Challenge to Be Free

Challenge to Be Free

Theatrical poster
Directed by Tay Garnett
Produced by Chuck D. Keen
Written by Anne Bosworth
Chuck D. Keen
Based on story 
by Dick North
Starring Mike Mazurki
Narrated by John McIntire
Music by Ian Bernard
Cinematography Chuck D. Keen
Distributed by Pacific International Enterprises
Release dates
  • November 5, 1975
Running time
 88 min.
Country United States
Language English

Challenge to Be Free (aka Mad Trapper of the Yukon and Mad Trapper) is a 1975 drama film directed by Tay Garnett and stars Mike Mazurki. Challenge to be Free was a fictionalized account of the 1931 Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) pursuit of a trapper named Albert Johnson, the reputed "Mad Trapper of Rat River".[1]

An earlier film exploring the same topic was The Mad Trapper (1972), a British made-for-television production.[2] A later fictionalized account, Death Hunt (1981), also based on the story of the RCMP pursuit of Albert Johnson, was directed by Peter R. Hunt, and starred Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson and Carl Weathers.[3]

Plot

In Alaska, Trapper (Mike Mazurki) attempts to live in harmony with nature but is aware that other trappers are using inhumane traps. When he is confronted by rival trappers over his interference with their trap lines, they bring along Sargent (Fritz Ford) the local police officer. Feeling intimidated, Trapper fights back, shooting his way out of his cabin and embarking on a desperate attempt to escape the authorities.

Cast

  • Mike Mazurki as Trapper
  • Fritz Ford as Sargent
  • Vic Christy as Frenchy
  • Jimmy Kane as "Old Tracks"
  • Alex Van Bibber as Great Rifleman
  • Gordon Yardley as Supply Officer
  • Bob McKinnon as Buck Dawson
  • Roger Reitano as Eli Zane
  • Ted Yardley as Officer Cabot
  • Brian Russell as Storekeeper
  • Connie Yardley as Housewife
  • Patty Piper as Indian[Note 1]

Production

Challenge to Be Free was filmed mainly on location in Alaska, as the locale of the "Mad Trapper" manhunt was changed from the Yukon to the United States.[4] As an American production, Johnson's character was changed to, simply, the "Trapper". The theme song, "Trapper Man" was featured.[5]

Reception

Reviewer Leonard Maltin characterized Challenge to Be Free as being "... Simple, and simple-minded, best for younger viewers."[6]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ In his penultimate film, Tay Garnett appeared briefly as Old Marshal McGee.

Citations

  1. ↑ "Challenge to be Free (1975). Allmovie. Retrieved: December 1, 2014.
  2. ↑ "The Mad Trapper (1972)." IMDb. Retrieved: December 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Full cast & crew: Death Hunt (1981)." IMDb. Retrieved: December 1, 2014.
  4. ↑ Anderson and Downs 1986, pp. 89–90.
  5. ↑ "Details: The Mad Trapper (1972)." The New York Times. Retrieved: December 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ Maltin 2009, p. 229.

Bibliography

  • Anderson, Frank W. and Art Downs. The Death of Albert Johnson, Mad Trapper of Rat River. Surrey, British Columbia, Canada: Heritage House, 1986. ISBN 978-1-89438-403-2.
  • Maltin, Leonard. Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2009. New York: New American Library, 2009 (originally published as TV Movies, then Leonard Maltin’s Movie & Video Guide), First edition 1969, published annually since 1988. ISBN 978-0-451-22468-2.
  • North, Dick. The Mad Trapper of Rat River: A True Story of Canada's Biggest Manhunt. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Macmillan Company, 1972. ISBN 978-1-59228-771-0.

External links