Pluskylang Great Film overall

Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

ScoobyMint Disappointment for a huge fan!

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

gilligan1965 This movie, although produced by an independent company, was made in the same tradition as all of those wonderful "Disney" nature documentary-movies that showcase beautiful landscapes and wildlife at their very best. Also, like a Disney docu-movie, it's narrated and has very little in the way of a written/spoken script for the actors.I've loved this movie since I was a child of nine when it first came out...and, I still love it now. Movies like this will never lose their luster because nature, and, all it envelops, will always be pure and easy. Nature will always be the escape for everyone who wishes to just get away from other people and enjoy what is, will be, and, always has been.After making a career of being a thug, tough-guy, and, gangster, it's nice and refreshing to see Mike Mazurki in a role as a jovial, nature-loving teddy bear (kinda like seeing Robert De Niro crying in "Analyze This;" and, Clint Eastwood singing in "Paint Your Wagon."). It gives you the feeling that "WOW! These guys really do have feelings!"I'd considered giving this movie 10 Stars, but, due to the circumstances of an innocent man being pursued for defending himself against a rookie king-sh*t bully cop banging at his door and accidentally shooting first (everyone knows not to pound on something with a chambered and cocked gun!?);and, the cruel trapper (Frenchy) who immorally started all of this trouble, then, uses the law to back-up his cowardly deed...I give it 9 Stars.Very similar to this 1975 G-Rated movie is the 1981 R-Rated "Death Hunt" starring Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin. In this movie, too, lies were told to the authorities, and, it unnecessarily escalated from there. Using the law for unlawful purposes boils my blood! A lot of good cops, and, good people in general, can, and, have, gotten hurt or dead because of some idiot doing this.I'm just hoping that people who watch this movie (and, "Death Hunt") are smart enough to realize that this man (in both movies) was unjustly flushed from his house, home, and, territory, for simply having a good heart and saving an animal from the cruelty of an unethical and lying pr*ck who then used the law as a tool for his own vengeance. It's like the little neighborhood idiot who starts a fight with you, loses, then, has his big brother confront you.A great movie on 'almost' every level...'Frenchy' should have died a cruel and slow death...preferably by the wolf, 'Old Timer,' that he was so cruel and slow to! Rookie-creep-cop got exactly what was coming to him due to his bad-badge-power sh*t attitude!

Idiot-Deluxe I simply love this movie and have seen it many times over the years. Challenge To Be Free is one of the best titles of the wilderness adventure movies genre and is a film that's overflowing with gritty and rustic characters, exciting animal interactions and many breath-taking vistas; all of which adds up to one incredibly entertaining and rousing adventure film. The lead character "Trapper" is charismatically played by veteran supporting actor Mike Mazurki, a huge, hulking, rough-looking fellow of Polish decent, who's distinctively coarse and craggy mug adds much to the credibility of his character. In fact so much so that it's absolutely impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. Upon first viewing if there's one thing you'll notice about Trapper is that for someone well into his 60's, he sure could still get around and as you'll see in his adventures he goes ALL OVER the Yukon. The main antagonist is a fellow outdoorsman and fur-trapper, a guy by the name of "Frenchy" and in light of their often hilarious encounters he and Trapper share together (and because of his name), FRENCHY is one of my all-time favorite movie villains. Watch out for those snares Frenchy! Watch with glee during the scene near the end, were Trapper gives Frenchy a cold-shave with his hatchet, while hanging upside from yet another of Trappers snares. The first 25 minutes of the film play out like a very wholesome Disney-ish wilderness flick, constantly showing Trapper interacting with his animal friends and showing off his general "love for the land". It's when Frenchy enters the fray that thing's go bad for Trapper, specifically, a trap-line dispute is what ultimately gets the law involved. Two deputies are dispatched to Trappers cabin and due to stupidity on the part of "Officer Cabot" a hot-tempered rookie, his rifle discharges, prompting Trapper to blindly return fire through the cabin door "What about Cabot? - He's dead, he was hit in the head and chest with both barrels of buckshot - he was blasted 12 feet". It's this fateful encounter that forces Trapper to go on the run and an epic chase/cat-and-mouse game begins. "To become the longest of it's kind in history", says the narrator. That reminds me, the movie is narrated from start to finish by another veteran actor, John McIntire. After watching the film I think you'll agree McIntire proved to be the -perfect- choice for narrator. He's every bit as good in this, as Waylon Jennings was in The Dukes of Hazzard. Both were first-class narrators with the "perfect voice".The chase is a long drawn-out affair, Trapper is pursued by a dog-sled propelled posse of about 10 men, led "Backtrack Kelly" and Frenchy. Trapper manages to out-run and out-smart them the entire way, him and his pet wolf "Old Timer" for this epic journey is indeed THEIR challenge to be free. Special mention of Trappers laugh must be made, he belly-laughs with the best of them and he laughs or rather bellows a LOT, a most memorable laugh.Filmed on location in the Yukon territory on what looks like a pretty modest budget, yet at the end of the day, it doesn't under-funded, nor does it look lavish. This feature whether it's on VHS or DVD is always presented in the 1.33.1 full-screen ratio, the telecasts too. If it exists, I'd kill to see a wide-screen print of this, that and in these modern times, seeing it at long last in 1080p HD would be particularly schweet.And lastly... to any uptight parental hero's or moral crusader's out there, -Challenge To Be Free- is certainly suitable for any age group. Indeed it's a very wholesome feature, suitable for the easily offended crowd.

ari_levy not sure this movie deserves the criticism above. innocent Disney-like rendering of a real-life incredible tale. also not sure that the ending was meant to convey that trapper committed suicide--listen carefully, and you'll hear that they never found a trace of him the next spring....i was led to believe (at least the kid in me was!) that he camouflaged his once-again escape.i purchased this movie after googling it for the theme song, which has been running in my head for *31 years.* got the film and found the tune was correct!!!! wish in real life the trapper had also died free (i guess he did so, in a way, but at the end of a rifle)....

Mad_Trapper This story has held a special place in my heart for the last thirty-one years. As a boy, I enjoyed stories of mountain men and the wilderness. Books like "Call of the Wild", "White Fang", "The Frontiersman" and "My Side Of the Mountain", influenced me tremendously. I wanted so much to live like a mountain man, but nothing inspired me more to do so, than when I saw this movie on television in 1975. I wanted to be just like "Trapper". However, as I got older I found I was just too domesticated to live like that. Nonetheless, I still romanticize about living that kind of life. I agree with some other reviews of this movie that the storyline has the simplicity that is quite prevalent in "Disneyisque" type movies, but if you can look past the mechanics in which it was made and see the heart of the story, the true themes, then I think you find yourself pleasantly touched. I make it a point to watch this movie once a year. After thirty-one years, I still get a chill running through me when I see torrent of snow rushing down the mountainside and hear the echoing, haunting laugh of the Trapper.-Good luck old-timer and stay free-PS If you want to read more about the true story, I found this link on the Mad Trapper of Rat River:http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/NWT/madtrapper.htm