This movie was made in 1983 and I used to have it on video tape as a kid, but I hadn’t seen it since the 80s and I re-watched it as an adult yesterday. It was such a moving film. It was stunningly beautiful both visually and thematically. The running with caribou scene was some really incredible animal footage which must have been a nightmare to stage.
Charles Martin Smith really sells the difficulties and terrors of survival and the awe of nature, and it’s too bad it didn’t catapult him into a bigger career since he deserves it.
What do others here think of it?
My parents sat me down in front of this movie as a small child. All I can remember is that it’s very boring, and he eats mice, and it’s gross.
It’s not boring at all, but he does eat mice. And he does it for a reason beyond survival.
Well I’m sorry 4 year old me had trouble with the movie
I saw it in the theater when it came out, lots of good movies from back then.
IIRC the gag was everyone was worried that the wolves were eating caribou and he discovered they were living on mice instead.
His whole “eating mice” thing was a proof of concept. Can a higher order mammal subsist on a mouse diet? Apparently, yes!
But 1983 was a tough year for films. It was #140 at the box office. Same year Return of the Jedi was #1, Tootsie, Flashdance, Trading Places, War Games, Octopussy, Risky Business, Mr. Mom… eesh.
https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1983/?ref_=bo_yl_table_42
If you want another great, overlooked film from '83, check out #77 - The Year of Living Dangerously.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Year_of_Living_Dangerously_(film)
The story is about a love affair set in Indonesia during the overthrow of President Sukarno. It follows a group of foreign correspondents in Jakarta on the eve of an attempted coup by the 30 September Movement in 1965.
Linda Hunt won the academy award for best supporting actress for her role, and would later go on to be the iconic bartender in Silverado.
That sounds great, I will check it out. Thanks!
Added Tommy watchlist. Thanks!
Should also add “The Who’s”: Tommy. Great musical!
I’ve never seen (or even heard of) it, but that movie poster is not doing it any favors. IMO it reads like a fake/parody. Maybe it hit harder in the 80s?
There’s a saying about not judging books by covers which also applies to movies and their posters.
I’ll never forget watching the ads for other movies on rented VHS tapes. They were peak cheesy, not unsimilar to that text.
