Bless the Beasts & The Children |  | Director: Stanley Kramer
Actors: Bill Mumy, Barry Robins, Miles Chapin, Darel Glaser, Bob Kramer
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: Video
Buy Used: CDN$ 38.00
as of 9/3/2010 00:49 CDT details
Used (5) from CDN$ 38.00
Seller: thomasvideo
Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 7001
Format: NTSC
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Running Time: 109 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6302765188
UPC: 043396604742
EAN: 9786302765182
ASIN: 6302765188
Theatrical Release Date: September 3, 1972
Release Date: February 25, 1997
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Aweful, even when new. June 17, 2003
Cambel (Washington, DC USA)
This book was an unpleasant read, heavy handed with the symbolism, and now, because it's so dated even more ridiculous and plodding than it was when it was released. The movie makes the book look like a masterpiece. For the star, fresh from his acting tour de force in Lost in Space we have Billy Mummy, only a much cooler Billy Mummy because he had long hair. Along with him we have a group of misfit bedwetting kids who are picked on at camp for being different. As the villains we have middle America, or, anybody with an Accent that makes them sound like they aren't from California or the East Coast.
The boys, at camp, head out one day and see the slaughter of some penned buffalo, shocked at the scene they decide to sneak out of the camp at night and free them. During the final scene, just in case we haven't been able to figure out that the kids are good and the non-California speaking cowboys are bad, one of the kids is shot while chasing the buffalo away in a truck, thereby ensuring our sympathy...I thought a better end for the book would have been...The misfit kids all wind up getting jobs at the buffalo slaughter house a few years later, because its the only work available. Wracked with guilt and self hatred they slowly drink themselves to death. Right before the end, they learn that the slaughter of some buffalo actually insures the survival of the species by making it commercially viable. Then in a drunken rant one of the kids curses the one who died at camp because, in trying to free the buffalo, he was actually endangering them. And the people that shot him were PETA activists... Oh, cruel irony... I do not recommend this movie,unless it's a choice between watching this film and playing trivial pursuit with Anna Nicole Smith as your teamate. This movie has one saving grace and that is how the threat of translating it into Hebrew and Arabic scared both Israel and the PLO back to the negotiation table.
 I'll pass on Meatballs without Humor May 4, 2002
This movie was interesting neither as a coming-of-age flick nor a social commentary.One understands perfectly well what the director is doing,and it does not work.I think the movie does a good job representing the "bedwetters":the outsiders who are picked on by the cool kids.The corporal punishment(ow! ow! ow!) scene was very brutal and true-to-life.I think that alienated young people may identify with some of the campers,so on that level,it may work for kids as a more serious MEATBALLS.A movie for adults? No,but it may be good for kids today to know that summer camps used to have other uses for "the paddle" than mere canoeing.
 Still Crazy For It After All These Years December 29, 2001
I first saw this film at my high school back in 1978, when I was 14 years-old and in the 9th grade. My English class read the book some 2 months earlier, so I was ready for a different prospective on the story. Boy, did I get a treat!! Yes, there were some rather lame scenes, like the "Chamber Pot Baptism" and when the Bedwetters protested the killing of the buffalo on the grounds of the preserve, but I attribute that to "Bad Writing", not "Bad Acting". In fact, I think they couldn't have found a better cast for the six main characters. If someone was to ask me who Teft is, for example, the only logical answer would be none other than Bill Mumy, etc. My point is the movie would have worked better if Stanley Kramer stuck closer to the book than changing too many situations. I would have loved to seen Teft's airplane hyjinks or the Lally Brothers' letting all of the dogs out of the cruise ship's kennels. But despite this film's shortcomings (including some bad editing--chalk marks on the road in the "horse-breather" scene), this film did have a lasting impact on me and it is still one of my all time favorite movies. One of these days, I wouldn't mind talking to the surviving leading actors and see what their opinions are on acting in this particular film; I bet you that will be quite an inspirational exprience!!
 Don't believe the negative reviews ! August 16, 2000
Ras Mikael Enoch (Northern California)
I saw this movie originally in the movie house in 1971, and purchased the VHS recently. I am still thrilled and overtly excited about the movie. Great music, screenplay, everything ! Set in 1970/71 Arizona, the story deals with the brutal reality of those that would hunt Buffalo for sport (sick), and the negative vibes against those with long hair (hippies). One of my favorite movies of ALL TIME. I even searched out Bill Mumy's webpage to offer thanks and praises ! Only a COMPLETE Loser wouldn't like this movie. I gave it 5 Stars !
Really REALLY Bad! July 29, 2000
Alright, I love the book it was fantastic, but The movie fell flat and was a half hearted effort, combined with all this is the fact that the guy who played Cotten could act to save his life! he always looks like he's about to cry he over pernouses everything, not to mention he sounds like he's reading off of a cue card. He's always tence and just plain horrible! The only ones that did a ggojob were Taft and Goodenow, but that wasn't enogh to save this awful attempt to adampt a wonderful book to the screen
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