The Bear (known as L'Ours in its original release) is a 1988 French film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Adapted from the novel The Grizzly King (1916) by American author James Oliver Curwood, the screenplay was written by Gérard Brach. Set in late 19th-century British Columbia, Canada, the film tells the story of an orphaned bear cub who befriends an adult male grizzly as hunters pursue them through the wild. Several of the themes explored in the story include orphanhood, peril and protection, and mercy toward and on the behalf of a reformed hunter.
Annaud and Brach began planning the story and production in 1981, although filming did not begin until six years later, due to the director's commitment to another project. The Bear was filmed almost entirely in the Italian and Austrian areas of the Dolomites, with live animals—including Bart the Bear, a trained 9-foot tall Kodiak—present on location. Notable for its almost complete lack of dialogue and its minimal score, the film was nominated for and won numerous international film awards.
Cast[]
Bart the Bear as Kodiak Bear
Youk the Bear as Bear Cub
Douce the Bear as Bear Cub (During Cougar Scene)
Mato the Bear as Bear Cub with Sound Effects
Hal Smith as Hunter's Horse
Scott Mildenhall as Tom the Hunter, Bill the Hunter, Joseph the Hunter Dogs (English Dubbing)
Tcheky Karyo as Tom (Original Dubbing)
Jack Wallace as Bill (Screaming Speech)
Check Out the Cougar as Cougar or Mountain Lion
Gary A. Hecker as Animal Sound Effects
Frank Welker as Hunter's Dog