The Mountain Men (1980)

Sadly Over-hyped

Instant Favorite.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Have seen this movie at least 5 times,and still love it.It's funny,has good action,and the Charlton Heston/Brian Keith combo is great.

Released in 1980, "The Mountain Men" chronicles the adventures of two mountain men in 1838 played by Charlton Heston and Brian Keith. They're bickering, cussing, fun-loving best friends who haven't seen each other for a couple of winters and the former is disheartened to discover that the market for beaver pelts has gone sour. Together they trap, fight Natives and party at a mountain rendezvous. When Tyler (Heston) acquires a Native woman named Running Moon (Victoria Racimo) her ex, a ruthless Blackfoot warrior named Heavy Eagle (Stephen Macht), wants her back and will kill to get her.This movie has a bad reputation with critics, but is generally praised by Western fans. Due to its subject matter it's not a conventional Western. There are no saloons, quaint Western towns, Sheriffs, Marshals, cavalries, cattle drives or quick-draw shootouts. "The Mountain Men" takes the topic of 1972's "Jeremiah Johnson" and mixes it with the tone of 1953's "Hondo" and, more so, 1977's "Grayeagle." It's mostly like the latter two in the way the Native Americans are depicted -- wild and savage. Their portrayal, albeit somewhat cartoony, is neither politically correct nor politically incorrect. It's basically just the way it was. They were either peaceable or brutally hostile depending on the people with whom they were dealing. For instance, the Crow Natives are friendly toward the mountain men in the movie whereas the Blackfoot are hostile. In any case, if you favor the aforementioned Westerns, you'll probably appreciate "The Mountain Men."I can understand the criticism of the film in that the first act is weak and tempts the viewer to tune out. The very first scene where one aged mountain man on horseback tackles another just for fun is Exhibit A. There's no way anyone would risk breaking bones in the high country just for kicks, particularly the elderly. Exhibit B is when Tyler fails to immediately go back and apprehend his pack animals, which contained his only possessions on Earth and his very means of survival in a cruel wilderness. If you can get past these flaws, however, the story really picks up when a certain character is savagely scalped at the beginning of the second act. The score is initially a turn-off as well because it's dated and maudlin, but if you persevere, you'll get used to it and there are some surprisingly effective parts (e.g. the percussion piece right before the river duel and the part that plays during the hot springs scene). Once you get into the second act the story becomes compelling and you feel involved in the lives of the characters until the end. While the two protagonists are gruff and unbecoming they have hearts of gold, sort of. Unfortunately, some people are so turned off by their gruffness that they can't look beyond it. I, for one, appreciated the realistic portrayal, as well as the humor, which is in contrast to "Jeremiah Johnson," where the tone was decidedly grim. In addition, Running Moon is a great character and the love she shares with Tyler is a potent story element. Heavy Eagle is also a quality antagonist.I suppose you could say it's a flaw that the principle Native characters speak English too well, but I'm pretty sure the script was written this way to get away from the sometimes laughable broken English that Natives would speak in older Westerns (the screenplay was incidentally written by Heston's son, Fraser). It would've helped if the Indians spoke their native language in the Native sequences, but it's assumed that they ARE speaking their native tongue, just like Germans are speaking German in WWII movies, not English, even though they're shown speaking English.Numerous other things impressed me about "Mountain Men." For instance, the Natives and their encampments look authentic even while one or two of the Indians seemed to act too modern, e.g. Cross Otter. Furthermore, there's a lot of muscular Western action with the mountain men fighting the Natives. One scene in particular is notable: Heavy Eagle tackles Tyler and they land in a rushing river where they continue to (try to) fight. It's a pretty exhilarating outdoors sequence and the waterfall is awesome. Lastly, despite the comic book tone, the movie is adult-oriented and gives a good glimpse of what it must've been like to live in the high country during that era. While "The Mountain Men" starts off weak it gets better as you catch a grip with the characters and the tone of the movie. It's a unique Western and the effort that was put into it is obvious. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Let me put it this way: I'd watch "The Mountain Men" any day before I'd watch the wildly overrated and lagging "The Wild Bunch." The film runs 102 minutes and was shot entirely in Northwestern Wyoming.GRADE: B

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 .

One of my favorite movies. A movie set around 1830 when trapping in the Rockies was slowly dying out. Charlton Heston and Brian Keith are pair of spirited old codgers who are liven past dreams gone by but manage to eick out a liven in the forsaken rugged frontier of Wyoming. Their adventure is far from over when a dispute with an Indian warrior puts them on a head to head collision. The warrior's woman who escapes to be with Bill Tyler the trapper put not only him but all his friends in harms way. A must see movie. An enjoyable entertaining tale of the ole frontier. Keith the undying loyal sidekick of Heston till the end loves to hear his friend spin tales of the valley of the beaver. So abundant are the beaver they stand on logs and call out take me Bill Tyler take me. To the amusement of Brian Keith but the irritation of Charlton Heston. A fun, action, humor, drama, and suspenseful performance.