Mustang Country

I know very little about Director John Champion but he does not do a bad job of MUSTANG COUNTRY, championing the cause of nature throughout. To that end, he is helped by the ever marvellous and fit looking 71-year-old Joel McCrea, by Nika Mina the Indian teenager, and Robert Fuller and Patrick Wayne in parts so small that if you blink you don't see them.

Super cinematography by Barry Herron, including some terrific scenes involving a serial killer bear, mountain lion, badgers, and various other animals, none more attention-grabbing, intelligent, brave, and a better actor than Luke, the Rottweiler who completely steals the show.

Of course, this film suffers from some narrative weaknesses, you can find detail flaws without too much effort, but its good spirit, charismatic acting from McCrea and Mina, and sheer landscape beauty make it must-see. 7/10.

Joel McCrea came out of retirement to do this, and one can only wonder why. It seems likely it was either the chance to spend a lot of time on horseback in astonishing mountain countryside (which one would imagine he'd done plenty of times before this), or he was too nice to turn down a friend. The story is basic and unadorned by nuance or insight. Old cowboy wants wild mustang. Orphaned kid with spunk helps him. Adventures follow. There's no conflict in the story beyond whether the pair will capture the horse. The only two other actors in the movie are nice guys who disappear after one scene. And of the two main actors, Joel McCrea is the only one who can act. (He's not given anything remotely complex to act, though.) The kid is out-acted by McCrea's dog. In fact, the kid is out-acted by McCrea's hat. But it's wonderful to see McCrea in his twilight years, still a consummate pro, still a splendid rider, still a movie star. And the scenery is worth four of the five points I voted the movie.

With the exception to the incredibly sappy song you unfortunately hear twice during "Mustang Country", this is a dandy film...especially since it represents Joel McCrea's final movie appearance.

The plot to this film is a bit like that of a similar film of the era, "Mackintosh and T. J.". In it, Roy Rogers comes out of retirement for one final film...and both have to do with an old cowboy befriending a mixed up kid who just needs a bit of guidance.

In this case, Dan (McCrea) is out trying to capture a very elusive wild mustang when he comes upon young Mika, a native teen who's run away from school. Dan helps the boy make his way to his grandfather's house, but when it turns out the man is dead, Dan keeps Mika with him to help him in his quest for that Black horse.

The film clearly has 'Family Movie' written all over it...and that's not a bad thing. It felt like the actor McCrea mentoring the next generation and it's one of his better performances. Not a brilliant film but a very good and enjoyable one that I recently found on YouTube. Plus the scenery around Banff is simply breathtaking.

A family Western set in 1925, Montana, Canada border, about a veteran cowboy : Joel McCrea's final movie at his 69 year-old , and an Indian little boy : teen Mina, dealing with their relationships and the hunt for a valuable horse. Along the way they confront a feared Grizzly Bear that is causing wreak havoc.

Nice film regarding a family story with Joel McCrea as a rancher comes out of retirement and teams up with an Indian boy, and then both of whom attemping to tame a brave mustang. Here is shown Wilderness Splendor and animal fury . Here appears a lot of wildlife such as dangerous rattlesnake , wolves , Coyote , American Buffalo , Coonskin, Puma , the wild Mustang and a bloody Grizzly Bear . Forteen years on from Sam Peckinpah's Ride in High Sierra, aging Joel Crea's goes back , as he came out of retirement to play a likeable and upright starring in his last film. Pleasant to watch the old cowboy up and about, but there's little to it. MacCrea was a B actor , though ocassionally he played A films as Sullivan's travels and The Dangerous game . Joel perfomed a lot of Westerns, such as : Union Pacific , Buffalo Bill, The Virginian , Ramrod , South of Saint Luis , Four Faces West , The Oklahoman . MacCrea is well acompanied by a sympathetic kid, Nika Mina, and as guest stars in brief appearances : Patrick Wayne, John Wayne's son, and Robert Fuller who at the time played several Westerns.

It contains colorful and briliant cinematography by Barry Heron. Showing spectacular and breathtaking landscapes shot on location in Banff National Park, Canada. The motion picture was well produced and directed by John Champion at his only one . Champion produced various Westerns as Texas Kid , Shotgun , Hellgate, Stampede and Laramie series and Warfare movies as Submarine X-I , Attack on the Iron Coast , Zero hour, Dragofly squadron . Rating 6/10. Decent adventure western in Walt Disney style that will appeal both, children and adults

In 1976 this unexpected movie was as much a surprise as a refreshing relief from the grim gangster pics that had taken hold on the industry of the day. A well and truly retired Joel McCrea must have liked the script from writer/producer/director John Champion to allow himself to be lured back into the game he said he was through with - and at 69 he proved a formidable character to tackle such an active role. Being a professional horseman he makes moving at speed look as easy as an evening stroll! It seems the film was made to commemorate some Centenary celebration and was released in two versions - the best was released into cinemas as a support, at approx 80mins - while an extended version screened on TV, padded out with footage lifted from earlier McCrea westerns.

It's as pleasing to the eye as it is unusual for its day and while slight in its overall story, is set in some of the most ruggedly beautiful country in Alberta and well photographed by J. Barry Herron (Orca '77). Within the opening, there is an appearance of two guest stars, Patrick Wayne and Robert Fuller - who don't return for the duration but are used quite well. A one and only screen performance by a young native Indian lad, Nika Mina completes the rest of the cast as they search the hills for a precious wild Mustang. Random shots of animals existing in the wild are accompanied by a fine music score from gifted composer/arranger Lee Holdridge. There's a good song included by Denny Brooks ("Follow Your Restless Dreams") that's nicely featured in one section and closes the film. On the journey, a massive rogue Black Bear adds deadly excitement invading a barn the two central travellers take refuge in.

McCrea followers will be pleased to see this sterling veteran performer in his final role. In 1976, this little film won a Western Heritage Trustees Award for outstanding family entertainment in a western motion picture (though I agree with other reviewers that this film, set in 1925, is more a 'Wilderness' movie than a Western) Some DVD copies available are poor but It seems Universal have recently given this worthy picture a new DVD release - while I have not seen the quality, if taken from the original 35mm negative this should look visually perfect.