Absolutely the worst movie.

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

The film begins with an extended aerial view of aging beaver trapper Bill Tyler(Chuck Heston)slogging through snow with his horse and pack animals. A soaring golden eagle is shown several times, as if we were that eagle. The eagle reappears in the last scene, as Tyler and his young squaw are leaving her village for who knows where. I suspect the eagle is meant to symbolize the free-spirited lives of the hardy independent trappers on the western frontier at this time(1838).This was the first screen writing by Heston's son, Fraser. Like the second film he wrote: "Mother Lode", the on location shooting was done in spectacular lush western mountain country. The snowy Tetons are often seen in the background,while much of the early action takes place in the green watery Jackson's Hole. At other times, probably the snow-capped Wind River range is in the background, while the action takes place near the river. Tyler even visits a Yellowstone geyser field in winter. The action often moves back and forth between summer-like conditions and snowfields, making it difficult to figure out if these are season or microclimate changes. The film is well paced, with abundant action scenes interspersed with various other types of scenes. Tyler is soon joined on his lonely journey by his wandering galloping friend Henry Frapp(Brian Keith), whom he doesn't recognize at first, and who chases him down into a spectacular tumble into a lake edge. They are soon joined by the scout for perhaps the first wagon train for Oregon. They scoff at the idea that Oregon is a desirable destination for settlers. But, Tyler learns that the market for beaver pelts has gone sour.This is further confirmed when they later go to the annual rendezvous, where the only beaver pelt buyer tells them that beaver hats have gone out of style.The other problem is that beaver have nearly been exterminated. Meanwhile, some Crow show up and claim the trapper's stock really belongs to them. This argument is subverted by an attack by a Blackfoot war party, the Crow and whites joining to pursue the Blackfoot back to their village. There, a young squaw(Running Moon) attacker is knocked out by Tyler. They take her with them(Why?). At first, she is defiant, but eventually they find out she doesn't like her abusive husband war chief Heavy Eagle.(Why is he abusive? Because she hasn't become pregnant?. Because she is flirtatious and wilful? Or is he just a mean person?). Thus,she eventually prefers to stay with the trappers, despite their protests.Seems she was sold by her father to Heavy Eagle(not the usual Blackfoot custom.) This little group then travels to the rendezvous, where the trappers engage in the usual boisterous and commercial activities of such events. Running Moon kicks Tyler in the groin when he flirts with another squaw, signaling that she claims him as her exclusive mate. The trio is later attacked by Heavy Eagle's warriors, with the idea of retrieving Running Moon and stealing their stock. Tyler and Running Moon escape, but Frapp is partially scalped and left for dead. Tyer and Running Moon then travel around, trapping and cementing their relationship. Eventually, Heavy Eagle attacks again, trampling Running Moon, whom Tyler thinks is killed, and capturing Tyler. Tyler is given a chance to run for his life, similar to what really happened to trapper John Colter. Miraculously, he escapes to have several additional spectacular encounters with Heavy Eagle, who won't rest until Tyler is dead.Tyler again encounters and joins Frapp, who miraculously survived his partial scalping. Tyler eventually learns that Running Moon is alive, thus travels with Frapp to Heavy Eagle's village for a final confrontation. On the way, Frapp dies in combat. The two contestants for Running Moon charge at each other, like Medieval knights in a joust, knocking each other off their horses. The fight continues. Of course, Tyler emerges the survivor, though not the victor(view film to see what I mean).. In the parting scene, in the foreground, we see Frapp's corpse laid out on a platform, as was the Blackfoot custom, as Tyler and Running Moon ride off into the unknown. Actually, I found the characters of Running Moon and Heavy Eagle the most interesting. I would have liked to know more about their relationship. Running Moon seemed unusually wilful and spunky for a Blackfoot woman, which may have been their main problem. The film implies that the fault lay entirely with Heavy Eagle, but we never hear his side of the story.The plot of this film is so similar to that of the '51 "Across the Wide Missouri", starring Clark Gable, that it can be considered a remake. Gable's mountain man was buckskinned, rather than dressed in furs, and considerably more urbane than Heston's. Seems that Blackfoot, in particular, had a long-standing grudge against whites, after several were killed by the Lewis and Clark expedition, caught stealing stock. If you enjoyed this film, you will likely enjoy a number of other older films about frontier trappers that I am familiar with. These include: "Hudson's Bay", starring Paul Muni, "The Last Frontier", starring Victor Mature, and "The Scalp Hunters", starring Burt Lancaster.Heston previously starred in "Will Penny", playing a basically similar character in the guise of a cowpoke nearing the end of his career, and again has a woman after him. However, the screenplay had more major plausibility problems and the ending was tragic rather than upbeat.

