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Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson, a war veteran, heads into the mountains searching for beaver pelt, bear fur, and other valuable animal pelts. But he soon finds that the Mountain Man lifestyle is harder than it seems. As his lack knowledge holds him hazardously close to starvation, he stumbles upon a slightly insane trapper, Bear Claw. Bear Claw teaches him a great deal of tips and tricks about the business of trapping, and a great deal about survival. While hunting, Bear Claw and Jeremiah run into a Crow party, introducing some of their violent ways.

After leaving Bear Claw, Jeremiah runs into a insane white woman that lost her husband and family. All were killed but a small boy named Caleb. After helping the woman recover, he ends up involuntarily adopting Caleb. Not quite sure what do with the child, they begin their journey back to the treacherous Rocky Mountains. Shortly after, they meet a strange man named Del Gue buried up to his neck in sand. Left there to die by Chief Mad Wolf of the Blackfeet Indians, Seeking revenge, Del Gue leads them to the Blackfeet. Johnson wishes to collect what belongs to them and leave, but Del Gue has a different arrangement in mind. Against Johnson’s wishes, Del Gue fires at the Indians and the two of the end up killing all of the Blackfeet.

Leaving with their stolen goods, Jeremiah and Del Gue head out, but by chance run into the Flatheads. Del Gue incorrectly assumes that the Flatheads are in alliance with the Blackfeet. Attempting to frame Johnson, he places their scalps on his saddle. Flatheads are truly natural enemies with the Blackfeet. Thinking Johnson a hero, they praise him for his heroic deeps. Having no need for the scalps, he gives them to the chief, not knowing their generous customs. Their custom is to reward him with a gift of more value, if they cannot come up with a gift of more value it will be an insult to their tribe. Thankfully, the flatheads do come up with a better gift, the chiefs daughter, Swan. Jeremiah, Swan and Caleb learn to accept each other and form their own family. They build their own home in a secluded part of the forest near a river. Swan and Jeremiah are falling in love and the trio grows closer and closer every day.

One morning a group of unexpected soldiers show up on their doorstep, coercing Johnson into leading the way to a group of settlers that need rescue, even though he is against it. On the way, they pass a crow burial ground. Jeremiah knows the burial ground is a very sacred place for the crows, and advises the soldiers to go around it, but they refuse. After reaching the settlers safely, Jeremiah races home to his family with a foreboding feeling. Reaching the house, he finds his son and wife murdered by the crows, revenge for crossing their burial grounds.

Revenge on the mind, Johnson sets out after burning the bodies of his loved ones and home. Soon he finds the troop of crows that murdered his family and kill them all, except one because he refused to fight back. After that, the crows unleash one warrior after another to kill him, but he conquers all.

Spontaneously, Johnson decides to check on the crazy woman he helped before. He is shocked to find that she has died and there is a new family there settling in. Realizing that he is The Jeremiah Johnson, they show him his monument. They had added an artifact for every crow he had killed, and thought of him as legendary.

Coincidentally, Johnson runs into Bear Claw once again, and receives word of advice about facings life’s challenges. They part once more, separating for the last time. To be honest, I hadn’t expected the movie to keep my attention as well as it did. Seeing it’s run time, 116 minutes long, I was surprised to find that throughout the entire movie I was entertained. Luckily for me, I got to view the movie in my history teacher, Mr. Cushing’s surround sound “theater.” Filmed in the magnificent Rocky Mountains, every scene was gorgeous and appeasing to the ear.

Robert Redford (Jeremiah Johnson) did an exceptional job. He seemed very connected to his character, almost as if Robert could relate to him. Jeremiah was constantly changing, improving for the most part. I truly felt his pain when his family was murdered, and I found myself making connections to him often. He was all around a very likeable character that I enjoyed watching.

Swan to me was a great example to show that things are not always what they seem, that keeping an open mind can in most cases turn out to be the better decision. I enjoyed watching their relationship improve, and was happy to see them working together as a family. She was in fact, probably my favorite character because it was fun to watch her emerge from her shy and quiet state, to one of happiness.

Bear Claw was a very interesting character. My honest first impression was insane, but he proved to be smarter than the average bear. He often used metaphors that would take me time to comprehend, or even make me laugh. He is definitely more complex than he seems, but proves to be very wise and helpful to Jeremiah.

Overall, I highly enjoyed the movie and look forward to seeing it again soon. Even with its age, I found it better than many of our modern day films and would recommend it to any age group that’s able to fully appreciate and understand the movie’s value.

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