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Bless the Beasts and Children

Play trailer Poster for Bless the Beasts and Children PG Released Oct 28, 1971 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Six young misfits try to stop the senseless destruction of buffaloes by freeing a herd scheduled to be shot for sport.
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Bless the Beasts and Children

Critics Reviews

View All (4) Critics Reviews
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Is it in favor of buffalo? Against parents who cause their children to become neurotic? In favor of neurotic kids because they're more sensitive than well-adjusted kids? An argument for gun control? Rated: 2/4 Nov 7, 2007 Full Review Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press It is flawed, contrived and heavy with symbolism. But its heart is in the right place. It says something, not only about killing dumb animals but about our sense of values. Oct 19, 2018 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Stanley Kramer's children tale, which is earnest and obvious in its message, is now best known for its Oscar-nominated tune. Rated: C Apr 7, 2012 Full Review TV Guide An ensemble piece from start to finish, it's difficult to single out one particular actor for comment. Rated: 3/4 Nov 7, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (17) audience reviews
Audience Member Is hunting either a recreational sport or a sense of merciless killings? A debate rages between professional buffalo hunters and a group of wealthy teenage misfits at Box Canyon summer camp When the boys stumble upon some wild buffalo targeted to be shot they decide to do something about it The boys defend the animals from certain extinction and face confrontation from the hunters It takes an hour and 10 min for the buffalo to actually show relevance in the plot The first half of this thing focuses on too many flashbacks with these kids I was anxious just to get to the crux of this But thank goodness the boys actually grow some courage after being scolded by everyone from their parents to the camp counselors The buffalo are all they need to become more than misfits But the movie feels like a big missed opportunity leading to one hell of a depressing ending Doesn't know if it's for the buffalo or anti-gun or for the kids having be so neurotic It's a bit misplaced I'll give them credit the main tune is beautifully composed and vocalized Everything else should've been directed otherwise Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/31/23 Full Review Audience Member We were assigned the book in English class, and had to watch the movie too. I didn't care for either one, but while the book had some merit, the movie did not. Yes, both were a trite story about misfit kids banding together on a mission and growing up in the process. The book at least did a better job of explaining the misfit kids and what motivated their mission to free the buffalo. Also the "mission" in the book took place under cover of night; the movie was entirely shot during daylight, presumably for technical reasons another review mentioned but it spoiled the whole effect. The movie was presumably meant to be anti-gun (not the case with the book), but really, the camp counselor having pistols in his locked locker? And unlike the book's ending, where Cotton dies when his truck crashes (he served his purpose in the story), in the movie Cotton gets shot to death-accidentally? And then the movie abruptly ends. If I were a schoolteacher, I could and would find something far better to use as a class assignment. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Is hunting either a recreational sport or a sense of merciless killings? A debate rages between professional buffalo hunters and a group of wealthy teenage misfits at Box Canyon summer camp When the boys stumble upon some wild buffalo targeted to be shot they decide to do something about it The boys defend the animals from certain extinction and face confrontation from the hunters It takes an hour and 10 min for the buffalo to actually show relevance in the plot The first half of this thing focuses on too many flashbacks with these kids I was anxious just to get to the crux of this But thank goodness the boys actually grow some courage after being scolded by everyone from their parents to the camp counselors The buffalo are all they need to become more than misfits But the movie feels like a big missed opportunity leading to one hell of a depressing ending Doesn't know if it's for the buffalo or anti-gun or for the kids having be so neurotic It's a bit misplaced I'll give them credit the main tune is beautifully composed and vocalized Everything else should've been directed otherwise Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I saw it in the 70s as a teenager. All I can remember is thinking it was the worst movie I had ever seen up to that time. And my memories of it are that it is still probably one of the worst movies ever made. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member It is a watchability masterpiece. Cramer almost managed to do it avoiding any cliche tricks for attracting attention. Even more, he managed to induce sincere compassion in an average watcher almost avoiding any hypocrisy along the way. After so many years, maybe I am not exactly longing to watch it again, but for sure I vividly remember with gratitude the pleasure of watching it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is an enjoyable movie. It does have it's moments where I personally thought it was pretty pointless but it was still fun. It reminds me a lot like Stand By Me but Cowboy edition. Still though enjoyable but I would recommend Stand By Me more. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bless the Beasts and Children

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Six young misfits try to stop the senseless destruction of buffaloes by freeing a herd scheduled to be shot for sport.
Director
Stanley Kramer
Producer
Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter
Mac Benoff
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Stanley Kramer Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 28, 1971, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 30, 2013
Runtime
1h 49m
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