Post by kungfuzu on Jul 8, 2019 19:13:45 GMT -8
The Belstone Fox
British film made in 1973
Viewed on “Light TV”
The Belstone Fox opens with two farmers trudging through a damp wood accompanied by numerous fox terriers and other small dogs. In short order, the dogs pick up a scent which they follow to a small hole in the ground. With that hole blocked, the two farmers use a long pole to feel where the tunnel leads and once they reach the end, they take their shovels and start digging. After a few shovels-full, they unearth a vixen and her cubs. The farmers dispatch the family by clubbing them with the shovels.
The viewer is then taken into the home of “master of the hounds” Asher played by Eric Porter. (Professor Moriarty to Jeremy Brett’s Holmes.) Clearly tired after a long day’s work, he is resting when there is a knock at the door. When it is opened by his wife there stands Tod. (Played by Bill Travers of Born Free fame) Tod who wanders the woods has brought with him a small fox cub, which has somehow escaped the fate of its mother and siblings who all died at the hands of the farmers. On a whim, Asher decides to place the fox cub in the kennel with a bitch who has recently had a litter and is still suckling them. He figures that the mother will not accept the fox, but doesn’t know what else to do so late at night.
The next morning, to his surprise, the bitch has not only not killed the fox, but is allowing it to nurse on her teat. Wondering how things will work out, Asher decides to let nature take its course, even though his putting the fox among the hounds is itself, against nature. Asher tells his employer, Kendrick (Jeremy Kemp), about the situation and Kendrick is not bothered by it.
As the weeks go by, the fox, named Tag, grows and fits in with the litter. It becomes particularly close to one pup, Merlin, which is clearly more fond of Tag than he is of his own kin. Tag and Merlin are constantly in one another’s company, romping around, chasing each other and generally causing trouble. Slowly and without intent, Asher becomes more attached to Tag and Merlin than to any other animals in his keep.
Unfortunately, the time comes when Merlin must start to train for that which he has been bred, i.e. to hunt foxes. He and Tag are separated when Asher puts Merlin in with the other hounds and shuts the gate behind him. Tag stays nearby watching for a glimpse of Merlin and Merlin, on his part, howls at night due to his separation from his friend. Asher has a bad conscience, but there is nothing to be done, so he chases off Tag by throwing a few small stones or dirt in his direction. Tag takes the hint and leaves the kennels.
Some time afterwards, everyone is preparing for the first hunt of the season and both Asher and Kendrick are concerned as to Tag’s whereabouts. Tod, who has kept up with Tag, tells them not to worry for they’ll not be able to get that fox.
Off the riders go and Merlin is loath to take part in the hunt. He apparently does not like the idea of going after Tag. This is a concern for Kendrick. But things soon turnaround when Merlin runs into Tag on the next hunt. Its like old home week again. They fool around with each other until the other hounds start to get closer. At that moment another fox shows up and Merlin leads the pack after it. Clever Tag lights out in another direction.
Such high jinks continue throughout the season with Tag outsmarting the hounds and gaining a local reputation thereby. The local paper even runs a story extolling "The Belstone Fox" which fools all the hunters and hounds in the county. Kendrick jokingly accuses Asher of going easy on Tag, and Asher denies this. But both know that the old master of the hounds has a soft spot for Tag.
Unfortunately, Tag’s ability to lead the hounds astray turns deadly. Tag has discovered a new trick by which he leads the pack onto a railway track which confuses their sense of smell. Tragically, Tag does this just before a train approaches and kills several of the dogs on the tracks.
This upsets Asher greatly. Kendrick tells him that it was simply an accident and that no one is to blame. But Asher explains to Kendrick that now that Tag has learned this trick to throw the hounds off his trail, he will do it again; not out of spite, but because it works. Tag must, therefore, be killed. Kendrick agrees and tells Asher to take a shotgun and go to it. Asher is shocked and says that would be impossible. He must now put his full concentration into tracking down and disposing of Tag in the traditional way.
On their next hunt Merlin catches the scent of Tag’s trail and off the riders go. Tag leads the hunters over hill and dale, through woods and fens, over stone walls and wooden fences. During this trek, many of the hunters are dismounted in embarrassing ways. At a spot where the hunters cannot view him, Tag stops and Merlin catches up with him. A stone’s throw away is another fox and the oncoming hounds are fooled into thinking it is Tag. After watching the hounds follow his unfortunate furry fellow, Tag runs off in another direction and Merlin follows him shortly thereafter. Asher comes up and sees Merlin running in along a different path and knows what has happened. He tells Kendrick, who has just arrived, what has happened. Kendrick says that it is a pity, but since it can’t be helped they should go after the other fox as that is what the hunt is about.
Asher says that he cannot do that and must go after Tag and finish what he has started. This irritates Kendrick who tells Asher if he doesn’t come with him that he will be fired. Not able to change, Asher gives Kendrick his fox hunting horn and rides off after Merlin and Tag. Kendrick takes the horn and gives it to Asher’s assistant, Stephen (Dennis Waterman of “New Tricks” fame) and they continue after the surrogate fox.
I will let those readers who might have interest in the film, view for themselves the climax and ending of the film.
I found The Belstone Fox a very entertaining and thoughtful film, which I can recommend. While the production qualities are not the same as those of Hollywood, the story was more interesting than the usual rubbish emanating from the West Coast. It was on a human scale.
The viewer gets a small glimpse of a type of country life which is not well known to most of us in America. More importantly, one is exposed to a type of close relationship which can exist between some men and animals. To my mind, The Belstone Fox is in the same genre as “The Yearling,” “Old Yeller” or “Black Beauty,” i.e. a film which both adults and children can enjoy.
