The Mountain Men (1980)

Bill Tyler (Charlton Heston) is a trapper in the Rocky Mountains in the late 1830s and has an impressive collection of beaver pelts that he plans to sell at the next Rendezvous; Rendezvous was an annual event, usually in Wyoming, where the trappers could sell their pelts to fur companies and purchase goods.  On the way, he runs into an old friend, Henry Frapp (Brian Keith).  Frapp is escorting Nathan Wyeth (John Glover), to the Rendezvous.  Enroute, the trio have an encounter with Crow Indians and a battle with Blackfoot Indians.  In the ruckus, Bill finds himself with a squaw, Running Moon (Victoria Racimo).  Heavy Eagle (Stephen Macht) is determined to reclaim Running Moon and kill Tyler.  Though Tyler tries to return to his trapping, Blackfoot warriors are constantly on his tail.

The movie has plentiful cursing and quite a bit of violence, especially considering the era in which it was made.  This doesn't seem like an R-rated film, but the plentiful profanity, frequent violence, and occasional nudity would merit it.  By modern standards, it's pretty tame.  Though the main storyline follows Tyler and Heavy Eagle's quarrel over Running Moon, the more interesting part is the comradery of Bill and Henry.  Brian Keith is terrific as a cheerful yet grumbly mountain man, an excellent foil for Charlton Heston's cantankerous loner.  Their banter was the best part of the movie.  The plot reminded me a lot of Jeremiah Johnson: mountain man gets into a feud with an Indian tribe.

The cinematography benefits from the mountainous setting.  Doubtless, the Wyoming scenery was magnificent on the big screen but is still pretty impressive on the small screen.  Some of the shots with the Tetons in the background were outstanding, overshadowing the actors in the foreground.

As far as the history, it's very good.  There are some small qualms (e.g., the casting of all white actors for the Indians) but the time period is well-represented.  Indeed, the days of beaver trapping were on the way out because of the popularity of silk.  The wagon trains were just getting started for the Oregon territory though the trail was not yet blazed by John C Fremont.  Tyler's miraculous escape by hiding in a beaver lodge really happened, though it was John Colter (1770-1813) who did it.

Just okay.