Cry of the Black Wolves

In the Alaskan wilderness a solitary fur hunter lives apart from settlement, content with his rugged existence. When a gold prospector is found dead nearby, local rumors quickly point to the hermit as the killer. The prospector's sister wants to clear her brother's name, so she hires a seasoned gunslinger to track down the recluse and bring him back for justice. The hunter resists capture and a tense confrontation follows, but hostility gives way to mutual respect as the two men learn more about each other. Elements of survival, mistrust, and the harsh north landscape drive the story, adapted from Jack London's 'Son of the Wolf'.

Released in 1972, Cry of the Black Wolves was directed by Harald Reinl and draws on Jack London's short work, with screen contributions from Kurt Nachmann and Rolf Olsen. The cast includes Ron Ely, Raimund Harmstorf, and Gila von Weitershausen.

The film had a limited international release, finding most of its audience in European markets. It didn't achieve major commercial success or wide distribution in the United States, and contemporary box office reports are sparse or regional, with modest promotion.

Modern reviews are mixed, with some viewers praising the rugged atmosphere and outdoor cinematography while others note a slow pace and thin character development. The film leans on themes of isolation, honor among strangers, and the corrosive effect of gold fever on small frontier communities, and appreciated by genre enthusiasts.

As an adaptation of Jack London the movie preserves the novel's stark settings, and it has retained a niche following among fans of European westerns set in the north. Memorable for its rugged locations and the chemistry between the lead men, it occasionally appears in retrospectives of 1970s adventure films.