I remember this first as a book I read back in the '50s. I loved it then, and I love the film now.
First, I have to address some of the complaints made by other reviewers here.
1. About the "fake bear sounds" made by the bear cub. I recall a display of bear cubs at a local game farm; that's pretty much the sound they make, much like a baby.
2. The "unrealistic" aspects: The big male refraining from eating the cub; the bear confronting the defenseless hunter and allowing him to go free. Curwood claims in his preface, if I recall correctly, that these events not only really happened, they happened to him! He was the younger hunter, named Jim in the book.
3. Bear sex as porn: Get a grip! I think that this was straight from the book, too.
Now, to my observations.
Much credit has to go to the casting directors and animal trainers. These critters seem perfectly cast! Could any bear cub possible be any cuter than this one? With expressive little eyes, even! I particularly liked the sequence where he chases the frog and ends up imitating it by jumping around after it.
The big male is suitably big and ferocious.
The sow (female bear) is amazingly attractive and fetching, lolling on her back and practically begging "Come and get it sailor!".
The dogs in the book were Airedales, but in the movie were black Dobermans, looking like the spawn of Hell!
Now cougars can be pretty appealing looking beasts, but this one has a distinctly dastardly appearance!
I especially liked the cub's reaction of studied indifference during the Bear Sex scene, reminding me of the Ron Perlman character in Quest For Fire while his chum was making it with the native girl. Oh! Same director! But how did he get the bear to have that same expression as Perlman?
First, I have to address some of the complaints made by other reviewers here.
1. About the "fake bear sounds" made by the bear cub. I recall a display of bear cubs at a local game farm; that's pretty much the sound they make, much like a baby.
2. The "unrealistic" aspects: The big male refraining from eating the cub; the bear confronting the defenseless hunter and allowing him to go free. Curwood claims in his preface, if I recall correctly, that these events not only really happened, they happened to him! He was the younger hunter, named Jim in the book.
3. Bear sex as porn: Get a grip! I think that this was straight from the book, too.
Now, to my observations.
Much credit has to go to the casting directors and animal trainers. These critters seem perfectly cast! Could any bear cub possible be any cuter than this one? With expressive little eyes, even! I particularly liked the sequence where he chases the frog and ends up imitating it by jumping around after it.
The big male is suitably big and ferocious.
The sow (female bear) is amazingly attractive and fetching, lolling on her back and practically begging "Come and get it sailor!".
The dogs in the book were Airedales, but in the movie were black Dobermans, looking like the spawn of Hell!
Now cougars can be pretty appealing looking beasts, but this one has a distinctly dastardly appearance!
I especially liked the cub's reaction of studied indifference during the Bear Sex scene, reminding me of the Ron Perlman character in Quest For Fire while his chum was making it with the native girl. Oh! Same director! But how did he get the bear to have that same expression as Perlman?