Jake Long Some say that the western genre can only take place in the AMERICAN old west, but this movie proves that theory wrong! Set in old Australia, it is a western without a doubt, and a really great one at that. And no one can argue otherwise. I'd like to see you try. That AND it's fun for the whole family. That's right, a good western that the kids can enjoy too.Now, the only question that remains: how the heck did they get Kirk Douglas's leg to do that from every angle? They really had me fooled!

HotToastyRag When a teenage boy's father dies, he works on a ranch to save enough money to restore his father's farm to its former glory. While learning the ropes and becoming a man, he falls in love, but finds himself in the middle of a long-standing feud between two brothers who could interfere with his impending marriage. Kirk Douglas plays a dual role in The Man from Snowy River, as both estranged brothers, and while that's fun to watch, you're probably not going to like this movie unless you're really in love with westerns. Most of the movie focuses on the beauty of the landscape, and showcasing wild horses running around and cowboys working with cattle. If you think watching scene after scene of that will bore you to tears, you might want to try a different western, or a new genre altogether. If that type of scene appeals to you, you'll probably like it and will want to read A.B. "Bajo" Patterson's original poem. As you know, I'm not terribly in love with westerns. I much preferred Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

SnoopyStyle It's 1888 Australia. Young Jim Craig loses his father in a logging accident partly due to a wild horse herd led by a black stallion. Fellow mountain men claim that Jim has not earn the experience to work the property. Spur (Kirk Douglas) is an one-legged miner friend of the family. Jim goes into town and finds work at the ranch of Spur's wealthy brother Harrison (Kirk Douglas). It's love at first fight with Harrison's daughter Jessica (Sigrid Thornton). The brothers ignore each other over a 20 year old sibling feud.This is an Australian western romantic epic. I remember this movie being a trailer mention during my childhood with the cable movie channel. It didn't appeal to a young boy for obvious reasons. This is very much a romantic frontier fable. It is traditional western with a dash of modern independence. The landscape is as epic as the story construct. The only strange aspect is that I kept wondering why Jim doesn't tell Jessica about her uncle Spur. It's strange for him to keep a secret from her. It might work even better if the brothers were played by different actors and they reveal their secret family connection late in the movie. Otherwise, it's a great romantic epic.

wes-connors After his widower father dies in a horsing accident, young Tom Burlinson (as Jim Craig) is left to manage his Australian "Snowy River" farm, with only wizened, peg-legged prospector Kirk Douglas (as Spur) to help. Times are hard, so Mr. Burlinson goes to work for Mr. Douglas' wealthy, silver-haired brother rancher "Mr. Harrison" (also played by Kirk Douglas). When a big job comes up, the silver-haired (older?) Douglas feels Burlinson is too young and inexperienced to go along; so, Burlinson stays behind, and falls in love with the boss' daughter, Sigrid Thornton (as Jessica Harrison).The least satisfactory aspect of director George Miller's "The Man from Snowy River" is a weak storyline. Observe, for example, the "Jessica is lost" sequence of events. The damsel gets lost in one of those "freak" storms, while running away. Her worried father rounds up a posses of drunk men to find her, after predicting bad weather. Damsel "Jessica" rolls herself on to the edge of a conveniently appearing cliff. Father and the suddenly sober men don't check Burlinson's farm. Hero Burlinson discovers the damsel. After building a fire, he decides to kiss her.The "romance" is played too innocently for as obvious an attracted man and woman as Burlinson and Ms. Thornton. To make matters worse, the Douglas brothers have a "dark history" which is revealed before any mystery is built up regarding the matter. The main attraction, herein, is the Australian scenery.**** The Man from Snowy River (3/25/82) George Miller ~ Tom Burlinson, Kirk Douglas, Sigrid Thornton