The Journey of Natty Gann **** (1985, Meredith Salenger, John Cusack, Ray Wise, Scatman Crothers) – Classic Movie Review 10,064

Director Jeremy Kagan’s 1985 adventure The Journey of Natty Gann stars Meredith Salenger as depressed Depression-era tomboy teenager Natty Gann, who runs away from her guardian and sets off on a hazardous journey across 2,000 miles of American wilderness to find her father (Ray Wise), who has had to go off to a timber camp to seek desperately needed work in America’s North-West.

Luckily, she is befriended by a young wolf and nice young drifter Harry (John Cusack).

The Journey of Natty Gann is a natty, beautifully crafted Disney picture from a time the studio was trying a grittier kind of movie. And it is all the better for it, with plenty of tension, tears, atmosphere and emotion. It is meticulously made by Kagan and his crew. Dick Bush’s outdoor photography and James Horner’s score are outstanding. Albert Wolsky was Oscar nominated for Best Costume Design.

Some PG-rated mild swearing.

Gold winner at the 1987 Moscow Film Festival.

Screenwriter Jeanne Rosenberg specialises in animal movies, including Bambi and the Great Prince of the Forest (2006), White Fang (1991), Running Free (1999), The Black Stallion (1979), The Young Black Stallion (2003) and China: The Panda Adventure (2001).

Also in the cast are Scatman Crothers, Barry Miller, Lainie Kazan, Verna Bloom, Bruce M Fischer, John Finnegan, Jack Rader, Matthew Faison, Jordan Pratt, Zachary Ansley and Campbell Lane.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,064

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