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The Night of the Grizzly More at IMDbPro »
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| Index | 12 reviews in total |
15 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
Yet another anti-AMC rant!, 28 August 2003
Author:
Greg Couture from Portland, Oregon
Was skimming through some videotapes I'd made from past TV broadcasts
yesterday and, lo and behold!, came across one I'd recorded (but failed to
label, oops!) of this title from an American Movie Classics broadcast quite
some time ago. It was uninterrupted by commercials and promotional tidbits
AND it was letterboxed, as any widescreen film, of whatever quality,
deserves to be.
Ever since AMC opened the floodgates to commercial advertisers, dispensed
with presenters like Bob Dorian, Nick Clooney, Cesar Romero, et al., and
generally cheapened this venue into an unwatchable rival to the worst of its
cable TV bedfellows, it has made the presentation of a widescreen film in
the letterbox format a rarity on a par with, let's say, a politician telling
the truth and/or admitting a mistake.
"The Night of the Grizzly," though it's not a work of deathless cinematic
art, is a good example of what entertained us almost forty years ago: a
good cast, a serviceable script, modest but not skimpy production values,
and direction that builds the tension to a genuine climax, all without fiery
explosions and violence that brutalizes its potential audiences
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
Exciting Adventure yarn for Entire Family!, 14 November 2000
Author:
Ben Burgraff (cariart) from Las Vegas, Nevada
Although 'Night of the Grizzly' was released by Paramount, it's easy to
mistake it as a Disney film! Long on family values and gentle humor, this
adventure yarn is the kind of 'live-action' feature that the studio
specialized in throughout the fifties. If you don't think a film that kids
can enjoy will be your 'cup of tea', you might be in for a surprise! This
is
a terrific movie!
Ex-Marshal Jim Cole (played with rugged charm by 'Cheyenne' Clint Walker)
moves his family onto a small ranch, hoping to get away from the dangers
of
his previous line of work. His loving wife, Angela (popular '60s star
Martha
Hyer) is overjoyed by their new life, and the kids soon develop a bond
with
the beautiful countryside, and the small town nearby.
Not EVERYONE is happy about the arrangement, however; town bigshot Jed
Curry
(Keenan Wynn) wants Cole's land, and his sons are soon attempting to
provoke
Cole, in an unsuccessful attempt to force him to leave. When a monstrous
killer grizzly appears, and starts killing off Cole's livestock, Curry
sees
his opportunity; as the primary shareholder at the bank, he makes it
nearly
impossible for the rancher to get loans to replace stock.
The grizzly, nicknamed 'Satan', terrorizes the countryside, killing men,
horses, and farm animals, and Cole methodically begins hunting it, in
hopes
of getting the $750 bounty that would 'save' his ranch!
The arrival of bounty hunter Cass Dowdy (played with cold-blooded menace
by
veteran screen villain Leo Gordon) further muddies the waters; Cole had
once
arrested him, and Dowdy spent two years in the 'pen', vowing revenge!
Adored
by the eldest Cole child, Charlie (Kevin Brodie), Dowdy announces he will
kill the grizzly and accept the bounty, simply to ruin Cole! The pieces
are
now in place for a thrilling finale, as Cole, Charlie, and Dowdy confront
the enraged beast, in a scene eerily similar to the climax of 'Jaws'!
The film offers a supporting cast of Hollywood 'pros', including Jack Elam
('Cannonball Run'), as bizzare but sweet Hank, who is 'adopted' by Cole's
young daughter, Gypsy (the wonderful Victoria Paige Meyerink, in her
second
film); Nancy Kulp (TV's 'The Beverly Hillbillies') as the spinster owner
of
the local mercantile store; Ron Ely (TV's first 'Tarzan') and Sammy
Jackson
(TV's 'No Time for Sergeants') as Dowdy's sons; and Regis Toomey ('Burke's
Law'), as the sympathetic banker.
This is a film to cherish, and enjoy, again and again! Gather the
family...They'll thank you for it!
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Not for the sophisticated, but darn entertaining, by gum!, 28 April 2003
Author:
Greg Couture from Portland, Oregon
Watched this on TV a few months ago and was eventually more entertained than
I expected to be as the story elements began to fall into place during the
first reel or two. The script builds to an exciting and suspenseful climax,
one that rivals quite well, indeed, some of today's overwrought
nailbiters.
At first I thought Clint Walker and Martha Hyer were an odd pairing as an
Old West couple with a family. But Clint, of the awesome physique, was
actually quite a winning performer when he had the good fortune to be
directed by a good director with, at least, an acceptable script. And
Martha, after playing spoiled and elegant socialites and jealous ladies who
often didn't get the objects of their dreams in several of her earlier
roles, is warm and convincing as a wife in love with her husband and who
deeply cares for her children.
With terrifically capable performers like Keenan Wynn, Ellen Corby, and the
inimitable Nancy Culp to round out the cast, this one had quite a bit going
for it. The Techniscope (the Technicolor Corporation's bargain-basement
version of CinemaScope and Panavision) and Technicolor cinematography looks
a bit overlit in some of the interior scenes (a common practice back then),
and now the 2.35:1 ratio is probably lost forever. (The TV broadcast I saw
was, of course, "formatted" and the VHS version is, no doubt
panned-and-scanned.)
