Run Wild, Run Free

If you can ignore the ghastly musical score hampering every scene, this fine family film has much to offer: Excellent performances by the leads - Mark Lester and veteran John Mills, engaging and thought-provoking story, and the beautiful scenery of the moors. Whether the boy has autism or a case of anxiety-based mutism, the relationships developed between the boy (Mark Lester) and a wild pony and the moorman (John Mills) who befriends both is natural and affecting. Special mention must be given to the cinematographer, Wilkie Cooper, for his beautiful work in capturing the magical beauty of the misty moors.

Mark Lester hasn't spoken a word in years. He and his parents, Gordon Jackson and Sylvia Syms, live by the moors in Devon. Retired Colonel John Mills take an interest in the boy and the moor pony he wanders about with.

Since his starring role in OLIVER!, Lester was the great child actor of the British cinema, a position he would hold through the middle of the following decade. This movie tries to be a bit mystical, but is so obvious about its symbols that it is a bit off-putting. Nonetheless, it held my interest, mostly because of the beautiful cinematography of the foggy moors (thanks to cinematographer Wilkie Cooper), the subplot about the kestrel Mills, Lester, and young Fiona Fullerton are training, and Mills' performance.

The adults in the cast are a sterling lot, and include Bernard Miles in his last screen performance, sporting a stage West Country accent.

RUN WILD, RUN FREE is a clear entry in the 'love of nature' sub-genre of movies that came out during the late '60s; titles include BORN FREE and RING OF BRIGHT WATER. This one's heavily indebted to the latter as well as KES, telling of a young autistic boy growing up on Dartmoor who finds himself unable to communicate with the human race. Instead, he finds a love of animals and nature which gradually brings him out of his shell.

This was made shortly after the success of OLIVER! and saw Mark Lester's fame riding high. He's certainly a good choice for the role of the protagonist, but John Mills is even better in support, essaying the role of the kindly benefactor with skill and ease. Gordon Jackson and Sylvia Sims play Lester's exasperated parents and the former is particularly effective. Watch out for future Bond girl Fiona Fullerton as a kid, playing a girl who befriends Lester.

Inevitably, it's the creatures who end up being the most enjoyable characters in these productions, and the pony and the kestrel are undoubtedly the best things in the movie, lovable both of them. There aren't too many films set on Dartmoor and the cinematography brings out the best of the rugged locales, which I loved. There are the usual highs and lows, peaks of happiness and moments of tragedy, alongside one of the most gruelling climaxes I've seen in a film. It's well worth a watch if you're a fan of the genre.

I enjoyed this movie, and indeed it was moving. But it was not Mark Lester's performance, good though it was, that impressed me. When one watches movies, here and there one sees a few brief moments in which an actor gives absolutely all they've got, when they just let go and some deep primeval emotion erupts from them. It doesn't happen very often. It happens with Juliet Stephenson's grief in Truly Madly Deeply. It happens with Michael Caine's fear in Sleuth, It happens with Anna Calder-Marshall's desperate passion in Wuthering Heights. In Run Wild, Run Free we see this rare phenomenon for a few moments in the acting of Fiona Fullerton when she fears that Philip will be lost in the bog. Her frantic, desperate attempts to control a child for whom she feels responsibility but who is totally beyond her control are to me absolutely unforgettable. This moment alone makes the movie worth watching.

"Ten year old Philip Ransome (Mark Lester) is the despair of his parents. From early childhood, he has been unable to speak. His emotions are centered on the wild creatures of the moors where he lives. An elderly recluse (John Mills) helps Philip to tame a wild pony and to train a baby falcon. When the pony is trapped in a treacherous bog, Philip finds at last the adult support he so desperately needs and achieves an emotional breakthrough into a real and loving world," according to the Columbia home video scribers.

Those who write the sleeve notes add, "Beautiful natural settings, a sensitive script and excellent acting makes 'Run Wild, Run Free' a classic of British cinema." The Dartmoor, England setting is indeed beautiful, and Wilkie Cooper photographs it exceptionally well. The story, however, is not entirely satisfying. Apparently, the boy "Philip" played by Mr. Lester is a selective mute. What causes his condition is never clear, so the dramatic climax of the story doesn't quite work; it's a resolution to an unknown conflict.

Secondary to the beautiful location is Lester's characterization, which is good considering the perimeters he was given. While not a better film than "Oliver!" (1968), this appearance shows stronger potential for Lester as an actor. During 1969-1970 he reached a peak level of cuteness in the pages of "Tiger Beat" and "16 Magazine", where newly popular Michael Jackson undoubtedly noticed him. Also interesting is that Mr. Mills, who talks herein, soon won acclaim for his even more mute role in "Ryan's Daughter" (1970).

******* Run Wild, Run Free (7/23/69) Richard C. Sarafian ~ Mark Lester, John Mills, Sylvia Syms, Bernard Miles