| Gentle Giant | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Gentle_Giant_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | James Neilson |
| Screenplay by | Edward J. Lakso Andy White |
| Produced by | Ivan Tors |
| Starring | Dennis Weaver Vera Miles Ralph Meeker Clint Howard Huntz Hall Charles Martin Rance Howard |
| Cinematography | Howard Winner |
| Edited by | Peter Colbert |
| Music by | Samuel Matlovsky |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United States[1] |
| Language | English |
Gentle Giant is a 1967 American drama film about a young boy's friendship with an American black bear, based on the 1965 book Gentle Ben by Walt Morey. It was produced by Ivan Tors, directed by James Neilson and written by Edward J. Lakso and Andy White. The film stars Clint Howard, Dennis Weaver, Vera Miles, Ralph Meeker, Huntz Hall, and Bruno the Bear.[1][2][3] The film was released on November 15, 1967, by Paramount Pictures.[1]
The film was also the pilot for the CBS TV series, Gentle Ben (1967–69), based on the same characters and also starring Clint Howard, Dennis Weaver, and Bruno.[4][5] The film is a prequel to the TV series, providing the backstory of how the boy Mark Wedloe met Ben the bear, tamed him and adopted him as a companion. Originally, the film was scheduled for release before the TV series began to air, but the film's release date was changed to be closer to Thanksgiving 1967, meaning that the film came out after the TV series had already been running for about two months.[6] Gentle Giant therefore served as additional promotion for the Gentle Ben TV series rather than introducing it.[7]
- ^ a b c Munden, Kenneth White, ed. American Film Institute Catalog: Feature Films 1961-1970. Univ. of Calif. Press, 1976, p. 392. ISBN 0-520-20970-2.
- ^ Gentle Giant (1967) - Overview, TCM.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ Thompson, Howard, "Movie Review - Gentle Giant - Screen: Unstartling Adventures in the Everglades:' Gentle Giant' Starts Matinee Engagement: Story of Boy and Bear Sparked TV Series", The New York Times, Apr. 20, 1968, archived online at NYTimes.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ Hollis, Tim. Glass Bottom Boats and Mermaid Tails: Florida's Tourist Springs. Stackpole Books, 2006, p. 130-131. ISBN 0811732665.
- ^ UPI, "Gentle Ben," Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California), Apr. 30, 1967, Tele Vues section, p. 9.
- ^ "Making the Scene: Movies and TV", Boys' Life, Sept. 1967, p. 4.
- ^ Mavis, Paul, "Gentle Ben: Season One" (DVD review), DVDtalk.com, Oct. 15, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2015.