loserbrett As a short documentary reel, Catching trouble is just as well made as any other. With the exception of a few questionable cuts (which are quite common with older films during the editing process) this short is as competent of other shorts of the day. Nothing special, but not bad.It seems as though the largest problems that people have with this film have nothing to do with this film specifically, but with the time period it was shot and with the angle of the narration. I'm sure that if Ross Allen were portrayed as a horrible human being, it probably would've gotten a much higher rating.This short documentary contains scenes of animal cruelty (at least, what counts as animal cruelty now) and that's pretty much it. I don't see how any previous reviewers found anything racist about this film. The only way that race could have been an issue with this film would have to do with Allen's Seminole Indian guide. The narration introduced him as Allen's "Faithful Seminole Indian guide" exactly. I see nothing racist in that statement because it most likely wasn't racist at all. The narrator introduced him as such in the same context as "his partner" or "his companion"-- it was not a statement about ownership and anyone that thinks otherwise needs to stop abusing the race card because it's doing more harm to their own credibility than good.The most controversial part of this short, however, is the subject matter itself-- capturing animals. While it may seem cruel, it wouldn't make any sense for Allen to actually cause any real harm to the animal. He made a living from wild animals and I'm pretty sure that a zoo would frown upon receiving a wounded animal because it makes them look bad. Not to mention that his methods were simply the methods of the time. One needs to stop and think if it would've been any less cruel to use the extremely harsh and dangerous tranquilizers that would've most likely been used. I think it would be a hell of a lot less cruel to catch a wildcat in a bag than to use a tranquilizer dart that would most likely have been filled with a dangerous and addictive substance like heroin.The only part of this short that I actually found myself cringing at was the bear cubs that Allen was capturing. While the very thought of that struck me as despicable, the blood-curdling cry of the cubs as Allen was attempting to bag them was heartbreaking. This was the only part of the film that I found difficult to watch. I managed to sit through it after reminding myself that at least the cubs were going somewhere that they would be taken great care of. With that in mind, the only truly offensive part of this film is the thought that those cubs most likely never saw their mother again, which is heartbreaking, but it happens. During that time, the narration does strike some color commentary that comes across as quite insensitive, but I'm sure that this was done because the footage seemed shocking, and it would be a good idea to keep the audience from being too appalled.It was a pretty good documentary, and the MST3K version of it is pretty damned hilarious. This documentary will most likely only be shocking to those that don't realize that there was worse happening to animals at that time, and there still is much worse happening to them now, so save your PETA-induced shock for actions that really ARE cruel. Ignore any claims of racism with this one as well, because the ones that make this claim are so naive that they think any mention of anyone's heritage and occupation is racist-- not every mention of race is racist and the reaction to this documentary is a perfect example of the overreaction that makes white people paranoid and all others roll their eyes in disbelief that white people chastise themselves when it's not even necessary.

jay-1086 a rare gem of filmography, this peek into the -not to distance past -shows what life was like in the wilderness of America's coastal swamps.Ross is a role model for todays youth on how to enjoy the outdoors like a real American should.his courage and skill is second to none when it comes to animal capture and handling techniques.as a zoo capture team Ross and Ole sourpuss fill the bill for many of a big city zoos. in short Ross is one tough sob. doing all this and filming it too; if you liked this film check out IMDb for his other work also view" hatari" or "jacare"or " naked prey"or any films by osa and martin johnson.hope you enjoy" catching trouble" as much as i did .well gotta go feed my seminole.

heckles For those who think the '50s are something we should get back to, who don't like the concepts supposedly described in the shapeless term "political correctness," well here's a movie to love and cherish.No one has yet noticed the racial aspects of this short. Let's talk about the Seminole - he doesn't apparently have a name, he is known as "Old Sourpuss" or worse, "his (Ross's) Seminole." Excuse me, "HIS SEMINOLE?" I guess the idea that possessing a person of another race is not admirable thing to do hadn't filtered down to southern Florida at the time. Anyway, Old Sourpuss goes around the swamp in his tribal costume, which to be honest looks more like a woman's dress than a Scottish kilt does. I suspect the Seminoles are aware of this, and save the outfit for ceremonial occasions. But the director probably said, "Hey, Sourpuss! Why don't you put on your traditional dress -er costume! That will really show our audience the white guy is in charge!" Ross captures a cougar, and upon reaching his little facility puts it into a glass-sided box about the size of a cat carrier. "Home sweet home," the narrator says. Yes, I'm sure wild cougars feel so safe and comforted in a small box that smells of the last abducted animal that was thrown in there. Then something else no one seems to have noticed. Ross is shown hauling away twin bear cubs, whose pitiful cries should have even the most animal-apathetic wanting to throw something large and heavy at Ross. May I be the one to ask the obvious question: WHERE IS THE MOTHER BEAR? And don't tell me the cubs were orphaned by a forest fire just before the movie. We must assume there is more to the incident that wasn't filmed, that *really* makes Ross look despicable and which even this thick as a brick filmmaker realized audiences would not enjoy watching.And let's not mention the obviously staged escape attempt of one of the cubs.Yes, brutality against wildlife and unmistakable assertions of a racial caste presented for light viewing. The '50s, you can keep them.

Jordan_Haelend A look at the wonderful occupation of taking animals out of their natural habitat so that they could be imprisoned in cages in the abysmal zoos of the era for no other reason than personal profit. This was probably made to convince kids that doing his would be a great way to live "close to Nature."Incidentally, only a total imbecile would wade around in a swamp like the Everglades in a pair of skimpy shorts. Considering the snakes, leeches and other things, this guy is asking for trouble.