The Man From Snowy River - The Descent

[ozewebhost]

Brings back memories... during the 80s and 90s I created "The Man From Snowy River Riding Academy". Yeah, I know... a BS name, but it used to bring in the tourists. I can honestly say, "Yes, it is possible", and I managed to train up one mountain-bred horse to do most of the stuff you see here (minus the initial leap off of the cliff).

However, out of 30 horses, I only found 2 that had enough confidence in my riding to trust me enough to leap out into space :-))

[MsCutter01]

I stood at the top of that hill & although it isn't long, it is very steep....& I was always under the impression that Gerald Egan was the stunt rider for that scene. If you have ever met Gerald, you would KNOW that ride was actually made, not edited.

[dragonfire1804]

The trick is a leaning back rider and a tilt angle on the camera and close editing. That doesnt take away from the great rough riding for Charlie Lovick and the whole crew. Love the whip cracking from Tom Burlinson. the ariel work in this film for its age is great and atmospheric. Glad the places where thsi film was made still survive.

[Chuffandcats]

The actor was specifically hired for his horsemanship.

[gwensfan1]

GUESS WHAT.... my dad filmed this scene.

and im not telling how it was done! lol just enjoy it as it is.

isnt it great tho :)

[MsCutter01]

@gwensfan1 wish you would tell us, u are very lucky to have a connection with an EPIC movie such as this. I was fortunate enough to have grown up around most of the "cracks" for this movie :)

[LODIECHODIE]

the thing sbout running downhill is, you have to keep going no stopping any animal knows that, THE SCENE IS AUTHENTIC, look at the camera angles, the cut scenes are edited in but the descent is defiantly real. plus you can not see how long the hill is, i bet it was no more than 200 meters, but steep yes and real yes.

[overthehillfan]

For those in doubt about that "stunt". Horses do run downhill exactly like that. Those what were raised in the mountains especially. I worked in the Sierra Nevada Mts. for the Forest Service and back country packers, most all my teenage and young adult life and I've seen horses run exactly like that, especially if they were spooked by a cougar or bear...and if you do exactly what Jim did in the movie you may stay on, if not you will be dumped. This I know to be a fact! *rubs sore behind* LOL

[overthehillfan]

For those in doubt about that "stunt". Horses do run downhill exactly like that. Those what were raised in the mountains especially. I worked in the Sierra Nevada Mts. for the Forest Service and back country packers, most all my teenage and young adult life and I've seen horses run exactly like that, especially if they were spooked by a cougar or bear...and if you do exactly what Jim did in the movie you may stay on, if not you will be dumped. This I know to be a fact! *rubs sore behind* LOL

[GypsyStarChaser]

I'm from Texas and lived in Wyoming. Trust me... Been there done that on a hill they call Suicide. Only way to do it is at a dead run and God help you if your horse loses his footing.

[TheSystemRevolution]

Real scenes my friends, I have a family friend who worked on set with the farrier ... We Australians and our horses are not afraid of small challenges. We don't often use the stunt man then absorb the glory like the Hollywood comparisons. Ask Kirk.

[talkingmongo0se]

Sorry, this scene is camera work.

Horses do not run down hills like that. They would be "propping" their front ends to prevent from falling over as they ran. The movment would not be as fluid as if they were running on flat ground. It may be a good movie, but the biggest issue I have is people in real life trying to replicate it when this scene wasn't even real in the first place.

[ZeY00T00b]

@talkingmongo0se  Thanks for this comment! I feel like a party pooper, but I have to agree with you, their front ends would be straight out and their haunches way close to the ground. Is it even possible for humans to run full out at a 45 degree angle like that? I doubt it. Gravity would have everyone doing somersaults... gravity plus the propulsion from galloping, no less. I wonder why more people don't question this scene. Love the movie though!

[AllYouNeedIsDub89]

@talkingmongo0se One would think that, but all the trees and bushes and what not are running vertical while the ground is at a steep angle. Plus, this scene has gone down in film history, and isn't known to be fake. One of the reasons it got high praise is because of the risk involved. It makes sense to think that it's camera work, totally...but what's cool is that it's not :)

[overthehillfan]

@talkingmongo0se Horses do run downhill exactly like that. Specially those what were raised in the mountains. I worked for the Forest Service and back country packers, most all my teenage and young adult life and I've seen horses run exactly like that, especially if they were spooked by a cougar or bear...and if you do exactly what Jim did in the movie you may stay on......if not you will be dumped. This I know to be a fact! *rubs sore behind* LOL

[Montague2008]

welcome to australia =] love this movie so much.. makes me proud of where I come from

[vwbuggin]

Just read your comments. I never thought that was actually real. WOW.

