Man in the Wilderness

Plot

A classic survival story, told partly through flashbacks to Zachary Bass's past. After being left for dead by his fellow trappers, he undergoes a series of trials and adventures as he slowly heals and equips himself while he tracks the expedition, apparently intent on retribution for his abandonment, while earning the respect of the Indians he encounters. However, when he finally confronts his fellow trappers and Captain Henry, he chooses not to seek revenge, but instead to focus on returning to his infant son.

Cast

Production background

Man in the Wilderness is based loosely on the 1818-20 Missouri Expedition and "Capt. Henry" is likely a fictionalized Major Andrew Henry of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. The film was shot near Covaleda, Province of Soria, Spain, with the terrain looking more like the Adirondack wilderness and less like the Absaroka country of the Yellowstone River. Not technically a "Spaghetti Western", Man was filmed in the rugged highlands where David Lean had shot some of the scenes for Doctor Zhivago in 1964.

John Huston had joined this production a few days after he had quit as director for the film, The Last Run, due to on-set fights with George C. Scott.

Themes

Though survival and revenge are the main themes, Christianity and religion play a significant role in the evolution of the main character. Through flashbacks, Zach Bass is shown to be at odds with religion and God in general. This was brought on by his lonely and abusive childhood in indoctrinating Christianity into the young Zachary.

Release

The film was theatrically released in the United States on November 24, 1971, including New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California.

The film was the first feature to be shown in years at the newly refurbished Princess Theatre (renamed the Klondike Theatre, at the time) in Edmonton, Canada on December 25, 1971.