The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1974) User Reviews

Good Family Film, Unforgettable Character.

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 30 July 2013]

They don't make films like this anymore, sadly, since it presents such a thoughtful and gentle view of living in harmony in the wild with animals that it no doubt is called "corny" by modern cynics that are far too jaded by our coarse modern culture.

Dan Haggerty debuts as James "Grizzly" Adams, and is perfect casting, though it is a shame that the narration doesn't allow him to speak very much! Great score, lovely scenery, and pleasant (though still sad) story are all pluses. Schick Sunn Classics produced this, as well as other Documentary films like "In Search of Noah's Ark", "The Lincoln Conspiracy" & "Beyond & Back".

Only available on VHS, a shame as it would look spectacular in HD.

This film was a huge hit and led to the TV series also starring Dan Haggerty.

Needs a quality re-release

[ofumalow · 6/10 · 20 April 2018]

As far as I know, "Life and Times" is only available on old VHS tapes, where no doubt it was a pan-and-scan transfer. That is really too bad. I haven't seen it since it originally came out, when I was 13, and I doubt it would be any major revelation now--at the time it was meandering, episodic, nothing very special but a pleasant family-friendly variation on "Jeremiah Johnson," with Dan Haggerty an appealing presence in the title role.

But what I really remember about it was that while nothing else about the film was all that memorable, the wilderness photography was gorgeous. That's exactly the sort of thing you lose in decades of crappy transfers to TV and VHS without a major studio upgrading the quality of the home-format releases. (And while I have no idea who owns the rights now, they probably aren't interested in making that investment, and god knows Sunn Classics is probably looooooong gone. Particularly since none of their other films seem to have gotten DVD/Blu-Ray treatment, either.) The same year, I also loved another (somewhat better if less commercially successful), "Where the Lilies Bloom," and while you can find that on YouTube easily enough, it's also in sore need of restoration--I remember how stunning the photography of Appalachia was in 1974, and you can't tell that from the existing transfers.

Anyway, I enjoyed the original "Grizzly Adams," but won't risk revisiting it until the unlikely day that somebody puts out a letterboxed digital restoration. Because whatever the film lacked in plot or finesse, it made up for in beautiful photography of spectacular scenery, and I'd hate to see that reduced to pan-and-scan and faded colors.

Simply beautiful

[Bored_Dragon · 8/10 · 14 January 2017]

This is something between documentary and TV show about nature. In the 19th century, man is falsely accused of a murder that he did not commit, so he flees to mountains where he saves and rears grizzly bear cub. The movie follows the next 10 years of his life in a wilderness, in harmony with nature, with a grizzly bear as his best friend. There are no dialogues; it's made as a documentary followed by the first-person narrative. There's not much plot either, but it is full of beautiful landscapes and various wild animals keeping company to our narrator. The movie became very popular so they made a TV show a few years later. The show was more movie-like, with a plot for every episode, dialogues and such. When I was about eight or nine years old, I remember it was shown on Sundays and my sister and I wouldn't miss it for anything. It is simply beautiful. Warm recommendation to everyone who loves nature and animals.

8/10

ahh, those days when things were simple and caring

[bwag4 · 10/10 · 1 February 2003]

takes me back to my young childhood growing up with my pets that I took in from the wild. love the show so much, just found a copy that I paid a pretty little price for, just to able to show to my two young children. two thumbs up for grizzly adams, except the last show- the capture of grizzly adams- TERRIBLE

I had forgotten how good this movie is!

[Bluemountainbob · 9/10 · 16 December 2006]

I had just purchased a used copy of"The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams" and I had honestly forgotten just how good this movie was. I had last seen this movie when it was first released in 1974, and I was the young and tender age of nine! That was thirty-two years ago. I had forgotten the simple-but-wonderful storyline. The way that you can almost "feel" the wonder of the mountains through the each of the characters,(I always did love Ben.) and the very relaxing acoustic music score. The breathtaking cinematography almost makes you feel like you're there!I whole-heartedly recommend this movie to anyone, and to Hollywood I ask"why can't you make more movies like this"?

