A large number of different views of the Grand Canyon, some unexpected animal stunts, a variety of wildlife make this a pleasant movie. The cinematography is one of the best features of "Brighty of the Grand Canyon". The donkey really is the central character! Veteran actors Joseph Cotton & Dick Foran are convincing as residents of the back country. Jiggs, the actor donkey, has acting chops right up there with the veterans. You remember Joseph Cotton was in what many consider the best picture of all time, Citizen Kane. The movie is set in 1906 with Teddy Roosevelt as an interesting but minor character. The biggest surprises are the animal stunts. Most major plots points are telegraphed. Probably the age range for this is 6-10 years (some not too graphic violence) and older adults. if you are of teen age through age fifty you are certain to be bored by the slow pace, unless you just came from seeing the Grand Canyon, and enjoy a travelogue. This viewer is older, enjoyed seeing Cotton and Foran, the scenery, the animals and just liked the whole thing. I'm glad I saw it.
11 Reviews
Not the best but certainly not the worst
keisher4268 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
While this movie did contain a few plot holes as mentioned in comments posted before mine (such as animals being sacred but a character in the film hunts mountain lions) I do have to stick up for it. I watched this film as a very young child, and since I was only around the ages of 5 or 6 years, things like the main character attempting to find gold and the Brighty the burro just happened to help him stumble onto some didn't really matter. I understood pretty much the message that the movie was trying to get across was "No good deed goes unpunished". It's not exactly a movie I recommend everyone to see because there is a darkness to the plot, but I have certainly seen much more cheesy films aimed towards kid with really no sort of message.
A great family film? No way!
BrettErikJohnson22 April 2004
Warning: Spoilers
There's hardly any substance to "Brighty". It's ostensibly about a boy and his burro but they literally spend only a few minutes together during the entire film!
An old man stumbles across the burro and befriends him. Well, the guy is looking for gold and wouldn't you just know it...the burro helps him find some. The burro is inspecting a nearby lizard and the old guy goes over to take a look at what's going on. Improbably enough, there's a gold nugget right in front of the burro's nose and the prospector is now rich. Imagine that!
His new found wealth is awfully short-lived however. A shady character comes around and does him in. Seems this new guy wants it all for himself. (Don't they always? At least my mommy taught me how to share). Anyway, the aforementioned boy and his mountain lion-hunting uncle enter the picture and try to track down the person responsible for murdering the old man. End of plot.
What you really have to love about this film is how they actually have the nerve to call burros "sacred" and they go on even further by stating that the spirits of some animals live on after they have passed away. Um...that would honestly be all fine and good except that the uncle in this movie MAKES A CAREER OUT OF KILLING MOUNTAIN LIONS. Why is a burro sacred and a mountain lion deserving of being blown to bits? Sadly, this film doesn't bother tackling that tricky subject.
The sole bright spot is the beautiful location shooting. It's just a real shame that it wasn't in a more deserving movie. 1/10
An old man stumbles across the burro and befriends him. Well, the guy is looking for gold and wouldn't you just know it...the burro helps him find some. The burro is inspecting a nearby lizard and the old guy goes over to take a look at what's going on. Improbably enough, there's a gold nugget right in front of the burro's nose and the prospector is now rich. Imagine that!
His new found wealth is awfully short-lived however. A shady character comes around and does him in. Seems this new guy wants it all for himself. (Don't they always? At least my mommy taught me how to share). Anyway, the aforementioned boy and his mountain lion-hunting uncle enter the picture and try to track down the person responsible for murdering the old man. End of plot.
What you really have to love about this film is how they actually have the nerve to call burros "sacred" and they go on even further by stating that the spirits of some animals live on after they have passed away. Um...that would honestly be all fine and good except that the uncle in this movie MAKES A CAREER OUT OF KILLING MOUNTAIN LIONS. Why is a burro sacred and a mountain lion deserving of being blown to bits? Sadly, this film doesn't bother tackling that tricky subject.
