Bless the Beasts & Children (1971)

A group of social misfits band together and run away from summer camp. Along the way, they take up a crusade to save penned in buffaloes from a rifle club's slaughter.

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

Glendon Swarthout (novel), Mac Benoff (screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Mumy, Barry Robins, Miles Chapin

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Mumy	...	Lawrence Teft
Barry Robins	...	Cotton
Miles Chapin	...	Shecker
Darel Glaser	...	Goodenow
Bob Kramer	...	Lally 1
Marc Vahanian	...	Lally II
Jesse White	...	Sid Shecker
Ken Swofford	...	Wheaties
David Ketchum	...	Camp Director (as Dave Ketchum)
Elaine Devry	...	Cotton's Mother
Wayne Sutherlin	...	Hustler
Bruce Glover	...	Hustler
William Bramley	...	Mr. Goodenow
Vanessa Brown	...	Mrs. Goodenow
Charles H. Gray	...	Captain Cotton

Storyline

A group of social misfits band together and run away from summer camp. Along the way, they take up a crusade to save penned in buffaloes from a rifle club's slaughter.

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Plot Keywords:

buffalo | bison | summer camp | flashback | rifle | 

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Taglines:

Who were the misfits? The men who killed for sport... ...or those who fought for the buffalo!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 July 1971 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

... und sie sind nur Kinder

Filming Locations:

Hidden Valley Ranch, Prescott, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Near the end, after the buffalo are set free, the boys throw their arms around one another in a circle and spin. When the shot moves from wide to close up, the boys are in a different order in the circle.

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Quotes

Wheaties: Jesus Christ, you kids want to go blind? Now cut that out and go to sleep!

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Being from Another Planet (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Bless the Beasts and Children"
Performed by The Carpenters
Written by Barry De Vorzon' and Perry Botkin Jr.

User Reviews

I cried

I read the book when I was just 12 years old. I loved it. Then I saw the movie...and loved the movie just as much. This is NOT your standard coming-of-age movie. Anyone who claims otherwise is full of buffalo doo (!) because there is no comparison here. As for statements that troubled kids aren't tender-hearted when it comes to animals, again, buffalo chips! This movie is dead-on when it comes to adolescent worry and the way that young people (and older folks too) treat one another. Swarthout has it right.

I have just now re-read the book and am dying to see the movie again. It's been at least 15 years or more (probably closer to 20) so everything is fresh again. Ironically for me, I now live just down the road from Prescott and Jerome and Flagstaff. All those locations from the movie and from the book are right down the road.