The Trap

I saw this movie on TV when I was probably about 11 years old (35 years ago!)--and I still remember it very well. There was a local station which, for one solid week, aired it every day--and I watched it every single day! Unfortunately, I haven't seen it since and I don't think it's available on VHS but I remember it being visually beautiful and plot-wise, simply spellbinding, full of action, poignancy and suspense. Rita Tushingham and Oliver Reed are amazing in this. It's such a shame that no one aside from real film buffs have ever heard of this movie. It's a little lost gem that seems to have gotten buried somewhere in the Canadian snow--but if you ever get a chance to see it, please do!! It'll be time well spent.

I've seen this movie only twice. Once when it first hit commercial television, and again about 15 years ago, and it is unforgettable. It's great to see I'm not alone in my appreciation. I think it's a classic . . . . a "must see" for anyone who considers themselves a cinefile.

The two leads, Tushingham and Reed, are at the height of their powers and both give brilliant performances. (no hyperbole) The story is well conceived, well developed and executed to perfection. It holds together. The movie is a little gem.

Considering when it was made, the budget it was made under, and the politics of the time, (you couldn't find "real" Native American's in the actors union), it is an extraordinary work.

To criticize this movie for using an Italian "Indian" is like dismissing "Saving Private Ryan" because of a half-dozen glaring continuity errors. It means you've missed the point. Close your mind and open your heart. You will be rewarded for watching it, if in no other way than to witness, deeply and completely, the archetypes of what the masculine and feminine essences are in the universe.

Tushingham (Eve) IS the frightened rabbit that Reed (Jean) says she is. She has been torn from civilization to witness all manner of horrors of life in the wilderness. And what can be said of Reeds LaBete? Even those who laud this actors genius underestimate him.

While we're on the subject, how is it possible that during the Acadamy Awards Ceremony, when Reed's last movie "Gladiator" won BEST PICTURE, that he was overlooked when they did their eulogizing segment on those important figures who had passed away during the previous year? Conspicuous and tragic was his omission from that roster.

Do yourself a favor. See "The Trap". And then . . . . see it again.

8

Lush Canadian scenery that stretches as far as can be imagined, and yet this film manages to convey claustrophobia on the part of a traumatized girl compelled to wed a brutish-seeming fur trapper. The two leads play off each other very well. Miss Tushingham cannot speak yet shows powerful emotions in her facial expressions and body language. Mr. Reed gives a bravuro performance as a rough man trying to show his underdeveloped tender side. The plot is tight, the cinematography excellent, and the acting first-rate. One comment to those who wonder why Eve didn't use sign language or write: In frontier, fur-trapping Canada, when this film is set, most folks were illiterate and no universal sign language system had yet been developed. And sorry the Indians weren't acted by real ones, but that seems a minor point in light of the job the cast and crew did on an obviously limited budget. Flaws aside, this was a gripping love story.

I fell in love with Oliver Reed when I was a mere a slip of a girl. That's what this movie is -- a teenage fantasy. Performances are great for the era and the script. Surprisingly NOT overdone, though it's a melodrama to beat all melodramas. Pretty neat that most of the action is centered around only two people - scenes with others in them are only at the beginning and end - and the two carry it off quite well - the action holds. Rita Tushingham did a fine job without ever saying a word. That's acting. Tough to write "dialogue" for Reed to get the story out - and his own back story - when the person he's talking to never speaks to move the narrative along. The scriptwriters handled it pretty well during the time they spend alone in the wild. Oliver Reed, hairy and covered in skins, was as masculine a hunk of man needing domestication as any young girl could ask for. Too bad he made lots of bad movie choices (perhaps because that's what he was offered -- being a difficult actor), because he was delightfully bad-boy gorgeous and had incredible chemistry on camera. (Sighhhh)

Interesting Western based on a story and screenplay by David Osborn . A fur trapper nicknamed La Bete or The beast (Oliver Reed) arrives in a Canadian village after three winters in the snow ; having missing annual auction , he takes a mute girl (Rita Tusingham who does not utter a single word in the entire film) as his unwilling wife to live with him in his remote cabin in the woods . The picture narrates the odyssey of an adventurer that dreary of civilization lives in nature becoming into mountain man , a young who is part of the wildlife of the landscape , he is an expert hunter who shoots efficiently his preys and turning into a feared new myth named ¨La Bete¨ . Meanwhile , the girl early develops his senses from his first feeble and failed attempts at survival to become a skillful trapper .

Solid frontier western with exciting events , violent fights , emotions , thrills and spectacular outdoors . From the initiation until the final are proceeded continuous battles against nature and a survival fighting versus wintry wilderness , savage Indians , wildlife such as wolves and bear , among others . The story is a crossover of various films , the battle against nature of ¨Adventures of Jeremiah Johnson¨ and ¨Man of a wilderness land¨ along with ¨Taming of the shrew¨ theme , as well as the obstinacy and stubbornness of a misfit couple who discusses and contends with no rest . The magnificent cast is starred by an excellent Oliver Reed , a simple , brute man with violent tendencies and Rita Tushingam who plays a perfect role as an agreeable and sensitive mute young girl . Splendid cinematography in Panavision and glimmer color by Robert Krasker (expert cameraman on super-productions as The Cid , Fall of Roman Empire , Heroes of Telemark and The third man) as is reflected on spectacular outdoors filmed in sighting , rousing natural parks and filmed on location in Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada (village) , Hollyburn Film Studios, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Pinewood Studios, England . However , being necessary a right remastering because of the film-copy is washed-out . Special mention to a lively and evocative musical score by Ron Goodwin , the piece of music used as Oliver Reed canoes down river is now used by UK broadcaster The BBC for its coverage of The London Marathon.

The motion picture was professionally directed by Sidney Hayers . He entered cinema world in the early 1940s and began his directing career with ¨Violent Moment¨ in 1958 and carried out second-unit directing labors on epic films like ¨A night to remember¨ (1958) and ¨A bridge too far¨(1977). The journeyman director's roster of credits also includes episodic TV on both sides of the Atlantic , a multitude of TV movies and episodes such as A team , Baywatch , Knight Rider , T.J. Hooker , Hunter , Remington Steele , Magnum P.I . Furthermore , he directed acceptable films such as ¨Night of eagle¨, ¨Circus of horrors¨, ¨Assault¨ , ¨Finders keepers¨, ¨The Southern star¨ and of course ¨The trappers¨ .