This 1966 britishcanadian coproduction stars oliver reed as a. The mad trapper was smart every step of the way he had the upper hand on the rcmp but he was struggling to get away from the evergrowing posse. Death hunt is a 1981 action film directed by peter r. The film was called the mad trapper, in a 7 jan 1972 hr news brief that announced actor mike mazurki casting in the lead role. The mad trapper of rat river known as albert johnson, was a fugitive whose actions started off a huge manhunt in the northwest territories in canada.
The mad trapper is based on the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit. Albert johnson, known as the mad trapper of rat river, was a murderer and a fugitive from the largest manhunt in the history of canada, leading a posse of mounties through the arctic on a six week, winter wilderness chase in 1932. Months later, the norths biggest manhunt was launched to find the culprit, known as albert johnson or the mad trapper. Death hunt 1981, with charles bronson and lee marvin was loosely based on albert johnson, as was, the mad trapper 1972, and challenge to. A later film exploring the same topic was challenge to be free aka mad trapper of the yukon and mad trapper 1975 directed by tay garnett and stars mike mazurki. Hes been dead for 75 years, but the mad trapper of rat river almost evaded pursuers one more time. Albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper of rat river, was a fugitive. With del henney, neil mccallum, brandon brady, dan mcdonald. Another film exploring the same topic was the mad trapper, a british madefortelevision production. Discover what genre mad trapper, the, 1972, directed by tay garnett, with mike mazurki, mari aldon, fritz ford, belongs at turner classic movies. After the murder of constable millen, the posse grew to over a hundred men, including members of the inuvialuit and gwichin tribes who knew the country better than the police. On 31 december 1931, an rcmp constable investigating a complaint about traplines was shot and seriously wounded by a trapper living west of fort mcpherson, nt. The mad trapper the mad trapper 1972 the protectors detective 1972 softly softly.
I found the mad trapper of rat river by dick north sitting on my bookshelf unread, apparently purchased years ago. Since ive been in a mood for historical novels, i thought id delve into this nonfiction account of the chase of a 1930s criminal by the canadian mounties in the arctic circle. The mad trapper tv movie 1972 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Dramatisation of a manhunt that took place in canada between the spring of 1931 and february 1932, with the mounties using dog teams, radio and airplane. The mad trapper the incredible tale of a famous canadian manhunt his lips were curled back in an ugly sneer, and his teeth looked like fangs sticking out through his beard.
In his attempt to flee, johnson led the rcmp, as well as civilian and military volunteers, over 240 kilometres of. The mad trapper, pure history specials arctic manhunt. The ensuing manhunt one of the largest in canadian history lasted 48 days and covered. In the winter of 1932, after killing one royal canadian mounted police constable and wounding another, albert johnson led the mounties on a 45day chase through the arctic circle wilderness. The mad trapper 1h 15min documentary, drama tv movie 28 december 1972 dramatisation of a manhunt that took place in canada between the spring of 1931 and february 1932, with the mounties using dog teams, radio and airplane. A film crew exhuming the body of the legendary outlaw in an effort to finally identify him had. Documentary mystery the mad trapper, pure history specials arctic manhunt 0 please subscribe my channel. A new film by david cobham the dramatic story of a manhunt which took place between the spring of 1931 and 17 february 1932 in the frozen far north of canada. The mad trapper of rat river eagle plains hotel, yukon. Voir plus didees sur le theme je men fous, arctique et mecanicien.
Hunt for the mad trapper is a story about a complicated death on a frozen lake and the havoc that follows. Mad trapper almost evades pursuers one last time the star. Every ten years or so, the allpurpose title the trap is applied to a film about psychological rather than physical entrapment. Oct 27, 2012 trappers name, but noone knows just who he was, from whence or why he came. Earlier films exploring the same topic were the mad trapper 1972, a british madefortelevision. Discover grave of the mad trapper of rat river in northwest territories. Mountie confrontations with johnson led to them leveling his cabin with dynamite. There have been numerous folks proffered but thus far dna has excluded even our best suspects. Feb 16, 2018 the mad trapper is a 1972 british madefortelevision docudrama film. In 1931, a stranger appeared out of nowhere in the canadian arctic, going on a crime spree of murder and theft. What the local people considered strange, however, was the fact that albert johnson did not bother to get a trapping license even though he built an 8.
An american production, it relocated the events to alaska and referred to johnsons character merely as trapper, or in the theme song, trapper man. Filmed mainly on location in alaska and released as the mad trapper of the yukon in 1972, this film is a fictionalized account of the 1931 rcmp pursuit of a trapper named albert johnson, known as the mad trapper of rat river. Overview of mad trapper, the, 1972, directed by tay garnett, with mike mazurki, mari aldon, fritz ford, at turner classic movies. This is a true story of a man named albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper of rat river. The film was shot and originally released in 1972 with the title mad trapper of the yukon. The excavation process itself proved to be more complicated than the crew had theorized. Aug 15, 2007 hes been dead for 75 years, but the mad trapper of rat river almost evaded pursuers one more time.
