A Winner for Webelos!

Generally enjoyable and solid Western. Perhaps I would temper some of the high praise found in some posts below, especially bearing adult viewers in mind, but overall I liked it.

But the thought that kept running through my mind was that I would love to show it to a group of Cub Scouts, about Webelos' age (9-10). I don't mean that as any kind of putdown (my son is an Eagle Scout), I just felt that they would be the ideal audience for the film. Too much younger and it might scare them and cause nightmares; too much older and they'll start mocking the 'fakey bear'. By the way, speaking of special effects, I think it is almost impossible to portray a menacing animal convincingly in a movie (especially before computer-generated capabilities). Besides "Jaws", when has it ever been successfully done?

I did very much approve of the film's traditional values (another reason it would be great for Scouts to see). And even if I wouldn't consider it a prime example of the dramatic craft in its highest form, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for fathers to watch with their young sons, especially those drawn to the great outdoors.

Renaissance Alpha Man

This movie remains my all time favorite western classic. I work with teen boys, teaching and training them in the traits and habits needed th be successful men. I use this film to help drive home my message. Clint Walker, as Big Jim Cole, epitimizes the essence of manhood. He exhibits honor, courage, compassion, integrity, strength, fidelity, respect, self reliance, love and mercy. As a family man he is the spiritual leader of his household. His wife, Angie, respects and adores him. He is unabashed in his love for her. His children love and look up to him. As a man he has the strength of character and courage to face an assortment of deadly challenges bent on destroyng him and his family. He engages his enemies with determined resolve, steady nerves and manly strength.

His adversaries include, a huge grizzly (satan) who is bent on devouring his live stock and his family, a wealthy and greedy land owner who wants his land; it was once his and he wants it back, and Cass Dowdy, a large, seething, menacing and steely-eyed man who has been nursing a deadly grudge against Cole; he wants him ruined, destroyed, humiliated or dead.

Jim Cole's deadly trials would almost ruin him financially (He could lose his ranch) and his marriage (How much can a wife take?). His best friend is killed by the grizzly and the wealthy land owner (keenan Wynn) does all he can to hasten Jim's departure from his land.

Alas, when Big Jim's wife can no longer bear the possibility that either satan or the evil Cass will do her husband in, she in desparation, fear and frustration, issues an ultimatum: Either Jim quit his quest to kill the bear and quit the ranch or she will pack up the kids and leave him. This brief and rare confrontation with his wife is followed by what I think is the best quotation of manly resolve I have ever heard:

"Angie, there ain't a man alive that doesn't got trouble. How he handles that trouble is what counts. In every man's life there's a Cass or a Satan, one kind or another, trying to whip him, beat him down, destroy him. He can't run away from it. He's got to stand strong and fight! What ever it is he's got to fight! That's how God made a man." Angie will soon apologize for her temporary loss of faith and stand staunchly by her man. Jim ultimately prevails against Cass, Satan and the greedy land owner and is able keep his ranch.

I think that our children, boys and girls, need to be exposed to films like this one. Jim Cole represents all the qualities of authentic manhood missing in our current society of effeminized and weak men. I am 55 years old and I watch this film at least 3 times a year and have been doing so sice this film came out in VHS. It is , for me, highly inspirational. I am waiting for it to be reproduced on DVD. If you have children, particularly sons, this film is a must see, again and again and again.

Great Family Classic

I grew up watching this movie with my dad. On Friday nights he would ask what movie I wanted to watch and I would always say "The Night of the Grizzly". There are a few scary scenes with the Grizzly but nothing to graphic. It's a story of a hardworking family getting through the rough times. A great movie for the entire family to enjoy.