Watching 'Charlie, the lonesome cougar' requires that one must reckon with some sorry truths about the production. Well-meaning as human protagonist Jess may have been in caring for an apparently orphaned cougar cub, wildlife should stay wild, and it's inappropriate for him to do as he does in the story. Much more actively disconcerting is the recognition of how would-be wild animals were exploited and outright imperiled to obtain footage for the film. This is 100% where interactions with humans are concerned, but even in those scenes without a human presence, it's painfully, disgustingly obvious that a nature documentary this is not. True, if not emphasized with all due import, the picture does ultimately communicate the need for wildlife to stay wild, and protected. Still, I can't believe for one moment that the techniques employed to make this movie would pass muster today, nor should they.
Necessarily acknowledging these problems - if one can nonetheless appreciate the feature at its intended face value, then it's certainly charming and even fun, especially for animal lovers. The fauna folded into the film are fantastically cute, if not outright beautiful, and the antics the creatures get up to, by one means or another, are a good bit of amusement, and in some instances serve up a sense of adventure. Moreover, swell cinematography captures great imagery of the vast landscapes, and I appreciate the practiced hand director Winston Hibler demonstrates in bringing the picture together. Honestly, the production design here is solid.
Of course, 'Charlie, the lonesome cougar' also fits neatly among the company of a long list of features Disney produced in the mid-20th century that spotlighted nature, or sometimes also specific human interest stories, with fictionalized framing. Some of those titles bore a very naturalistic presentation - while others, such as this, are pointedly staged and embellished, with flourishes of comedy, drama, and conflict to expand the narrative. As if the brunt of the content weren't illustration enough of that slant, then Franklyn Marks' playful score - and the theme song "Talkin' about Charlie" that accompanies the opening credits - absolutely cement it. Rex Allen, meanwhile, contributes his refreshingly warm timbre as narrator, and that audio is weirdly welcoming, like a taste of home. Factor in the depictions of logging and lifestyles of the industry, the man-made log flow, and interactions between "wildlife" or otherwise animals, and there's no mistaking what type of film this is.
When all is said and done this is well made, and rather enjoyable. That doesn't excuse the issues one can immediately discern with the production, and on an unrelated note, it's worth mentioning the tiresome lack of diversity among the alabaster human cast - and the fact that the only woman to appear on-screen, for a fraction of the runtime, doesn't even have any lines. But I feel like this is an instance where one can both admire the title for the entertainment it offers, and readily understand it to be a teachable moment of how features should not be made. It's a bit of a fine line to tread, but more so than not I'm inclined to lend my favor. Bearing in mind its definite flaws, 'Charlie, the lonesome cougar' nevertheless comes out on top as a worthwhile slice of mid-century cinema that animal enthusiasts above all should check out.
Necessarily acknowledging these problems - if one can nonetheless appreciate the feature at its intended face value, then it's certainly charming and even fun, especially for animal lovers. The fauna folded into the film are fantastically cute, if not outright beautiful, and the antics the creatures get up to, by one means or another, are a good bit of amusement, and in some instances serve up a sense of adventure. Moreover, swell cinematography captures great imagery of the vast landscapes, and I appreciate the practiced hand director Winston Hibler demonstrates in bringing the picture together. Honestly, the production design here is solid.
Of course, 'Charlie, the lonesome cougar' also fits neatly among the company of a long list of features Disney produced in the mid-20th century that spotlighted nature, or sometimes also specific human interest stories, with fictionalized framing. Some of those titles bore a very naturalistic presentation - while others, such as this, are pointedly staged and embellished, with flourishes of comedy, drama, and conflict to expand the narrative. As if the brunt of the content weren't illustration enough of that slant, then Franklyn Marks' playful score - and the theme song "Talkin' about Charlie" that accompanies the opening credits - absolutely cement it. Rex Allen, meanwhile, contributes his refreshingly warm timbre as narrator, and that audio is weirdly welcoming, like a taste of home. Factor in the depictions of logging and lifestyles of the industry, the man-made log flow, and interactions between "wildlife" or otherwise animals, and there's no mistaking what type of film this is.
When all is said and done this is well made, and rather enjoyable. That doesn't excuse the issues one can immediately discern with the production, and on an unrelated note, it's worth mentioning the tiresome lack of diversity among the alabaster human cast - and the fact that the only woman to appear on-screen, for a fraction of the runtime, doesn't even have any lines. But I feel like this is an instance where one can both admire the title for the entertainment it offers, and readily understand it to be a teachable moment of how features should not be made. It's a bit of a fine line to tread, but more so than not I'm inclined to lend my favor. Bearing in mind its definite flaws, 'Charlie, the lonesome cougar' nevertheless comes out on top as a worthwhile slice of mid-century cinema that animal enthusiasts above all should check out.