Movie: Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
Robert Redford and Will Geer Star in Classic Mountain Man Film
A disillusioned ex-soldier (Robert Redford) in the 1840s takes to the mountains in Warner Bros'. 1972 wilderness epic, Jeremiah Johnson. Will Geer co-stars, playing an old, grizzled mountain man whose imparted wisdom serves Redford well as he battles both the elements and hostile Indians.
Based on the Book and Story
Jeremiah Johnson is based on two works of literature: the 1965 Vardis Fisher novel Mountain Man and the story "Crow Killer" by Raymond W. Thorp and Robert Bunker. Fisher (1895-1968), a native of Idaho, had based his main character, Sam Minard, on real-life 19th century mountain man, John "Liver-Eatin'" Johnston.
Screenplay, Director, Music
Jeremiah Johnson was written for the screen by John Milius, Edward Anhalt and David Rayfiel. Directing was the highly capable Sydney Pollack (1934-2008), who would later win an Oscar for Out of Africa (1985).
Jeremiah Johnson featured original music with a decidedly rustic, frontier theme by Tim McIntire and John Rubinstein.
Filmed in Utah
Jeremiah Johnson, which features some of the most spectacular scenery ever to appear on film, was shot on location in Utah. Among the locales used were Wasatch-Cache National Forest (Salt Lake City), Zion National Park (Springdale), Ashley National Forest (Vernal), Sundance Ski Resort, Snow Canyon State Park (Ivins) and Uinta National Forest (Provo).
Filming at altitudes of 12,000 feet presented problems for both cast and crew due to the thin, oxygen-deprived air.
Jeremiah Johnson Cast
Heading the cast were Robert Redford (Jeremiah Johnson), Will Geer (Bear Claw Chris Lapp), Stefan Gierasch (Del Gue) and Delle Bolton (Swan).
In support were Joaquin Martinez (Paints His Shirt Red), Josh Albee (Caleb, the boy who doesn't speak), Allyn Ann McLerie (Crazy Woman), Richard Angarola (Chief Two-Tongues Lebeaux), Paul Benedict (Reverend Lindquist), Charles Tyner (Robidoux), Jack Colvin (Lieutenant Mulvey), Matt Clark (Qualen) and Tanya Tucker (Qualen's Daughter).
Bear Claw Teaches the Pilgrim
Jeremiah Johnson opens in a river town at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the 1840s. Jeremiah Johnson, an ex-soldier still partially clad in his blue uniform, prepares for a new life as a hunter, fur trapper and mountain man.
The inexperienced Jeremiah, who pries a coveted .50 caliber Hawken rifle from the frozen body of one Hatchet Jack, barely survives his first few days in the mountains. Taking pity on him is Bear Claw, a veteran mountain man with a penchant for hunting grizzly bear, who teaches the "dumb pilgrim" the ways of the wilderness.
Indian Massacres, Del Gue
Jeremiah happens upon the site of a grisly Indian massacre at a settler's cabin. After burying the dead, the crazed woman whose family was slaughtered presents Jeremiah with her young son, who is unable to speak because of the horrors he has witnessed.
Jeremiah and the boy, Caleb, meet up with Del Gue, a bald-headed mountain man who takes scalps from his slain enemies, most notably Blackfeet warriors. A Flathead Indian chief, Two-Tongues Lebeaux, later presents Jeremiah with his daughter, Swan.
Following a mission of mercy to aid a stranded wagon train in the mountains, Jeremiah returns to his cabin to find his Indian wife and adopted son murdered by a Crow raiding party. Consumed with rage, Jeremiah embarks on a personal vendetta, resulting in a series of bloody confrontations where he becomes both the hunter and the hunted.
Jeremiah Johnson Release
Originally titled The Crow Killer, Jeremiah Johnson was first seen at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1972. The film later opened at New York City's Loew's Tower East Theater on December 21, 1972.
Warner Bros. delayed the general release of Jeremiah Johnson until late 1972 and early 1973. The studio's other Robert Redford film, The Candidate, was given priority in order to coincide with the 1972 U.S. presidential election.
Reviews
"Fable, legend, pastoral, Jeremiah Johnson is about that time-tested story favorite, the making of a hero," reported Foster Hirsch of The Village Voice (1/18/73).
"Watching Robert Redford learn the ways of the forest for 90 minutes and then slaughter Indians for the concluding 20 is not my idea of a good, enlightening, or novel time at the movies," reported Gary Arnold of The Washington Post (12/27/72).
Jeremiah Johnson made several critics' best ten movie lists for 1972, including Charles Champlin/Los Angeles Times, Stanley Kauffmann/The New Republic and Paine Knickerbocker/San Francisco Chronicle.
Box Office, DVD
Jeremiah Johnson grossed $21.9 million at the box office, earning the #5 position on the list of Hollywood's top moneymaking films of 1972.
Warner Home Video first released Jeremiah Johnson on DVD in 1997.
"Great hunter. Yes? Fine figure of a man? Yes?" Jeremiah humorously queries, pointing to himself as he teaches English to his Indian wife Swan.
Jeremiah Johnson. Fine motion picture? Yes!
Additional Sources/Reviews
Film Facts (Vol. XV, 1972/No. 23), The New York Times (12/22/72), Newsweek (1/1/73).
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