Great classic movie. [ contains spoiler ]

[pbrandon074 · 10/10 · 20 January 2015]

I liked this movie. I think this is a good movie with this man connecting with nature. I also liked the 1977-1978 TV series of the life and times of Grizzly Adams. This movie is about a man that was convicted of a murder he did not commit. He ran of in to the forest. he found a bear on a edge. He took care of the bear. He met a native that lives out in the woods with a broken ankle. He made him a splint and they became friends. When the weather started to get colder he built a raft and Ben and him went down the river. When he found a good place he started to build a cabin. He lived there with Ben until they found the real person that committed the murder. I liked this movie. I wish they would make more movies like this.

LOVED this movie & TV show

[double_the_pink · 10/10 · 18 March 2017]

I LOVED this movie and the TV show as a child in the 1970s. Watched the show with my dad ALL the time, and it still reminds me of him. James "Grizzly" Adams is wrongly accused of murder, and flees into the wilderness to safety. There he saves an orphaned bear cub, who grows up to be Adams' best friend, the lovable Ben. Adams has a special bond with all the wild animals in the forest. They have all kinds of adventures with nature, and a few people here and there. Very innocent movie and TV show (no sex or excessive violence), and it sounds cliché', but they just don't make them like this anymore. I cannot seem to find the 1974 movie in print on DVD, and I would LOVE to. If anyone knows if this is available on DVD anywhere, please post about it. As far as I have found I've only seen old VHS copies for sale, and I don't have a VCR. Catch this movie, TV show, and the conclusion movie "The Capture of Grizzly Adams" if you get the chance. All 3 are a great moment in time.

Old time shows that are missed

[joe-77293 · 10/10 · 22 December 2018]

I agree this show should have been remastered and yes it lacks a plot it was a betifull family show no extreme gross me out details just a fun slow moving film. Imiss these type of shows. Today is wayyyy to much graphic detail no chance to use your own imaginayion. Remembetr I was born in 61

@AaronCapenBanne

[noobz-84663 · 10/10 · 31 March 2017]

I think 2017 is exponentially worse than when you made this point. I'd like to add that folks likely make fun of it largely because they lack the courage and conviction to follow that style of life. I know I want to live like that. I have since i was a child. I'm one of the many that lack the courage to leave everything else behind to have it.

I cannot think of a better death that one following by the courage and conviction to pursue the life in your dreams. If this is my only life then I feel I've wasted it following those things in front of me instead of those things I always had dreams of being.

Adams was pushed to this extreme and brilliant enough to eventually realize that everything that mattered was in the world to which he retreat; utterly free.

I remember it very well, and it was good

[RealLiveClaude · 8/10 · 15 January 2016]

Saw it when I was 11 or 12 in a Montreal movie house. Was in well dubbed French version (Quebec dubbing with late French actor Leo Ilial doing the voice of Mr.Haggerty, who recently passed away).

Story was a tale of taming the wilderness, especially when he takes care of a bear cub, which became a huge grizzly bear. One specific thing that touched me is when he took care of an injured native, whom he became a "blood brother" and protector. However, he must stay out in the wild as he is a wanted man, pursued for a crime he never committed. His daughter finally reaches him, but he adopted the solitude of the woods.

Well photographed at the time, and would have believed that Disney would have shot a movie like this, however, it was Sun International who did this (they produced also a movie about a grizzly, named "Toklat").

Great to watch if you enjoy the wilderness. I did.

Beautiful Nature Photography

[thebathog · 9/10 · 15 September 2018]

As I write this, I'm watching the movie on YouTube. As someone else commented, it's only available for purchase on VHS. I was looking for a DVD copy on eBay in case anyone had bootlegged it. There was none so I changed my search to VHS. NONE again ! I actually own an original VHS tape, but it's in storage somewhere. I'd like to say I found it after years of searching, but it was in one of those " Free piles " after someone's garage sale. Although it's truly rare, apparently no one wanted it. Sad. This is a simple movie. It takes it's time and the plot is not very complicated. Maybe that's why it's so good. Compared to today's in - your - face, barrage of 3 second flash editing, it's a nice departure. It's not indulgent. It doesn't try to push a political ideology down your throat. It's not afraid to just be what it is without fear of offending someone because it's not " PC ." Anyone remember those days ? This movie blends a love of animals and unspoiled nature with incredible wildlife photography and some mild adventure. It's a widely forgotten, highly entertaining gem of filmmaking. Unfortunately it probably wouldn't appeal to today's green - screen, CGI video gaming generation. There's no sex or swearing. Just a man and his " pet " bear surviving alone in the wilderness. Turn your cell phone and facebook off and enjoy.