Filmed in Spain, this movie provides Richard Harris a platform to show the deepest of human emotions. In what might arguably be his most outstanding performance, MITW loosely depicts the actual hunting expedition lead by Capt. Andrew Henry expedition in the 1823. The character Harris portrays was, in reality, Hugh Glass although for reasons that are unclear, the name "Sam Bass" is used in MITW. This expedition was attacked and harassed by Arikara ("Rees")Indians. While hunting deer for the rest of the expedition, Harris' character is attacked by a grizzly bear and severely mauled. Not expected to live, he is given what crude medical care is available on the expedition being "sewn up" by another hunter. Then, when he does not die, Captn. Henry persuades two other hunters to stay with him "until he dies". According to the diaries of men on the expedition,one of the two was a young man of 19 who went on to become famous in his own right - Jim Bridger. The fact that he does not die although deserted by the other two hunters, is the basis for the movie. In one of the most famous stories of human survival, he is left alone without his rifle which is taken together with his other possessions as "proof" to the other members of the expedition that he has died. How he persevered though badly wounded, is one of the classic stories of bravery and persistence. For those interested, there are many books about this event. One of the best is The Saga of Hugh Glass by John Myers.
Review of Man in the Wilderness
Man in the Wilderness
(1971)
Not a WesternMovie but , a Movie about Human Endurance!
5 February 2006