My Side of the Mountain

This is a charming film containing adventure , emotion , sense of wonder , great sensibility and wonderful outdoors . Thought-provoking and marvelous film about a boy , a raccoon , and his peregrine falcon, set in gorgeous landscapes and in documentary style , at times . Stars young Sam Gribley (Ted Eccles) , he is a boy who dreams of leaving civilization and then runs away he learns about nature . As Sam follows faithfully the deep teachings of the book Walden written by the prestigious Henry David Thoreau , a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings . One day , he meets a falcon and heals it , as well as an Otter . In a world where it takes courage to fly , a hawk is thrown the nest out and eventually , falling on the ground. As days go by, he realizes about the eagle wants to fly on its own . As Sam nurtures the hawk , from childhood to adulthood and both have an emotional connection . Both of them bond about their desires to be free . Along the way Sam befriends a good man called Bando (Theodore Bikel) and both of whom learn about the mutual feeling and friendship .

This enjoyable US/Canada production film is set in the Sixties , Canadian mountains , a marvelous place to dream, about a 13-year-old boy decides to emulate his idol Henry David Thoreau and gives up his home and his family to live in the Canadian mountains , while learning about nature . The notorious Henry David Thoreau was an American naturalist ,author, poet , philosopher, abolitionist , tax resister, leading transcendentalist , development critic, surveyor , and historian . This is a provoking and interesting movie, it is both, semi-documentary and children yarn , including colourful, beautiful, glimmer scenarios . Dealing with the unusual bond between a boy and natural enviroment and especially a raccoon and a hawk since it was a chick . In addition , concerning friendship both wildlife and people , as Sam makes friends in the mountains , as a good woman and a singer drifter , and he has a strong relationship with him . The film has an exceptional camerawork, several real hawks and animals were used , in fact uncredited actor Dan Haggerty of "Grizzly Adams" fame worked on the film as an animal trainer , being a hard and very complicated shooting for long time in the Canadian mountains and other locations . The short cast, Ted Eccles, Theodore Bikel , Tudi Wiggins keep the movie interesting and attractive. Children especially and adults can learn lessons of ecology , wildlife, self-reliance, freedom and interdependence from the movie. In addition, to enjoy adventures, emotion and overwhelming outdoors .

It displays a phantastic and gorgeous cinematography by Denys N. Coop shot on location in Otmar PenGreen Mountains, Corner of Paige and Paramount Rd., Knowlton, Québec, Canada and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As well as evocative and sensitive score by Wilfred Josephs , adding catching songs sung by Theodore Bikel. The motion picture was professionally directed by James B Clark , though it has some flaws and failures. Clark was a craftsman who usually directed episodes for TV series , such as : Batman series , The High Chaparral , Lassie , The Monroe , Daniel Boone , Here comes the brides, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea , Firehouse , Loner , The Legend of Jesse James, and ocassionally for cinema , such as : One Foot in Hell, Misty , A Dog of Flanders , Villa¡ , Sierra Baron , Under Fire . Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable . The picture will appeal to nature buffs and children films lovers.

Unbelievable! I seen this movie when I was 5 years old. I am 44 now. Since the movie, I did all sorts of similar things. I build tree forts, hiked around lakes and tinkered near the ponds and lakes of South Dakota. I've trapped small animals as a 7-12 yr old including noosing gophers and small rabbits. I eventually joined the US Marines as a 20 year old and now I am involved in teaching a Jungle Survival and Leadership Course five or six times a year in the Philippines. This movie created such a LASTING IMPRESSION on my innocent spirit I nearly became like the kid in the movie. My life has been a very fulfilling, independent and satisfying experience/journey. I just came across the DVD again after over 39 years and showed it to my kids. SO many great memories have come back to me during watching the movie again. One of the best movies ever made. Mitch

I saw this movie as a child with my family, my mother being the most enthusiastic as it was filmed in Sutton QC, where she grew up. Back then, I thought the idea of going into the mountains and living in one's own treehouse was a fabulous idea!

The familiar scenery of the Green Mountains of southern Québec was breathtaking on the big screen. My mother pointed out the scene where Teddy Eccles' character, Sam, goes to the library in Knowlton, a library she had been to many times.

I understand Eccles attended and signed the guestbook of Olivet Baptist Church in Sutton, the church where my mother grew up.

Certainly, every kid has a dream of some adventure independent of parents and this movie helped me live mine a little.

This film will mean a lot to children of a certain age, particularly boys. It's not really an adventure story, but it is 'boy runs away from family' story done in the old Disney style- that is, you never reall feel that he's in serious danger, and you learn a lot about nature and love along the way. Worthwhile.

"My Side of the Mountain" is an entertaining family film that I enjoyed both as a teenager and as an adult.

The movie has adventure and a sense of wonder in its portrayal of a young boy intent on making his way alone in the wilderness. The lead character, Sam, does sometimes overact and can get on one's nerves, but the supporting cast--human, mammalian, and avian--keeps the film interesting and prevents Sam from become too overbearing. Kids can learn lessons on self-reliance and interdependence from the film, in addition to enjoying San's adventures and the beautiful scenery of the Laurentian Mountains.