Wrapping up this MacLean series for now with
Bear Island. Written and directed by Don Sharp and part of what was intended to be a long series of MacLean films, this is a surprisingly loose adaptation of the writer's last 'good' novel. The core idea is similar but the rest of the story is a complete change.
Fortunately the resulting film is rather enjoyable, a classic adventure story with some good acting from the strong cast which includes Donald Sutherland, Christopher Lee, Richard Widmark and Lloyd Bridges as well as Vanessa Redgrave affecting a bizarre Norweigan accent.
Don Sharp's direction is beautiful with some scenic Canadian locations and a minimum of studio work. A match for Carpenter's
The Thing in its capture of a real arctic setting.
The Sony DVD is a little grainy and with some speckling but in full OAR and seems to be uncut (the UK VHS release was inexplicably missing some ten minutes).
Bear Island full review including pictures.