La fureur sauvage

If memory serves, back when this movie first came out, two well-known reviewers (who lived by their thumbs) voted this one of the worst films of 1980. A few years later, I actually saw "The Mountain Men".

Just goes to show that even two well-placed thumbs can be wrong.

This is a fairly entertaining film, detailing the rowdy lives of two hunters (Heston and Keith) living in the mountains, drinking bad whiskey and fighting off attacks by bad guy Indians like Heavy Eagle, who scalps poor Keith at one point. The stereotypes are a little thick in spots, but the story is so well-told that one hardly notices.

The film was written by Fraser Clark Heston, Charlton's son, and a fine writer he is, blending humor, action and sentiment all into one neat little package. And with such beautiful mountain scenery on view, what a pretty package it is.

It's not exactly the easiest film to find but if you do get a hold of "The Mountain Men", be sure to watch it immediately. This is one of those films they REALLY don't make anymore.

Eight stars for "The Mountain Men".