The Mountain Men (1980)

Charlton Heston is Bill Tyler; Brian Keith is Henry Frapp in this tale of two old-time fur trappers trying to make a living in a dying occupation.

The beaver have been trapped out in some areas. And with silk gaining popularity in the fashion world, the price paid for beaver pelts is plummeting.

To make matters worse, they’re trying to trap in an area where the Blackfeet and Crow are warring against one another.

Caught up in one such battle, Tyler finds himself charging through a Blackfoot camp where he’s attacked by what he thinks is a brave.

He winds up leaving the camp carrying an injured Indian woman named Running Moon (Victoria Racimo) over his shoulder.

Turns out she’s the slave/wife of Blackfoot Chief Heavy Eagle (Stephen Macht). And he’ll do anything to get Running Moon back, more out of personal pride that any feelings for her.

That proves troublesome for Tyler when he heads to the Wind River area with Running Moon in his search for a new place where beaver are so plentiful they jump right into the traps.

Charlton Heston as Bill Tyler, searching for furs and finding love with a captured Indian woman in The Mountain Men (1980)

Brian Keith as Henry Frapp, the trapper who isn’t even scared by a bit of lost scalp in The Mountain Men (1980)

Review:

Not as bad as its initial reception. But the scenery is the biggest appeal and it’s certainly disappointing as Heston’s last Western.

He and Keith were both in their late 50s when this was filmed. Which makes it a little tough to envision them as the fierce, nearly invincible Indians fighters they’re portrayed as in this film.

Heston’s Tyler seems to cheat death at least a dozen times over the course of the film. And sends at least that many Blackfoot warriors to their not-so-happy hunting ground.

As for Keith’s Frapp? He’s scalped and still comes back smiling and more than happy to follow Tyler back into hostile territory

The film’s poster leads you to believe you’re in for a comedy. But most of the humor comes from the very overdone bickering between Keith and Heston.

The film’s script was written by Heston’s son Fraser. According to the star, it was much bleaker than the film and his son was distraught over the final result.

This marked the final film for Victor Jory. He plays an aging Indian chief Iron Belly, so named because of the Spanish breastplate he wears.

Victoria Racimo as Running Moon, taking a quick liking to fur trapper Bill Tyler in The Mountain Men (1980)

Stephen Macht as Heavy Eagle, the Crow chief desperate to recapture a lost wife in The Mountain Men (1980)

Directed by:
Richard Lang

Cast:
Charlton Heston … Bill Tyler
Brian Keith … Henry Frapp
Victoria Racimo … Running Moon
Stephen Macht … Heavy Eagle
John Glover … Nathan Wyeth
Seymour Cassel … La bont
David Ackroyd … Medicine Wolf
Cal Bellini … Cross Otter
William Lucking … Jim Walker
Ken Ruta … Fontenelle
Victor Jory .. Iron Belly

Runtime: 102 min.

aka:
Wind River

David Ackroyd as Medicine Wolf, a Blackfoot chief and acquaintance of Bill Tyler in The Mountain Men (1980)

Victor Jory as Iron Belly, spinning a tale about a place where beaver are still plentiful in The Mountain Men (1980)

Memorable lines:

Nathan Wyeth: “Haven’t you ever been lost?”
Henry Frapp, scratching his beard: “Fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain’t never been lost.”

Bill Tyler: “Crow ain’t so bad. I spent a couple winters with them. Trust their honor, you’ll be safe enough.”
Henry Frapp: “Trust their honesty and you’re going to lose your longjohns too.”

Henry Frapp, as Bill Tyler returns to cover during battle carrying a wounded Blackfoot woman: “You oughta stick to stealing horses. Horses will carry you at least.”

Heavy Eagle of Bill Tyler, rumored dead after a swim down the rapids: “When his hair hangs from my lodge, when his head sits on my spear, then he will be dead.”

Henry Frapp on getting scalped: “I tell you, it felt mighty queersome.”

John Glover and Nathan Wyeth, companion to the fur trappers for part of their trip in The Mountain Men (1980)

Charlton Heston as Bill Tyler and Brian Keith as fellow fur trapper Henry Frapp at Rendezvous in The Mountain Men (1980)