Desafio à Coragem

The third feature film directed by Andrew McLaglen and the fourth of five big screen versions of Gene Stratton-Porter's 1904 novel; shot by veteran cameraman Floyd Crosby in CinemaScope & DeLuxe Color against the backdrop of the San Bernardino National Park.

The title refers not to a dog or some other cute animal but the young hero, and it's far from the twee children's film it suggests. For a start, he's missing his left hand and there's actually enough rough stuff to earn it the preliminary warning on Talking Pictures that "some of it may be unsuitable for a younger audience".

Audiences may recognise steel-haired principal villain Steve Peck as the jerk who killed Shirley MacLaine at the conclusion of 'Some Came Running'; while harder to recognise is Jack Lambert with a passable Irish accent - who even gets to sing a couple of times - in a very rare sympathetic part.

Freckles marks Andrew McLaglen's third feature film and it's the third remake of Gene Stratton Porter's novel about a one handed orphan kid who goes to work for a lumber baron played here by veteran western heavy Roy Barcroft.

Barcroft takes a liking to young Martin West and gives him a job riding herd on the trees lest they be cut down by another logging outfit, specifically the one run by Steven Peck. Good thing it wasn't his shooting arm lost.

Some nice color cinematography from Big Bear Lake is the real star of Freckles. The young leads of West and Carol Christiansen are attractive.

And you also get a chance to see not only Barcroft, but Jack Lambert as a good guy for a change.

The fresh-faced Martin West is the eponymous, rootless, chap employed by a kindly lumber merchant to protect his harvest from thieves. He is a city boy with no experience and only one hand, so his task is not going to be easy! What now ensues is all pretty routine, and is rather annoyingly peppered by some songs from Jack Lambert's "Glockamorra" style Irish accent. The photography, though, is beautiful and there is a fair degree of authentic looking fisticuffs for our champion as he tries to contain the thieving aspirations of the aggrieved hoodlum "Barbeau" (Steve Peck) and his gang. Luckily, he befriends "Chris" (Carol Christensen) who provides a bit of inspiration and love interest before she deflates the young man by announcing she is leaving to go to college... It's quite an engaging story of courage in the face of ostensibly overwhelming odds, but the acting and writing are all just a bit too "nice". It's certainly an handsome film to look at, though.

This little known gem of a film, is, in a way, the perfect pick me up, for whenever i'm feeling down! This is always guaranteed to put a smile on my face, with each & every viewing! Everything, from the lush cinematography, to the beautiful, vibrant colors, to the wonderful, talented cast, to the feel good story & atmosphere. It's all so perfect, in my opinion. With each viewing of this gem, I am able to escape to a beautiful utopia of early 1960's era Northern California, in the absolutely gorgeous San Bernardino National Forest, as it was. Long before, the unfortunate recent forest fires, that have sadly, largely, destroyed all this beauty, before i even had a chance, to view it, in real life. I wonder if there are any trees left standing, where Freckles (1960) was filmed? Cause i'd still like to visit these filming locations. I've always thought it'd be cool, to be a lumberjack, in the Pacific Northwest. Especially Northern California. This film, is probably the closest, I'll ever get to that dream. All of the cast do a wonderful job, & really make this story come to life. I've never read the original, 1904 Freckles novel, or seen the other 2 previous film adaptations, but I'd like to. Idk if the other 2 films will hold up to this one though. I wonder what the story is, behind why this was never released to home video? There's gotta some explanation for that. I'd give anything for an official DVD or Blu-Ray release, but for now, I'll have to settle for a DVD-R copy. Man, I wish i could be like Freckles, & run off to Northern California, & get a job, at a construction company. Protecting it from timber thieves. A perfect 10 out of 10, as far as i'm concerned!!!

A moving story of courage and resistance, I saw it as a kid a couple of times, and I never forgot it. It is the kind of tale that, when seen during an impressionable phase while we grow up, surely has a positive effect on any boy's or girl's mind.

The script has a couple of dead spots trying to make the film a bit longer, but it does not lose our interest, even if its target audience is mainly the young. Andrew V. McLaglen's direction is effective, not impressive, but assured, and he would soon go to bigger productions and become a reliable Hollywood artisan.

Neither restored nor available in a fine copy by any official home video source, it is hard to find, but if you search, you will find it.