The sole bright spot is the beautiful location shooting. It's just a real shame that it wasn't in a more deserving movie. 1/10
A Grand Family Film
bkoganbing4 June 2009
Brighty Of The Grand Canyon has one of the best sets for a film ever, the fabulous Grand Canyon. Shot entirely on location in Arizona, Brighty Of The Grand Canyon would have been impossible to mess up scenically even if it had been shot with a brownie camera.
Brighty is a little scrub burro the kind that inhabits the canyon and knows some of the many trails in and out of it. As such he's a valuable animal. Valuable to old timer prospector Dick Foran and valuable to fugitive Pat Conway who fled into the canyon and who murders Foran to get the gold he's scratched out of the place.
But Conway reckons without young Dandy Curran whose parents have a trading post and with Joseph Cotten who is a licensed hunter by the government to kill mountain lions who prey on some of the other endangered species. This is definitely in keeping with who was president at the time.
In fact there's a portion of the film that has Cotten and Curran accompanying President Theodore Roosevelt on a hunting trip for mountain lion in the Grand Canyon. Karl Swenson plays our 26th president in appropriate bully style, but for the life of me I can't figure where all the Secret Service was at the time. It was after William McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt became president that the Secret Service was assigned presidential protection. Here we see Swenson just with Cotten and Curran and with Cotten carrying a weapon at that.
Brighty is a tough critter, he survives quite a bit in this film, including a cougar attack and a fall in the Colorado River. This is the only animal film I know with a burro as the lead. It's a pleasant 90 minutes for the whole family.
Brighty is a little scrub burro the kind that inhabits the canyon and knows some of the many trails in and out of it. As such he's a valuable animal. Valuable to old timer prospector Dick Foran and valuable to fugitive Pat Conway who fled into the canyon and who murders Foran to get the gold he's scratched out of the place.
But Conway reckons without young Dandy Curran whose parents have a trading post and with Joseph Cotten who is a licensed hunter by the government to kill mountain lions who prey on some of the other endangered species. This is definitely in keeping with who was president at the time.
In fact there's a portion of the film that has Cotten and Curran accompanying President Theodore Roosevelt on a hunting trip for mountain lion in the Grand Canyon. Karl Swenson plays our 26th president in appropriate bully style, but for the life of me I can't figure where all the Secret Service was at the time. It was after William McKinley was assassinated and Roosevelt became president that the Secret Service was assigned presidential protection. Here we see Swenson just with Cotten and Curran and with Cotten carrying a weapon at that.
Brighty is a tough critter, he survives quite a bit in this film, including a cougar attack and a fall in the Colorado River. This is the only animal film I know with a burro as the lead. It's a pleasant 90 minutes for the whole family.
Brighty Best Picture of the Grand Canyon for Children of any age.
stepbystepdaybyday7 July 2007
Anyone the least bit interested in the Grand Canyon has got to see this bit of cinematography at least once. Further, anyone who appreciates a good adventure story -- or film about critters as well -- has got to see this movie, because it IS a classic. Finally, anyone who likes to know history needs to see this film because it fills in the blanks on prospectors, Teddy Roosevelt, and the wild west in Arizona.
I have personally been to the Grand Canyon many times, and the draw remains there still. I haven't been for about ten years now, but am hungry to return. I also have seen the statue of Brighty at the North Rim, own one of those Breyer Company replicas, and the written story by Margueritte Henry accompanies many horse stories appreciated by my once young daughter.
Those who suggest this movie is boring are the same ones desensitized to a good story. This has lots of plot and character development, but just not enough shoot 'em up action or sex. It's rated G and is a delight to watch.
I have personally been to the Grand Canyon many times, and the draw remains there still. I haven't been for about ten years now, but am hungry to return. I also have seen the statue of Brighty at the North Rim, own one of those Breyer Company replicas, and the written story by Margueritte Henry accompanies many horse stories appreciated by my once young daughter.