This fanciful tale of isolation in Great Rocky Mountains , Yellowstone Parks and other wonderful locations reflects perfectly America's mood during 19th century on the new frontier . A duo of valiant frontiersmen named Bill (Charlton Heston) and Henry (Brian Keith) struggle Black Foot , Crow Indians , guzzle liquor , shoot efficiently his preys and in search for a legendary valley plenty of beavers that they jump right into their traps . Soon after , Bill steals a squaw (Victoria Racimo) and becomes the unwilling object of a long vengeance by an Indian chief ( Stephen Macht) when he proves to be the match of their warriors in one-to-one combat on the early frontier . As Indians set out to track down the mountain men on savage raids until a thrilling final . Both of them show obstinacy and stubbornness of relentless enemies who fight with no rest . They are continuously pursued by Indians because the chief seeks vengeance , going on a relentless chase .Chronicle of life of adventurers with great sense of humanness , friendship and good feeling . This extraordinary Western results to be a slice of life about hermit men and a hostile environment . Intesesting screenplay by Fraser Clarke Heston , Charlton's son , narrates the odyssey of grizzled scouts , expert hunters that one time dreary of civilization go to West developing their natural senses and becoming into mountain man , as they take part of the wildlife and landscape . Solid western with interesting events , violent fights , emotions , thrills and spectacular outdoors . Gorgeous scenery and great roles for Heston and Keith in a thoughtful meditation on the American West . From the initiation until the final are proceeded continuous battles against nature and a survival-fight versus wintry wilderness , trappers , and savage Indians, among others . The story is a crossover of various films , the battle against nature of ¨Man of a wilderness land¨ and Indians as ¨ Man called horse ¨ and of course ¨Jeremiah Johnson¨ that bears a remarkable resemblance . The magnificent cast is starred by an excellent Charlton Heston , a simple man who has no taste for cities and becomes a tough and two-fisted mountain man and Brian Keith as feisty old trapper , both of whom developing an intimate relationship . Supporting cast is featured by various actors in brief and enjoyable performances as John Glover , Seymour Cassel , David Ackroyd , William Lucking and Stephen Macht as native obsessed a bloody revenge . Splendid cinematography in Panavision and glimmer Technicolor by Michael Hugo as is reflected on spectacular outdoors filmed in sighting , rousing natural parks from Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson, Wyoming,Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Shoshone National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA . Lively and evocative musical score by Micael Legrand who previously won his first Oscar for Best Music for "The Windmills of Your Mind" and was also nominated for Best Music for ¨The case Thomas Crown¨. The motion picture is professionally directed by Michael Legrand , son of also director Walter Lang . Richard is an expert filmmaker of TV episodes as ¨Melrose Place , Perry Mason , Matt Houston, Charlie's Angel ,Kung Fu , Harry O, Fantasy Island ¨ and eventually for cinema as ¨A change for seasons¨ and ¨Mountain men¨. Rating : Better than average . This outstanding frontier western will appeal to Charlton Heston fans and landscape lovers .

Between 1830 and 1840 there was a gold rush of sorts for furs harvested from the mountains of America. The rugged individuals who spent their winters high up on the high Sierras, risked life, limb and hair to everything from grizzle bears to snow cats and marauding Indians. In return once a year they went down to the flatlands to what was referred to by trappers as "Rendezvous." There they could sell their hard won cache of winter furs with unscrupulously city speculators for $5.00 per skin, it was considered a fair trade. However by the time our two heroes, in the film " Mountain Men " Bill Tyler and Henry Frapp (Charlton Heston and Brian Keith) return from their high peaks in the spring of 1838, the fur trade, like the beaver, has all but vanished. The two aging trappers must now adapt to a changing world which makes them both feel old and out of touch. For Bill Tyler his life is saddled with a spirited Indian woman called Running Moon Victoria Racino) who technically belong to a fierce and somewhat brutal warrior called Heavy Eagle (Stephen Macht) who wants her back. Their conflict spans across several seasons and involves a very bitter rivalry. The film story was written by Heston's son Fraser and includes such notable as Victor Jory and David Ackroyd as Medicine Wolf. Picturesque landscapes and early Native America lifestyles in Yellowstone national park give this excellent tale a natural sheen which promotes the reason why viewers will enjoy this visit to our early American history. Highly recommended for all viewers. ****

Mountain Men, The (1980) * 1/2 (out of 4)Charlton Heston and Brian Keith play beaver hunters in the early 1800s who battle Indians and eventually take one of the females (Victoria Racimo) with them. The hunters then learn of a secret place with an unlimited amount of furs. This film has a pretty notorious history behind it as it was attacked when first released and continues to be attacked as being one of the worst films of the decade. Both Siskel and Ebert picked it as the worst film of 1980 and most movie books you read won't give this anything over a BOMB rating. I certainly agree that this is an incredibly bad film but I'd go as far to say it's one of the greatest bad movies ever made. The screenplay, written by Heston's son, is among the worst ever written as it's never clear what the film is trying to do or say. It seems like this would be a spoof of the genre because of all the stupid situations in it but sadly the film tries to play it straight and fails horribly. You get really embarrassing scenes of Indians mooning one another, mountain men flicking them off and the childish nature continues and I have to wonder why no one questioned this stuff before the movie was filmed. You also have Heston and Keith constantly fighting and cussing one another in what seems like a major influence on something like Grumpy Old Men. As for Heston, he certainly doesn't give a good performance here but it's campy enough to be entertaining. The entire film is very bad but at the same time it's never boring due to how bad it is. The film has plenty of unintentional laughs and in the end I had somewhat of a good time watching this but your entertainment level will certain depend on whether you can enjoy campy, bad films.