moonspinner55
Standard western from Disney has Calvary soldier-turned-deserter James Garner escaping incarceration with two camels, coming across an Indian boy in the New Mexico desert, also on the run; turns out the kid, who speaks near-perfect English, is a "white eyes," either adopted by the Indians or raised in captivity (the movie is shy to say). Family film uses the ornery camels for comic relief, while Garner's paternal feelings for the boy underline the scenario with sentiment. Vera Miles plays a handsome widow, conveniently placed on the journey (with a young daughter, Jodie Foster) for the soldier to warm to and the boy to learn from about family. Luckily for Garner, Miles still has her dead husband's razor so's the soldier can give himself a shave... ** from ****
kevin_southern_ireland
You know I watch a great many movies, being disabled and not very mobile can do that to you.From action to romance and thriller to comedy I pretty much enjoy any genre and being this way I have seen a lot of action packed movies. So when one comes my way that is simply a good story with fun and a pleasant message it is refreshing.This is one of those movies! Good, fun, pleasant to watch and with clean non-violent message.James Garner is good fun and plays the role well.Jodie Foster is in it for only a few scenes but you know even seeing her at that age (11 i guess) was kind of neat! Vera Miles also plays her part well.As for the "one little Indian" - Clay O'Brien, he plays his part well, and even the occasional dodgy haircut is forgivable! So in short, if you a looking for a good, clean, family movie I can recommend this one.All the best from Southern Ireland! Kevin
smhowell-1
The plot is a little predictable, or maybe I remembered it from 'way back when. As a James Garner fan, it's a sure bet that I've seen this before, but can't remember when. The timing and pace were superb; I was entertained without thinking about time passing. It's a little sentimental for today's tastes. Acting was flawless by the entire cast; every character was believable. The music was unpretentious, and unfortunately, unmemorable, but then it also doesn't date itself, either. At the end, I didn't have the feeling that this is an all time classic, but it did manage to jerk that little tear out of my eyeball. The only major flaw was the poor use of obvious studio shot closeups during the chase scenes, which jarred the viewer from the suspended disbelief necessary to enjoy fiction. Overall, I'm not sorry that I own the DVD. It's a real joy to escape the foul language and smut that passes itself off as entertainment these days.
Ptolemy
As a teenager, I have a natural taste for movies with excellent special effects, engaging, innovative plots and good old fashioned gore. However, as a father, I have grown a special appreciation for movies that are simply decent and human. This is one of those. It is a family movie, but with a clever and, well, lovable concept. Well written and well performed, it has the capacity to touch even those who don't want to admit they can be touched, even if it is old.
AD
