Product Details

• Actors: Ted Eccles, Theodore Bikel, Tudi Wiggins, Paul Hébert, Cosette Lee
• Directors: James B. Clark
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount Home Video
• VHS Release Date: February 21, 1995
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300216055
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,345 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Item Name: My Side of the Mountain; Studio: Paramount

From the Back Cover

"My Side of the Mountain," based on the book by Jean George, is the unique adventure of 13-year-old Sam Gribley. Sam's hero is naturalist poet Henry David Thoreau, so Sam writes a note for his folks, packs up and leaves home for the challenge of wilderness living. Realizing his dream, Sam feeds himself, builds a makeshift home and learns to live in harmony with nature--miles from civilization.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Novel, Disappointing Movie, July 28, 2001

By 

Curtis J. George (Centreville, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Side of the Mountain [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The novel MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN by Jean Craighead-George is outstanding. The 1969 movie based on the book is not nearly as a good. The movie strays away from the story entirely too much. I really don't see the reason why the movie does this either. The novel would have made the perfect screenplay. The worst change of all is the death of Sam Gribley's falcon, Frightful, by a hunter in the middle of the film. Another big change is the addition of a pet raccoon named Gus, which also was not in the book. The ending was a yet another disappointing change. There were at least 25 other differences that I spotted between the book and the movie too.

As a teacher I still use this movie after my students have read the novel. However, I use it to prove my point that the novel is usually better then the movie. I also have my students try to find as many differences between the two as they can.

I think that an updated version of this movie, that follows the writing of Jean Craighead-George, would be big a big hit today.

If you never read the novel then the movie is fairly good. It does remind you of the old Sunday night Disney movie that use to be on television. If you have read the book, then it is disappointing.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wild Boy Lives in Mountains on Nuts and Venison, January 17, 1999

By 

Princess "sharkdiver" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Side of the Mountain [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As a fifth grade teacher who shows this movie to my class AFTER they read the novel, I find that they prefer the book. Why? There is more detail in the book, and they don't appreciate the unrealistic scene with Frightful in the middle. However, the movie does serve a valuable purpose, which is why I show it each year. We get to meet the majestic Frightful, hear her shrill cry, appreciate her soaring beauty. It's also interesting to see the inside of Sam's tree, and to have a real face put to Bando. But, for the true experience, the book by Jean Craighead George MUST be read!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless classic!, June 19, 2000

By 

"tvrepairman" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Side of the Mountain [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this movie over 20 yrs ago. My wife recently purchased the video from Amazon.com and this movie was loved by my whole family. It doesn't get much better than this and the movie reminds me some of the old Walt Disney shows several years ago on sunday nights when i was a kid. Of course, i still think movies are no comparison to Books, but if you just look at movies then this movie can't be beat. The boy goes to the mountains to live off the land, learn about nature and conduct his experiments and learn about himself. It's wonderful!