[rollingstone1088]

THIS MAN IS A WOMAN'S MAN! I HAVE WATCHED IT A MILLION TIMES AND STILL HAVE THE VHS :) LOL

[02Early]

for all you silly people out there that think its fake its not. tom burlinson insisted on his own stunt work, and it was actually a family friend of mine who ran trail rides out of marysville (till it all burnt down) who lived in the high country running cattle (up until he got burnt out!) who helped with training for all the stunt work, including training tom and training the horses. it may be a movie, but the awesome riding you see in it is the real deal.

[Apldeap100]

You are all imbersiles. You have no idea what you are talking about. If you had half a brain you realise how dumb you are. This is the first movie and everything is real. I know that for a fact. Best movie made.

[lilyoceanmoon]

I love this movie but they actually tied down the trees to shoot this. Shame.

[heidihu1]

nothing beats a wild australian brumby for for tenaciousness and guts! I love this movie!!!

[beanybo0]

i remember watching this when i was a kid. was there a scene similar to this one where he actually doesn't make it and his horse dies?

[enchanted18]

That is actually in the second movie. When someone shoots his horse

[beanybo0]

ohh thats right.

aww bung, thats rank!

thanks for that, tho :)

[cashmere1992]

no thats the first

[cvdqr]

That was in Return To Snowy River.

[horseofthemoonlight]

that is from the second movie

[horseofthemoonlight]

sorry i hadn't seen someone already told you that :)

[EOATuco]

@beanybo0 That is from the second movie and Denny (the horse) is actually shot by the bad character. I actually can not watch the movie because they kill Denny off.

[EOATuco]

@mystiquesword I am aware of that, my comment was a reply to someone else, whose comment has been removed....

[mystiquesword]

@EOATuco LOL i know...i was trying to reply to someone else..then i realiszed i got your name instead..so i deleted my post a few mintues after it was made....wierd that you still got it anyway...sorry about that. if i deleted it..youtube should have "made it so" LOL anyway..after seeing abit more of the argument i decided not to even bother since it seemed to be getting sorted out on its own lol

[llama4lifex0x0]

I live in NZ and it is SO hard to get hold of this movie. My english teacher has it though and we watched it in class when we were studying poetry =)

[CowboyCrossfire]

Jim Craig is the Genuine Article Horseman!

[horselovr07]

is this movie on yt

[TheDanstephenson]

Best

Movie

Ever

Made

[crashandburn70]

I am from the UK, for some reason there have been several dvds that I have wanted that have cost a fortune over here, it really sucks!

[crashandburn70]

It's so unfair that it costs so little where you are! It's a fortune here on amazon and on ebay!! I sat and watched the whole movie on youtube and it's still as great as ever, then I watched all of return to snowy river! Can't believe they are just as great as they were when I was younger! And I downloaded the music too as it was brilliant!

[MrandMrsMcG]

I'm just wondering, but, where are you from that it's so expensive? 'Cause in the USA you can get both movies, CD and the TV series spin off for less than 70 bucks altogether on Amazon.

Just curious...

[tweatle1]

lol thats crazy as!! ^^

[crashandburn70]

I love The Man From Snowy River, I think I wore the tape out when I was younger watching it and the reason I play the piano is because I wanted to learn the song that Jessica played! I can't belive it costs so much to buy on dvd now!!!!

[morke87]

it's like five dollars at wal-mart where i live. but yeah, easily one of the best movies of all time. so is the return to snowy river :)

[wolf4555]

This was so awesome... I never tire of watching it...

Horse and rider were fantastic!!!

Would love to see some new movies like this again....

[FarmoreSpel]

Favorite. Movie. Scene. Ever. MFSR is epic. I still love it, even after all these years. =D

[ShawDAMAN]

Amazing. Practically vertical! I didn't think that was possible :-o

[ShawDAMAN]

Quite a horse too.. ;-)

[wysefiona]

Does anyone know the piece of music when the herd is running through the snow, that sounds a bit like a music box? This is my favourite part, but I can't figure out if it is just a part of the other music, to me it seems like a piece on its own.

[DrwMD]

On the actual soundtrack to this movie, that is part of the current song you hear at that moment. It isn't a separate piece.

[wysefiona]

Thank you. I should check out if it's the same piece in the first movie that the music box plays. Do you remember?

[DrwMD]

The music box piece is its own song on the soundtrack and is not related to the piece you hear in the video.

[wysefiona]

Thanks very much. I appreciate your response.

[apachiedragon]

this is the movie that made me want to be a great rider. I'm going outside to ride now... Thanks so much for posting this!!!!

[gqtexan]

I love that scene!

[TeachingsOfChrist]

Awesome scene! Thanks!