The Wild Country

Steve Forrest and Vera Miles leave Pittsburgh with their sons, Ron and Clint Howard and move to Jackson Hole to farm. However, despite friendly Mountain Men, the big rancher won't let them have any water, and their farm starts to dry up.

It's an agreeable movie to spend a couple of hours with, with some spectacular scenery shot on actual location, but despite the competence of everyone, it looks like they were striving for something and missed it. Was it director Robert Totten, the man whose the previous year's DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER was the birth of Alan Smithee? Cinematographer Frank Phillips, who compositions show so much baby-blue sky that you don't see the people? The Howard brothers, who performances are monotonous? The post-Walt habit Disney had of reducing everything to blandly heartwarming? I'm not sure, but miscalculations like that turn what could have been a fine movie into one that is good.

I have not seen this movie since i was little but it has very definitely left an impression on me since i am desperately trying to find this movie to purchase.I remember certain things such as the birth of a foal and the actors who were in it.I loved this movie!And if anyone knows where i can purchase a copy let me know.I have lobby cards from this movie also.

When I was a child, I caught about the last third of this Disney movie on television, and it made a real impression on me. For decades afterwards, I wondered what the title was, but I couldn't remember it. But just the other day, I caught the entire package on Turner Classic Movies, and I was delighted to finally identify the movie. Seeing the entire thing as an adult, I think I can sum it up by saying that with the movie being an early 1970s movie from the Disney company involving a big city family in the late 1800s moving to the countryside, you can probably predict how most of it will play out. That's not to say that the movie isn't enjoyable, but you should probably be willing to put up with a number of familiar plot turns and characters. Those who do will find some nice scenery, pacing more leisurely than the hyperkinetic family movies made today, and some good messages about working hard and never giving up. It's not a Disney classic, but it's likable enough if this kind of thing is what you want. A word of warning, however: While the movie got a "G" rating back in 1970, there is some surprisingly harsh violence and intense situations that would unquestionably earn the movie a "PG" rating today.

It ends nicely enough, but everything up until that point is underwhelming.

A lot happens in 'The Wild Country', most of which negatively affects the protagonists. Despite that, I never really felt connected to the story and/or characters. The dialogue and behaviour for the latter is rather iffy.

Steve Forrest does a solid enough job in the role of Jim, though his wife (Vera Miles) and kids (Ron Howard, yes him, + Clint Howard) are more annoying than anything else. Jack Elam is mildly enjoyable as Thompson. Morgan Woodward plays antagonist Ab Cross, he is very one-dimensional in how he is and we don't really get any background on him either.

The plot surrounding Cross and the others is alright, just poorly executed in my opinion. It kinda felt like bad event followed by shouting followed by bad event followed by shouting all the time. There is one tornado scene which is very well shot, I will say that.

Overall, this isn't one I'd say you should rush to watch.

A family moves from Pittsburgh to Wyoming to become farmers in the late 1800s. They face the expected amount of hardships, including a tornado and a murderous rancher. Wilderness family adventure movies are usually fun to watch. This one doesn't break any new ground, even for 1970, but it'll keep your attention. It's enjoyable even if it's stuff you've seen before. Steve Forrest and Vera Miles are the parents. He's for the pioneer life but she wants to move back to civilization. Ron Howard is the teenage son anxious to be a man. Clint Howard is the annoying little brother who likes to make pets of all the animals. Jack Elam is lots of fun as a goofy mountain man and Frank DeKova has another of his Indian roles he was known for. Dan Haggerty has a blink-and-you'll-miss-him background part. Surprisingly violent for a Disney movie. Tornado scene was very well done. Beautiful scenery is a plus. Worth checking out if you're a fan of such movies.