Challenge to Be Free (1975)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Directors:

Tay Garnett
Ford Beebe

Writers:

Anne Bosworth (writer)
Chuck D. Keen (writer)

Genre:

Adventure

Tagline:

The true story of a man you'll always remember. He became a legend you'll never forget...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Mike Mazurki	...	Trapper
Fritz Ford	...	Sargent
Vic Christy	...	Frenchy
Jimmy Kane	...	Old Tracks
Alex Van Bibber	...	Great Rifleman
Tay Garnett	...	Old Marshal McGee
Gordon Yardley	...	Supply Officer
Bob McKinnon	...	Buck Dawson
Roger Reitano	...	Eli Zane
Ted Yardley	...	Officer Cabot
Brian Russell	...	Storekeeper
Connie Yardley	...	Housewife
Patty Piper	...	Indian
John McIntire	...	Narrator (voice)

Also Known As:

Mad Trapper of the Yukon (USA) (working title)
Ride a Wild Mare (USA) (working title)
The Mad Trapper (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Netherlands:88 min | USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Alaska Pictures

Trivia:

According to Leonard Maltin's "TV Movies" book, this movie was filmed in 1972 as "Mad Trapper Of The Yukon" and was re-released in 1975 as "Challenge To Be Free".

Based on the True Mystery of the Mad Trapper

This is an excellent true story, one of the gems of mountain man folklore, set in 1930's Northern Canada. The story of Canada's most famous northern manhunt, the Mad Trapper of Rat River and his running gun battle with the R.C.M.P. in the winter of 1931-32.

The Mad Trapper was thought to be named Albert Johnson, complaints were received about Johnson tampering with people's traps. When the Mounties were sent to investigate one was shot and wounded in an exchange of fire. They withdrew for help and later returned to the isolated cabin with a nine man posse and 20 pounds of dynamite. Meanwhile Johnston had reinforced the cabin and dug a pit under the floor. When the Mounties threw the dynamite at the cabin it blew the cabin apart, but when they went in expecting to find a dead or wounded Johnston he fought them off.

The Mounties withdrew again, and later when they returned to the cabin they found it abandoned. After a long search of the area, they ran into Johnston again, but one of the Mounties was shot dead in the exchange and Johnston managed to slip away.

The Mounties could not catch Johnston so they called in aerial surveillance. The plane picked up Johnstons trail and directed the Mounties to his location. The outcome of the ensuing gunfight was left a mystery, did he get away. Nobody knows.

This Mike Mazurki version is a rather sterile version, of the story. Made in a style akin to an early Walt Disney movie.

It's still a passable enough version of the mystery of the "Mad Trapper". Though maybe it dwells a bit much on the large animal cast.

It definitely invites a remake. It was called Death Hunt (1981).