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Customer Reviews
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YOUNG ENGLISH BOB
I have waited a long time for MAN IN THE WILDERNESS to be released on dvd.Originally released in 1971,there is a rough edge,seventies ambience about the film that modern films,even westerns, sadly lack. The film
follows the ordeal of one Zachary Bass(Richard Harris),after he is attacked by a bear and left for dead by Captain Henry(John Huston)and
a motley crew of trappers and traders hellbent on getting back home
before Winter seals them in.Set in the early 1800's,it is more colonial than western, but regardless of any label,it is a film worth watching
on the strength of Harris' performance alone.There is not a lot of
dialogue and that is one of the movie's strengths.The spectacle of an old wooden ship being hauled on the frozen tundra on wooden wheels by men and
horses is a sight to behold.No CGI here,folks.Richard Harris became
somewhat of an offbeat western cult hero with this movie and A MAN CALLED HORSE and it culminated with the role of English Bob in UNFORGIVEN. He
always played an Irishman or Englishman so he was true to his origins.
The other movie on this double feature dvd is THE DEADLY TRACKERS.Made in
1973,it falls in comparison to MAN IN THE WILDERNESS. The lore is that
Samuel Fuller was the original choice to direct this film,but clashes
with Harris forced him out.With a supporting cast that included
Al Lettieri (his last film),William Smith,Neville Brand,Paul Benjamin
and Rod Taylor,you would think this film would be a lot better than it is.Taylor ,in the role of a ruthless killer, actually plays against type
and does a damn fine job. This movie seems to be aimed toward the hippy dippy crowd circa 1973.There is even a psychedelic sequence when Harris loses his sight and a lot of moral posturing at the end of the movie when Harris and Taylor finally have their showdown.Even Isela Vega(BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA) doesn't lift the movie up from its heavy
handedness.For some reason,this movie uses a lot of music from Jerry
Fielding's score for THE WILD BUNCH .This movie will be UNFORGIVEN for that.