Mar 29, 2017 the mad trapper was smart every step of the way he had the upper hand on the rcmp but he was struggling to get away from the evergrowing posse. In 1931, inuits complained that johnson was meddling with their traps. The mad trapper is based on the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a trapper named albert johnson, the reputed mad trapper of rat river contents. Hunt for mad trapper is back on the globe and mail. In alaska, trapper attempts to live in harmony with nature but is aware that other trappers are using inhumane traps. Despite a herculean effort on the part of many, the mad trapper, albert johnson, has never been identified. Challenge to be free aka mad trapper of the yukon and mad trapper is a 1972 drama film directed by tay garnett and stars mike mazurki. The mad trapper is a 1972 british madefortelevision docudrama film. Jul 18, 2015 albert johnson, known as the mad trapper of rat river, was a murderer and a fugitive from the largest manhunt in the history of canada, leading a posse of mounties through the arctic on a six week, winter wilderness chase in 1932. Challenge to be free was a fictionalized account of the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a trapper named. The mad trapper is based on the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a trapper named albert johnson, the reputed mad trapper of rat river a later film exploring the same topic was challenge to be free aka mad trapper of the yukon and mad trapper 1975 directed by tay garnett and stars mike mazurki. This hotel was the last stop before reaching the arctic circle. This saga of the mad trapper of rat river is an extract from the october 1948 notes of interest the northwest territories and yukon radio system.
A boat trip on the mackenzie delta seemed like a great way to see the north. The mad trapper, a highly fictionalized film based on these events, was released in 1972, and in 1975 challenge to be free was released. Best of the mountain man movies true west magazine. The identity of the socalled mad trapper of the north remains as much of a cold case now as it was more than 77 years ago when the notorious outlaw.
The movie was a loosely based account of the 1931 royal canadian mounted police pursuit of a trapper named albert johnson, the reputed mad trapper of rat river. Dramatisation of a manhunt that took place in canada between. Challenge to be free was a fictionalized account of the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a trapper named albert johnson, the reputed mad trapper of rat river. The mad trapper is based on the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a trapper named albert johnson, the reputed mad trapper of rat river. The mad trapper bbc two england 28 december 1972 bbc. Earlier films exploring the same topic were the mad trapper 1972, a british madefor.
The mad trapper from rat river strong as the yukon moon. The film seemed on point with facts i found doing internet searches while watching the movie. Albert johnson was a pseudonym and his true identity remains unknown xpost from r unexplainedphotos. The mounties efforts to capture him became a giant media circus. Johnson hadnt found the peace in death that had eluded him in the last weeks of his life. Challenge to be free is a film directed by tay garnett and starring mike mazurki. Dec 31, 1972 i found the mad trapper of rat river by dick north sitting on my bookshelf unread, apparently purchased years ago.
Northern mysteries the mad trapper albert johnson mp4. Albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper, outlaw born circa 18901900, place of birth unknown. Ballad of the mad trapper from rat river, story of albert johnson, the mad trapper who led the northwest mounted police on a 48 day manhunt through the frozen yukon in 1932, song by dan larocque, the mad trapper from rat river. The event became sort of media circus as johnson eluded the royal canadian mounted police that were sent to take him into custody, which ended after a 150 mile 240 km foot chase in a shootout in. The mad trapper is based on a 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a trapper named albert johnson, the reputed mad trapper of rat river. It was prepared for exhibition in the communications and electronics museum during the early 1960s and all footnotes reflect the ranks and occupations of the participants at the time of. While the film ends with the mans identity still a mystery in 2009, the. May 12, 2009 the identity of the socalled mad trapper of the north remains as much of a cold case now as it was more than 77 years ago when the notorious outlaw met his end in a shootout with rcmp officers.
The story of the mad trapper of the northwest territories albert johnson told by the rcmp officers who captured him. Apart from locking down exactly the wound that killed him, the most obvious key bit of new information was the isotope and other analysis of his teeth and fingernails, which indicated that hed probably only been living in canada for about six or seven months before he died, and that he was probably from the midwest united states, where he lived most of his life. During the summer of 2007, the documentary film crew, with the help of excavators and scientists, spent several days exhuming the remains of albert johnson, in an attempt to discover the true identity of the mad trapper. The mad trapper 1972 film alchetron, the free social.
Sydney pollacks direction and john milius and edward anhalts script for the 1972 film create a man who, while speaking rarely, is accessible, romantic and terrifying in his wrath, although the film tactfully skirts why he was known as livereating johnson. A mad mystery man who led canadian mounties on a 150mile wilderness chase is still buried with his secrets intact. This book will be especially fascinating for all readers interested in. A new film by david cobham the dramatic story of a manhunt which took place between the spring of 1931 and 17 february 1932 in the frozen far north of. Apr 28, 2019 albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper, outlaw born circa 18901900, place of birth unknown. Dramatisation of a manhunt that took place in canada between the spring of 1931 and february 1932, with the mounties using dog teams, radio and aeroplane. The royal canadian mounties using nine dog teams and, for the first time in history, twoway radio and an aeroplane, armed with guns and dynamite took 54 days to track the man down. Death hunt was a fictionalized account of the royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a man named albert johnson. The film stars charles bronson, lee marvin, angie dickinson, carl weathers, maury chaykin, ed lauter and andrew stevens. Enduring subzero temperatures with only the supplies he carried in his.