the audience applauded

One of my all time favorites.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

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

I've never been particularly enamoured of either Oliver Reed or Rita Tushingham but both are beyond excellent in this vaguely unclassifiable yarn in which Reed makes a living as a fur trapper but could probably earn a similar amount peddling excess testosterone and Tushingham spends 60 % of her screen time looking cute. The plot of sorts has Reed visiting a trading-post after two or three winters in the wild, claims the money he left with a store owner for safe keeping and is persuaded by the store-owner's wife to 'buy' the mute Tushingham (she hasn't spoken since she witnessed the massacre of her family by indians) as a wife-cum-slave for exactly the same amount of cash her husband has just handed over. From this point - about two reels in - all that is left is to show the couple growing closer until they eventually bond. That's all there is but it's more than enough and I'd happily watch it again.

Like most who have posted here, I was haunted by this movie through the years after seeing it (over 40 years ago where I watched it over and over again on t.v.....it must've been shown in some sort've special week long presentation or suchlike....) The song would run through my head from time to time ("When I'm a man, I'll take me a wife, we'll live in a house on the hill, the hill...and she will have diamond and pearl"). I thought I was the only one to be so charmed, and was touched to read of other's finding this a magic film. It would be nice to see it again, and see what I think now....or maybe not!! I hope Mr. Reed knew of it's impact on people.

The Trap illustrates the fact that civilisation (of the period) was just as hard and uncaring as was the wilderness and that individuals, in either environment, needed strength of will and character just to survive. Both Tushingham and Reed are real Actors, not just celebrities playing themselves. They both can act without saying anything or with only very limited dialogue and in The Trap they have been able to give full reign to their capabilities. The scenery (the far North, all forest, lakes and snow) is magnificent and the photography does it justice at all times. It's a wonderful film, it will make you wring your hands, hold your breath and wipe your eyes.

One of the greatest British Movies ever made, and most certainly was the peak of Rita Tushingham's outstanding film career.Oliver Reed was terribly underrated as an actor, and this Movie goes to prove along with several others he made during the sixties that he was in fact one of Britain's finest actors.This film and story keeps you gripped with both suspense and emotion from start to finish - they don't make them like that anymore...It seems inconceivable that we are still awaiting the DVD release of this Movie and it is as rare as diamonds to find on Video which was available for only a short time in the mid nineties.Do not ever miss the opportunity to see this film if you get the chance - the story leaves you haunted from the stark atmosphere in which it is told.Tremendous performances from Oliver Reed, Rita Tushingham and Barbara Chilcott - not to be missed.Simply magnificent!