Mustang Country

I did not know that this movie existed until happening upon it on AMC. It was very pleasant to see Joel McCrea back in action. His performance is enough to recommend this film. The scenery, mostly filmed in Banff National Park from what I can gather, is an equally pleasing costar to McCrea. There is much filler footage of animals doing animal actor tricks which is silly and distracting. At these points the movie feels like a sub-par Disney nature film, but the main story line of McCrea's aging rancher out to capture a wild mustang and bonding with a young American Indian orphan in the process is a nice story that rises above the lame moments.

If you like Joel McCrea, spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery, or are in the mood for a straightforward family Western this film may be of interest to you.

With the exception to the incredibly sappy song you unfortunately hear twice during "Mustang Country", this is a dandy film...especially since it represents Joel McCrea's final movie appearance.

The plot to this film is a bit like that of a similar film of the era, "Mackintosh and T. J.". In it, Roy Rogers comes out of retirement for one final film...and both have to do with an old cowboy befriending a mixed up kid who just needs a bit of guidance.

In this case, Dan (McCrea) is out trying to capture a very elusive wild mustang when he comes upon young Mika, a native teen who's run away from school. Dan helps the boy make his way to his grandfather's house, but when it turns out the man is dead, Dan keeps Mika with him to help him in his quest for that Black horse.

The film clearly has 'Family Movie' written all over it...and that's not a bad thing. It felt like the actor McCrea mentoring the next generation and it's one of his better performances. Not a brilliant film but a very good and enjoyable one that I recently found on YouTube. Plus the scenery around Banff is simply breathtaking.

A family Western set in 1925, Montana, Canada border, about a veteran cowboy : Joel McCrea's final movie at his 69 year-old , and an Indian little boy : teen Mina, dealing with their relationships and the hunt for a valuable horse. Along the way they confront a feared Grizzly Bear that is causing wreak havoc.

Nice film regarding a family story with Joel McCrea as a rancher comes out of retirement and teams up with an Indian boy, and then both of whom attemping to tame a brave mustang. Here is shown Wilderness Splendor and animal fury . Here appears a lot of wildlife such as dangerous rattlesnake , wolves , Coyote , American Buffalo , Coonskin, Puma , the wild Mustang and a bloody Grizzly Bear . Forteen years on from Sam Peckinpah's Ride in High Sierra, aging Joel Crea's goes back , as he came out of retirement to play a likeable and upright starring in his last film. Pleasant to watch the old cowboy up and about, but there's little to it. MacCrea was a B actor , though ocassionally he played A films as Sullivan's travels and The Dangerous game . Joel perfomed a lot of Westerns, such as : Union Pacific , Buffalo Bill, The Virginian , Ramrod , South of Saint Luis , Four Faces West , The Oklahoman . MacCrea is well acompanied by a sympathetic kid, Nika Mina, and as guest stars in brief appearances : Patrick Wayne, John Wayne's son, and Robert Fuller who at the time played several Westerns.

It contains colorful and briliant cinematography by Barry Heron. Showing spectacular and breathtaking landscapes shot on location in Banff National Park, Canada. The motion picture was well produced and directed by John Champion at his only one . Champion produced various Westerns as Texas Kid , Shotgun , Hellgate, Stampede and Laramie series and Warfare movies as Submarine X-I , Attack on the Iron Coast , Zero hour, Dragofly squadron . Rating 6/10. Decent adventure western in Walt Disney style that will appeal both, children and adults

A 70-year-old Joel McCrea emerged from retirement to make one last film - a simple unpretentious western about a hunt for a lone black stallion on the Montana-Alberta border in 1925. Ironically, McCrea was in Hollywood just two years after the setting of this film starting out in a series of uncredited modern dress roles. But I digress.

This is largely a two character movie, with McCrea accompanied for the majority of the film by young Nika Mina as a runaway Indian boy who, after he discovers that his grandfather has died, gets McCrea to agree, after numerous failures, to help him capture a stallion. There's a reward for the horse which the boy wants for his family. The story will also involve Three Toe, a grizzly who wiped out all the sheep on McCrea's ranch and who, of course, will emerge from the woods to cause trouble again.

Filmed on location in Banff National Park the scenery, needless to say, is breath takingly gorgeous, from the first shot in this film to the last. Those who love the sight of mountains and forests, lakes and streams, will have nothing to complain about in regard to that aspect of the film. There are also a lot of cutaway shots of animals, at times giving the film a bit of a Disney feel, but it's not too much of a distraction from the main story.

In his only film appearance Nika Mann is clearly limited as an actor but even though he's a bit stiff as a performer, he's a likable kid companion. McCrea, even in his grey haired senior years, still looks mighty convincing riding a horse, and there's a comfortable screen presence about him, as well as a direct honesty in his delivery of dialogue that makes his final screen performance an appealing one.

By the way, aside from the Indian boy, McCrea's other two companions throughout most of the film will be his horse, Rosie, and a remarkably bright dog, Luke, who will play a role in saving both McCrea and the Indian boy from wilderness tragedies.

Briefly appearing at the beginning of the film are Robert Fuller and Patrick Wayne as a couple of cowboys who try in vain to capture the stallion. While the film seems designed to appeal to kids, adults should also enjoy it for the scenery and McCrea's seasoned performance.

In 1976 this unexpected movie was as much a surprise as a refreshing relief from the grim gangster pics that had taken hold on the industry of the day. A well and truly retired Joel McCrea must have liked the script from writer/producer/director John Champion to allow himself to be lured back into the game he said he was through with - and at 69 he proved a formidable character to tackle such an active role. Being a professional horseman he makes moving at speed look as easy as an evening stroll! It seems the film was made to commemorate some Centenary celebration and was released in two versions - the best was released into cinemas as a support, at approx 80mins - while an extended version screened on TV, padded out with footage lifted from earlier McCrea westerns.

It's as pleasing to the eye as it is unusual for its day and while slight in its overall story, is set in some of the most ruggedly beautiful country in Alberta and well photographed by J. Barry Herron (Orca '77). Within the opening, there is an appearance of two guest stars, Patrick Wayne and Robert Fuller - who don't return for the duration but are used quite well. A one and only screen performance by a young native Indian lad, Nika Mina completes the rest of the cast as they search the hills for a precious wild Mustang. Random shots of animals existing in the wild are accompanied by a fine music score from gifted composer/arranger Lee Holdridge. There's a good song included by Denny Brooks ("Follow Your Restless Dreams") that's nicely featured in one section and closes the film. On the journey, a massive rogue Black Bear adds deadly excitement invading a barn the two central travellers take refuge in.

McCrea followers will be pleased to see this sterling veteran performer in his final role. In 1976, this little film won a Western Heritage Trustees Award for outstanding family entertainment in a western motion picture (though I agree with other reviewers that this film, set in 1925, is more a 'Wilderness' movie than a Western) Some DVD copies available are poor but It seems Universal have recently given this worthy picture a new DVD release - while I have not seen the quality, if taken from the original 35mm negative this should look visually perfect.