3 more years. His 1400 acre ranch is now a National Historic Landmark, named Jack London State Historic Park. The writer's cottage was preserved by his wife Charmian, who lived there until her death in 1955...London was quoted: "I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them, I shall use my time." . . . . "A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog."

SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIOS:
1. Jack London (aka: John Griffith Chaney)
Date of birth: 12 January 1876 - San Francisco, California
Date of death: 22 November 1916 - Glen Ellen, California

Want to thank VCI Home Video for releasing "To Build a Fire" (1969) - Jack London, the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available, stay tuned once again for top notch wonderful character actors of the cinema brought back so many wonderful memories of the times when film makers cared about you who purchased a ticket and came back for more...just the way we like 'em.

Total Time: 56 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video 8226 ~ (12/07/1999)

The story "To Build a Fire" was very intersting but the movie fell short. Costuming, scenery and special effect were all miserable. The sotry depicts a man who had a strong bond with his dog and is very knowledgeable with it comes to traveling. In the story we could picture how cold it was by the color of his amber beard from his tobacco chew and the darkness. The movie did not depict the amber beard and the darkness.
The movie left many of these elements out. Until the very end of the movie when his face frosted over it seemed like he was just a man walking on a normal winter day, but iwth arrogance and stupidity.

This was good if you are looking for the documentary part of the movie. But I didnt keep it. it was a one time watch and I gave it away.