The Night of the Grizzly *** (1966, Clint Walker, Martha Hyer, Keenan Wynn, Nancy Kulp, Leo Gordon, Kevin Brodie, Ellen Corby, Jack Elam, Ron Ely) – Classic Movie Review 7106

The peace-loving residents of Wyoming are threatened by a vicious rogue grizzly bear and other equally unattractive bad guys in director Joseph Pevney’s picturesque, cuddly and cosy 1966 Old West adventure The Night of the Grizzly. It is decently acted and well made, but without any real sense of danger or drama. Despite being a potboiler, it was successful and well-received, a tribute mainly to its popular star.

Clint Walker stars as ex-lawman Jim Cole, who retires to Wyoming to farm. The film’s heavies Hank (Jack Elam) and Tad Curry (Ron Ely) – and of course the grizzly nicknamed Satan – stand in his way, but Jim is just the man to save the day.

The bear looks more grotty than grizzly, but the great outdoors is pretty and the cast carry off their roles with aplomb in a harmless, rather entertaining outdoors outing.

Also in the cast are Martha Hyer, Keenan Wynn, Nancy Kulp, Leo Gordon, Kevin Brodie, Ellen Corby, Jack Elam, Ron Ely, Med Flory, Don Haggerty, Sammy Jackson, Regis Toomey, Candy Moore and Victoria Paige Meyerink.

The Night of the Grizzly is directed by Joseph Pevney, runs 102 minutes, is released by Paramount, is written by Warren Douglas, is shot in Technicolor by Harold Lipstein and Loyal Griggs, is produced by Burt Dunne, is scored by Leith Stevens, and is designed by Hal Pereira and William L Campbell.

It is shot at San Bernardino National Forest, California.

Clint Walker (May 30, 1927 – May 21, 2018).

The 6′ 6″ Clint Walker, for ever Cheyenne Bodie in the classic 1950s Western TV show Cheyenne (1955-1962), died on 21 May 2018, aged 90.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7106

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