British film made in 1973
Viewed on “Light TV”
________________________________________
The Belstone Fox opens with two farmers trudging through a damp wood accompanied by numerous fox terriers and other small dogs. In short order, the dogs pick up a scent which they follow to a small hole in the ground. With that hole blocked, the two farmers use a long pole to feel where the tunnel leads and once they reach the end, they take their shovels and start digging. After a few shovels-full, they unearth a vixen and her cubs. The farmers dispatch the family by clubbing them with the shovels.
The viewer is then taken into the home of “master of the hounds” Asher played by Eric Porter. (Professor Moriarty to Jeremy Brett’s Holmes.) Clearly tired after a long day’s work, he is resting when there is a knock at the door. When it is opened by his wife there stands Tod. (Played by Bill Travers of Born Free fame) Tod who wanders the woods has brought with him a small fox cub, which has somehow escaped the fate of its mother and siblings who all died at the hands of the farmers. On a whim, Asher decides to place the fox cub in the kennel with a bitch who has recently had a litter and is still suckling them. He figures that the mother will not accept the fox, but doesn’t know what else to do so late at night.
The next morning, to his surprise, the bitch has not only not killed the fox, but is allowing it to nurse on her teat. Wondering how things will work out, Asher decides to let nature take its course, even though his putting the fox among the hounds is itself, against nature. Asher tells his employer, Kendrick (Jeremy Kemp), about the situation and Kendrick is not bothered by it.
As the weeks go by, the fox, named Tag, grows and fits in with the litter. It becomes particularly close to one pup, Merlin, which is clearly more fond of Tag than he is of his own kin. Tag and Merlin are constantly in one another’s company, romping around, chasing each other and generally causing trouble. Slowly and without intent, Asher becomes more attached to Tag and Merlin than to any other animals in his keep.
Unfortunately, the time comes when Merlin must start to train for that which he has been bred, i.e. to hunt foxes. He and Tag are separated when Asher puts Merlin in with the other hounds and shuts the gate behind him. Tag stays nearby watching for a glimpse of Merlin and Merlin, on his part, howls at night due to his separation from his friend. Asher has a bad conscience, but there is nothing to be done, so he chases off Tag by throwing a few small stones or dirt in his direction. Tag takes the hint and leaves the kennels.
Some time afterwards, everyone is preparing for the first hunt of the season and both Asher and Kendrick are concerned as to Tag’s whereabouts. Tod, who has kept up with Tag, tells them not to worry for they’ll not be able to get that fox.
Off the riders go and Merlin is loath to take part in the hunt. He apparently does not like the idea of going after Tag. This is a concern for Kendrick. But things soon turnaround when Merlin runs into Tag on the next hunt. Its like old home week again. They fool around with each other until the other hounds start to get closer. At that moment another fox shows up and Merlin leads the pack after it. Clever Tag lights out in another direction.
Such high jinks continue throughout the season with Tag outsmarting the hounds and gaining a local reputation thereby. The local paper even runs a story extolling "The Belstone Fox" which fools all the hunters and hounds in the county. Kendrick jokingly accuses Asher of going easy on Tag, and Asher denies this. But both know that the old master of the hounds has a soft spot for Tag.
Unfortunately, Tag’s ability to lead the hounds astray turns deadly. Tag has discovered a new trick by which he leads the pack onto a railway track which confuses their sense of smell. Tragically, Tag does this just before a train approaches and kills several of the dogs on the tracks.
This upsets Asher greatly. Kendrick tells him that it was simply an accident and that no one is to blame. But Asher explains to Kendrick that now that Tag has learned this trick to throw the hounds off his trail, he will do it again; not out of spite, but because it works. Tag must, therefore, be killed. Kendrick agrees and tells Asher to take a shotgun and go to it. Asher is shocked and says that would be impossible. He must now put his full concentration into tracking down and disposing of Tag in the traditional way.
On their next hunt Merlin catches the scent of Tag’s trail and off the riders go. Tag leads the hunters over hill and dale, through woods and fens, over stone walls and wooden fences. During this trek, many of the hunters are dismounted in embarrassing ways. At a spot where the hunters cannot view him, Tag stops and Merlin catches up with him. A stone’s throw away is another fox and the oncoming hounds are fooled into thinking it is Tag. After watching the hounds follow his unfortunate furry fellow, Tag runs off in another direction and Merlin follows him shortly thereafter. Asher comes up and sees Merlin running in along a different path and knows what has happened. He tells Kendrick, who has just arrived, what has happened. Kendrick says that it is a pity, but since it can’t be helped they should go after the other fox as that is what the hunt is about.
Asher says that he cannot do that and must go after Tag and finish what he has started. This irritates Kendrick who tells Asher if he doesn’t come with him that he will be fired. Not able to change, Asher gives Kendrick his fox hunting horn and rides off after Merlin and Tag. Kendrick takes the horn and gives it to Asher’s assistant, Stephen (Dennis Waterman of “New Tricks” fame) and they continue after the surrogate fox.
I will let those readers who might have interest in the film, view for themselves the climax and ending of the film.
I found The Belstone Fox a very entertaining and thoughtful film, which I can recommend. While the production qualities are not the same as those of Hollywood, the story was more interesting than the usual rubbish emanating from the West Coast. It was on a human scale.
The viewer gets a small glimpse of a type of country life which is not well known to most of us in America. More importantly, one is exposed to a type of close relationship which can exist between some men and animals. To my mind, The Belstone Fox is in the same genre as “The Yearling,” “Old Yeller” or “Black Beauty,” i.e. a film which both adults and children can enjoy.