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Bringing Down Old Satan, 28 May 2007
Author:
bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
I'm in complete agreement with another reviewer in that this Paramount
production might well have been done by the Disney Studio. It certainly
has that look and feel about it. But that doesn't mean that The Night
of the Grizzly can't be enjoyed by adults as well.
Clint Walker and Martha Hyer are a pair of marrieds with children, one
of them being a teenage niece. He's a sheriff who's now retired and
they've inherited a ranch from his late brother.
Unfortunately the ranch is also loaded down with a financial
obligations they've inherited as well. They have a rapacious neighbor
in Keenan Wynn who'd like the property with a pair of lunkhead sons,
Ron Ely and Sammy Jackson.
But that's not all facing Clint and Martha. There's a local grizzly
named Old Satan who's terrorizing the ranches and farms in the area.
He's doing far more damage to them than anything Keenan Wynn and his
sons are doing. Actually Wynn for a screen villain is a rather mild
one, he much prefers working with finances to get what he wants than
any violence.
There's one more in the mix here. Leo Gordon has one of his best screen
roles in this film, in fact he steals the film whenever he's on screen.
He plays a bounty hunter and former deputy to Walker who served two
years in prison due to his killing an innocent man and Walker's
testimony of same. He's been hired to kill Old Satan by Wynn, setting
the stage for the climax.
The Night of the Grizzly does have some very nice outdoor camera work,
no studio shots at all in this one of a dwindling group of B westerns.
It's unfortunate that there is no market for films like The Night of
the Grizzly any more.
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Excellent childhood memory!, 9 August 2006
Author:
takwakin from Canada
This movie will no doubt seem dated and somewhat simple compared to
today's overblown productions, however, it has charm and remains a
childhood favorite of mine through the years. The story is engaging. It
has humour, action, and suspense.
When I was a child living on a farm in the woods of Alberta, my father
used to be called on by his uncle to go hunt bears that were killing
too many calves. This movie sparked my imagination and I often wondered
just what my dad would do if a GIANT bear came down out of the hills
and started creating terror in our small community.
If you like wilderness tales or adventure stories you will enjoy this
film. Perhaps Hollywood should think about a remake, today's special
effects would thoroughly enhance this great story.
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
in the sixties it was special, 14 November 2008
Author:
smoothdude17325 from United States
We often look at movies from past decades through the prism of modern eyes. You can't do that, considering the amount of sophistication the movie going public has now compared to those times. What I remember about this movie was being a young boy and being in awe of Clint Walker, Leo Gordon and that massive bear. Remember, this was before Jaws and most modern special effects. Also, we could only get a few channels on our TV and the big three networks were IT!!. The networks each had a movie of the week back then, and that was what we looked forward to watching when we were kids. Ahhh, it was such a simple life then.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
This movie actually scared me, 13 November 2002
Author:
Brett Walter (StreepFan126@cs.com) from Santa Clarita, CA
I remember watching this film when I was about three years old the first time, and being scared to death. In fact, every time I watch this film a part of me gets a little scared at the thought of a giant grizzly terrorizing a farm.
6 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
movie buff, 28 August 2006
Author:
fatmanp from United States
This was one of the best movies I remember seeing when I was younger. Please let me know if there is any way I could purchase it so I could bring back those fond memories. One of best parts I liked in the movie is the parts for the little girl. Like when she saw the skunk and called it kitty.Another with her is how she always called her dad big Jim.I think overall most all the actors and actress's acted very well in this movie.Again thank you for this chance to voice my opinion on this movie and its actors.Also let me know if there is anyway that I can purchase a copy of this movie for myself. I have tried to be nice by putting my comments in about this movie but you seem to have to many guidelines for your comments. Try not to have so many rules and you will more than likely get more of them!
6 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
More "cuddly" than "grizzly", 12 April 2001
Author:
dinky-4 from Minneapolis
Back in the early 1950's, this "family western" might have met with success, but by 1966, television had taken over most of that market, making "Night of the Grizzly" seem a bit soft and old-fashioned for the big screen. For adult viewers, it needs more of an edge to cut through some of its overly-sentimental tone, but most children will probably watch it without complaint. The supporting cast is better than average, (Nancy Kulp being especially enjoyable), and the well-photographed scenery gives the proceedings a pleasing "outdoorsy" quality. And for those interested in another kind of scenery, Clint Walker takes off his shirt at regular intervals, thus giving one and all a look at his famously fabulous chest.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
From my childhood, 15 September 2007
Author:
thepenncrew-1 from United States
When I first saw this movie I was at the drive-in with my parents. I
remember hiding behind the back of the seat scared out of my wits! My
father is a gunsmith and I've always had a healthy respect both for
guns and wildlife. And I know for a fact that there are things in the
woods that are much bigger than I am. And the fact that what occurs in
this movie could actually happen without aide of CG or any other
technical assistance makes it even scarier. OK, the acting itself could
have been better but you have to remember the age of the movie.
I hate to think how it would be "gorified" if remade. It was gory
enough as it was.
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