Those who suggest this movie is boring are the same ones desensitized to a good story. This has lots of plot and character development, but just not enough shoot 'em up action or sex. It's rated G and is a delight to watch.
You'll Love Brighty
roscoekiki16 March 2003
This movie is a heartwarming story of a lovable burro named Brighty and his high spirited adventure with all his Grand Canyon friends. I bought the video a few years ago for my children and we all enjoyed it. Brighty leads everyone on quite a chase around and through the beautiful Grand Canyon and shows just how smart burros can really be.
Just purchased the DVD release for my visiting grandchildren and we have already had to show it several times. Great family entertainment for a change. You'll Love Brighty.
Just purchased the DVD release for my visiting grandchildren and we have already had to show it several times. Great family entertainment for a change. You'll Love Brighty.
Brighty is a Children's Classic
waldogrotsky19 July 2020
I find many films aimed at kids to be very annoying. Especially during repeated viewings. Brighty of the Grand Canyon goes down easy. This old-school classic is easy on adult nerves and holds the interest of younger children. Brighty the donkey is cute and well defined keeping the kids engaged. Joseph Cotten and the cast deliver professional performances.
I grew up in Henderson Nevada. Schools in this area had access to a 16mm copy of Brighty and showed it frequently. I watched it 6 or 8 times growing up. A great family film!
Timeless Film of the Canyon, Great Family Film
charleybooth17 February 2005
Brighty is a timeless view of the Grand Canyon, and a wonderful family film based on the award winning children's book by Maruerite Henry. The cast has some great Hollywood veterans like Dick Foran and Joseph Cotton, and was directed by Norman Foster who directed for Walt Disney for years, and also directed with Orson Wells. The story is good guys vs. the bad guy, but also is based on the true story of the real Brighty the burro who's owner Jim Owen (Cotton's character) worked as a guide and hunter at the Canyon in the late 1800s, and hunted with Pres. Teddy Roosevelt. This film was shot almost completely in and around the Canyon, and because of restrictions today at the Park, could never be done again! in this respect it is a great cinema-graphic testimony to the Canyon The DVD contains many added chapters and content for both children and adults. It is well worth viewing or owning!
A good choice for the family
Pernisa17 March 2003
A western flavored adventure film that takes place in the Grand Canyon around the turn of the century.
A nice Disney type movie about a a boy and his beloved burro Brighty. A movie that the whole family could watch together.
After renting this film we then took our family vacation at the Grand Canyon to see it for ourselves. The kids fell in love with Brighty and of course we had to see all the "burros" during our canyon trip. Found out that the movie was based on a true story of a burro called "Bright Angel" or Brighty for short.
Just bought the DVD version of the movie...great sound and such canyon scenes!
A nice Disney type movie about a a boy and his beloved burro Brighty. A movie that the whole family could watch together.
After renting this film we then took our family vacation at the Grand Canyon to see it for ourselves. The kids fell in love with Brighty and of course we had to see all the "burros" during our canyon trip. Found out that the movie was based on a true story of a burro called "Bright Angel" or Brighty for short.
Just bought the DVD version of the movie...great sound and such canyon scenes!
A Great Childhood Movie!
savannahruff27 September 2005
I was a young child when I saw this movie and I loved it. Back when a family could watch a movie together and it not be spoiled with sex, violence and obscenities. I seems that now even movies directed for children and families are way out there and leaves you wondering "what kind of film was that?" The book was very good also. I remember this movie and also "Pablo and the Dancing Chuchuahua" as two of my fondest childhood movies. I have a daughter that I would love to see this movie. I'm sure she would love it as much as I did. Also I would like to see it again also. Does anyone know how these movies could be obtained? Or even if any channels can show them on TV?
The most boring movie I ever saw.
Crook14 December 2002
I saw this movie the year it came out, and although it might be because I was a teenager, I remember it as the single most boring film I ever saw. I guess that's what prompted me to look it up in the IMDB just to see what others had posted. Apparently no one even remembers having seen it.
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