''The Bears and I'' is a 1974 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Bernard McEveety Bernard E. McEveety, Jr. (May 13, 1924 – February 2, 2004) was an American film and television director. Family McEveety was born in New Rochelle, New York; his brothers, Vincent McEveety and Joseph McEveety were also Hollywood directors ...

and written by John Whedon. The film stars

Patrick Wayne Patrick John Morrison (born July 15, 1939), better known by his stage name Patrick Wayne, is an American actor. He is the second son of movie star John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Alicia Saenz. He made over 40 films, including eleven w ...

, Chief Dan George,

Andrew Duggan Andrew Duggan (December 28, 1923 – May 15, 1988) was an American character actor. His work includes 185 screen credits between 1949 and 1987 for roles in both film and television, as well a number more on stage. Background Duggan was born in ...

Michael Ansara Michael George Ansara (April 15, 1922 – July 31, 2013) was an American actor. He portrayed Cochise in the television series '' Broken Arrow'', Kane in the 1979–1981 series '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'', Commander Kang in '' Star Tr ...

and

Robert Pine Robert Pine (born Granville Whitelaw Pine, July 10, 1941) is an American actor who is best known as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the television series ''CHiPs'' (1977–1983). Including ''CHiPs'', Pine has appeared in over 400 episodes of television. ...

. The film was released on July 31, 1974, by Buena Vista Distribution.

Plot

Robert (Bob) Leslie, a Vietnam veteran goes to the remote homeland of a fallen comrade to deliver his personal effects to his father, a First Nations chief and shaman. He is taken with the beauty of the west and decides to stay a while to find himself. Bob finds three orphaned cubs and begins to raise them, with the intent of teaching them to be independent. However, in the process he grows attached to them, causing him to waver in his determination to release them back into the wild. Meanwhile, the indigenous population faces eviction by the federal government, which wants to build facilities in the part of the national park where they reside. Bob tries several times to speak to the park board on their behalf, but his ignorance of Native history leads to conflict between him and his friend's people. Some register evident frustration, while others resist the authorities' intent with threats of violence. As the tension escalates, one man turns his anger towards Bob and attacks his home and the bears, leading to a forest fire that endangers the park and its inhabitants, human and animal. As he comes to understand the wisdom of his friend's father and the danger the bears face, Bob realizes he must push the bears away.

Cast

as Bob Leslie * Chief Dan George as Chief Peter A-Tas-Ka-Nay *

as Commissioner Gaines *

as Oliver Red Fern *

as John McCarten * Valentin de Vargas as Sam Eagle Speaker *

Hal Baylor Hal Harvey Fieberling (born Hal David Britton); December 10, 1918 – January 15, 1998 known professionally as Hal Baylor, was an American actor, probably best known for his role as Pvt. 'Sky' Choynski in the film ''Sands of Iwo Jima''. In 1 ...

as Foreman

Music

The film's score was written by Buddy Baker. The film features one original song, "Sweet Surrender," written and performed by John Denver. The song plays during the film's opening credits, as well as during an interlude as Bob begins to bond with the three bear cubs.

References

External links

* * 1974 films Walt Disney Pictures films American drama films 1974 drama films Films scored by Buddy Baker (composer) Films about bears Films directed by Bernard McEveety Jr. Films produced by Winston Hibler 1970s English-language films 1970s American films {{1970s-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

Music

See also

References

External links