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Run Wild, Run Free
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Wikipedia article
'Run Wild, Run Free' is a 1969 British drama film directed by Richard C. Sarafian and starring John Mills. The film was written by David Rook, based on his novel 'The White Colt', and shot on location in Dartmoor, Devon, England.
The film features a psychosomatically mute English boy (Lester), who sights a wild, white pony on the Dartmoor moors and sets out to tame him.He is supported by an old moorman (Mills) and a neighboring farm girl, Fiona Fullerton. Much of the film is devoted to him searching for the pony and his family searching for him across the beautiful, foggymoors.
Cast
* John Mills as The Moorman
* Gordon Jackson as Mr. Ransome
* Sylvia Syms as Mrs. Ransome
* Mark Lester as Phillip Ransome
* Bernard Miles as Reg
* Fiona Fullerton as Diana
Reception
A. H. Weiler of 'The New York Times' wrote: "If it is not a milestone in its genre, its cloying quotient is decidedly low. As a dissection of the rapport between two youngsters and a couple of wild animals in a largely uncomprehending world, it has enough honesty and genuine sentimentality to move mere grown-ups too."Weiler, A. H. (24 July 1969). "Rustic Simplicity Theme Of 'Run Wild, Run Free'". 'The New York Times'. 25. Roger Ebert of the 'Chicago Sun-Times' gave the film three stars out of four and called it "a sensitive and beautiful film, and probably ideal for kids from about the fourth grade up." Gene Siskel of the 'Chicago Tribune' also gave the film three stars out of four and wrote, "On the face of it, the film seems pat ... But the well-written script departs from tradition and gives us a story full of unpredictability and insight."Siskel, Gene (1 December 1969). "Run Wild, Run Free". 'Chicago Tribune'. Section 2, p. 20. Kevin Thomas of the 'Los Angeles Times' wrote: "Quite unabashedly, 'Run Wild, Run Free' celebrates the power of love, yet it happily avoids the treacle except for an overripe score that characterizes most pictures about children and animals. It pulls out all stops emotionally but gets away with it because it has simplicity and intelligence."Thomas, Kevin (28 May 1969). "'Run Wild, Free' on New Fox Screen". 'Los Angeles Times'. Part IV, p. 11. 'The Monthly Film Bulletin' wrote that "Richard Sarafian's combination of generally pedestrian images with a quivery, quavery wild-heart-of-Dartmoor sensitivity suggests some uncertainty as to whether the picture is aimed at the pony club set, or their more susceptible mothers and grandmothers."
See also
* List of British films of 1969
References
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