This is a charming film containing adventure , emotion , sense of wonder , great sensibility and wonderful outdoors . Thought-provoking and marvelous film about a boy , a raccoon , and his peregrine falcon, set in gorgeous landscapes and in documentary style , at times . Stars young Sam Gribley (Ted Eccles) , he is a boy who dreams of leaving civilization and then runs away he learns about nature . As Sam follows faithfully the deep teachings of the book Walden written by the prestigious Henry David Thoreau , a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings . One day , he meets a falcon and heals it , as well as an Otter . In a world where it takes courage to fly , a hawk is thrown the nest out and eventually , falling on the ground. As days go by, he realizes about the eagle wants to fly on its own . As Sam nurtures the hawk , from childhood to adulthood and both have an emotional connection . Both of them bond about their desires to be free . Along the way Sam befriends a good man called Bando (Theodore Bikel) and both of whom learn about the mutual feeling and friendship .
This enjoyable US/Canada production film is set in the Sixties , Canadian mountains , a marvelous place to dream, about a 13-year-old boy decides to emulate his idol Henry David Thoreau and gives up his home and his family to live in the Canadian mountains , while learning about nature . The notorious Henry David Thoreau was an American naturalist ,author, poet , philosopher, abolitionist , tax resister, leading transcendentalist , development critic, surveyor , and historian . This is a provoking and interesting movie, it is both, semi-documentary and children yarn , including colourful, beautiful, glimmer scenarios . Dealing with the unusual bond between a boy and natural enviroment and especially a raccoon and a hawk since it was a chick . In addition , concerning friendship both wildlife and people , as Sam makes friends in the mountains , as a good woman and a singer drifter , and he has a strong relationship with him . The film has an exceptional camerawork, several real hawks and animals were used , in fact uncredited actor Dan Haggerty of "Grizzly Adams" fame worked on the film as an animal trainer , being a hard and very complicated shooting for long time in the Canadian mountains and other locations . The short cast, Ted Eccles, Theodore Bikel , Tudi Wiggins keep the movie interesting and attractive. Children especially and adults can learn lessons of ecology , wildlife, self-reliance, freedom and interdependence from the movie. In addition, to enjoy adventures, emotion and overwhelming outdoors .
It displays a phantastic and gorgeous cinematography by Denys N. Coop shot on location in Otmar PenGreen Mountains, Corner of Paige and Paramount Rd., Knowlton, Québec, Canada and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As well as evocative and sensitive score by Wilfred Josephs , adding catching songs sung by Theodore Bikel. The motion picture was professionally directed by James B Clark , though it has some flaws and failures. Clark was a craftsman who usually directed episodes for TV series , such as : Batman series , The High Chaparral , Lassie , The Monroe , Daniel Boone , Here comes the brides, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea , Firehouse , Loner , The Legend of Jesse James, and ocassionally for cinema , such as : One Foot in Hell, Misty , A Dog of Flanders , Villa¡ , Sierra Baron , Under Fire . Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable . The picture will appeal to nature buffs and children films lovers.
