This movie starts with an unpromising premise and proceeds with imperfect production values, but to my surprise the end result is fairly gripping. The acting talents of Reed and Tushingham drag what could otherwise have been pretty stolid daytime TV fodder (think Hallmark TV in more contemporary context) into a different league. Reed's performance as La Bête, the earthy, rum-swilling 'beast' with a (normally hidden) softer side is almost playing to type, but he makes a pretty good fist of it. Tushingham's mute girl is played with great expression too; and their primal struggles to survive in the wilderness are the backdrop against which their relationship slowly develops.I'm sure not everyone will find this film a '9' or a '10' , but it is well worth watching; recently screened on British TV channel 'talking pictures' it made absorbing viewing. This was despite the fact that they could only manage to show a fairly iffy transfer from a grubby print to 4:3 video, which meant the film lost much of its original visual impact in widescreen.

Oliver Reed, and Rita Tushingham were both outstanding in this film. I found it both a touching and thrilling movie. It's amazing what a wooden bowl and wooden utensils can do to a story line, one of my favorite all time movies by these two great British actors ! The location, and scenery was beautiful. It's hard to say more about this movie without spoiling it. there are so many unworthy movies replayed on T.V. these days, This is a movie I could watch over and over again. Filmed in the troubling times of the 1960's,it takes you to a time in our past that was although harder, but a much simpler way of life!I have been trying to find this movie on D.V.D., if anyone knows where I can get a copy please let me know.

Like most who have posted here, I was haunted by this movie through the years after seeing it (over 40 years ago where I watched it over and over again on t.v.....it must've been shown in some sort've special week long presentation or suchlike....) The song would run through my head from time to time ("When I'm a man, I'll take me a wife, we'll live in a house on the hill, the hill...and she will have diamond and pearl"). I thought I was the only one to be so charmed, and was touched to read of other's finding this a magic film. It would be nice to see it again, and see what I think now....or maybe not!! I hope Mr. Reed knew of it's impact on people.

This movie should have its place among the great classics, and its no exaggeration... Somehow it's been underrated, unfortunately. I saw this movie some 10 years ago, and I never forgot it... Ten years later, I watched it again, thinking that I react differently to it, but no... I loved it even more, now that I'm old enough to appreciate the actors' interpretations, which are just perfect in this movie... Rita Tushingham is wonderful in her role, without having to say a single word through the whole movie; she thrills you just by her presence and a perfect use of her facial expressions... It just shows how to be a great actress is not in a perfect face and a perfect figure...It takes much more to charm... And then you have Oliver Reed's performance which just adds to the perfect timing of this movie... His performance is one that you cannot forget, just like Rita's ; a great love story filled with adventure, where just the right things are said, and just the right things are shown. I couldn't say enough about this movie... I think it's one of those special cinematic moments... It's done so simply, and yet you know that it takes a lot of great talent to make it look so simple. A last comment (haha) : WHEN WILL IT BE ON DVD????!!!!!!! it deserves to be on DVD !