Run Wild, Run Free

Film just cant get more emotive than this. Its scenario may seem dated now, but nonetheless with a vividly atmospheric setting and soul-stirring music its a beautiful and cathartic journey. Mark Lester is fantastic as the autistic Phillip. The story highlights the desperate and frustrating difficulties for parents to communicate with a child with autism. Sylvia Syms as his mother twice says 'I want to love him', truly heartbreaking. The natural (well-meaning) errors of the parents are well delineated as they try to understand what's best for Phillip.

I give nothing away about the ending except to say it left an enormous and yet serenely gentle impression on me watching the first time as a child.

The Colnol played by John Mills (bless the great actor's memory) believes that wild animals may help to unlock the running-wild nature of the boy. Yet the strength of the story, for me, is much more than the love of a boy for a blue-eyed white colt. Most importantly I think the film presents the need of close attention to and understanding of a child who isn't 'normal', rather than thinking out of fear for their well being. The world is more beautiful for people like Phillip. I hope you will enjoy this film.

Mark Lester plays the part beautifully of an autistic child. When the film was made in 1969, little was known about autism. The child is locked inside and unable to communicate or understand the ways of people around. Ahead of it's time, we nowadays accept and understand that animals relate to human vulnerability and judge the true nature of the person. Young Philip is aggravating and irritating to those who he has to live with. The parents try hard to help but are unable to get a satisfactory relationship with the boy. Being accepted by the horse helps the child to communicate and understand the meaning of relationships. When Philip harms the falcon inadvertently, he is stricken with grief. Fiona Fullerton is totally believable in her role. I think all the actors were first class. It's a beautiful and realistic story and a study of life with autism. The scenery is wild and beautiful yet chills the soul when the fog falls. A very enjoyable film for young and old.

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.

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.

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.