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. Oct 27, 2012 trappers name, but noone knows just who he was, from whence or why he came. The mad trapper tv movie 1972 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The story of the mad trapper is a touchstone story about canadas north. He killed one royal canadian mounted police officer and wounded two others before. In the early1930s, albert johnson,who had a cabin on the rat river was accused of trapping on. 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. This hotel was the last stop before reaching the arctic circle. 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. Despite a herculean effort on the part of many, the mad trapper, albert johnson, has never been identified. Albert johnson, the mad trapper of rat river the canadian. There was one incredibly bad movie which defamed the characters involved.
It was a manhunt the likes of which we will never see again. 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. In 1931, inuits complained that johnson was meddling with their traps. An american production, it relocated the events to alaska and referred to johnsons character merely as trapper, or in the theme song, trapper man. Months later, following a string of mysterious and escalating events, a sixweek rcmp manhunt 40men strong was. The mad trapper bbc two england, 28 december 1972 22. There have been numerous folks proffered but thus far dna has excluded even our best suspects. Discover what genre mad trapper, the, 1972, directed by tay garnett, with mike mazurki, mari aldon, fritz ford, belongs at turner classic movies.
The hunt for the mad trapper was directed by michael jorgensen and produced by myth merchant films. 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. Dramatisation of a manhunt that took place in canada between. For over six weeks, amid blizzards and numbing cold, he eluded a posse of. Discover grave of the mad trapper of rat river in northwest territories. Albert johnson was a pseudonym and his true identity remains unknown xpost from r unexplainedphotos. The quarry, albert johnson, was a loner working a string of traps. Challenge to be free was a fictionalized account of the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a trapper named. Yes, death hunt with charles bronson as the mad trapper and lee marvin as a mounty. The story of albert johnson, the mad trapper paperback 1972. The mad trapper bbc two england 28 december 1972 bbc. 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. Hunt for the mad trapper official trailer 20 on vimeo.
In 1931, a stranger appeared out of nowhere in the canadian arctic, going on a crime spree of murder and theft. All about history the story of the mad trapper of rat river duration. The mad trapper of rat river eagle plains hotel, yukon. Mountie confrontations with johnson led to them leveling his cabin with dynamite. This is more of a documentary that was a pretty dull and boring read for myself. 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.
This is a true story of a man named albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper of rat river. Months later, the norths biggest manhunt was launched to find the culprit, known as albert johnson or the mad trapper. 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, a highly fictionalized film based on these events, was released in 1972, and in 1975 challenge to be free was released. The mad trapper 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.
Enduring subzero temperatures with only the supplies he carried in his. Apr 28, 2019 albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper, outlaw born circa 18901900, place of birth unknown. Best of the mountain man movies true west magazine. Albert johnson, also known as the mad trapper, outlaw born circa 18901900, place of birth unknown. Now author dick north of course may have solved the mystery of the mad trapper s true identity, thereby enhancing the saga. In the summer of 1931, a stranger appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the canadian arctic. Death hunt is a 1981 action film directed by peter r. Now author dick north of course may have solved the mystery of the mad trappers true identity, thereby enhancing the saga. The mounties efforts to capture him became a giant media circus. Unknown individual squares off with nature, goes mad, confronts forces of civilization trying to impose comformity with man made laws not natures laws and the result is a metaphor gone wild. The mad trapper from rat river strong as the yukon moon. In one of the wildest hunts in the history of canada, the mysterious albert.
The film stars charles bronson, lee marvin, angie dickinson, carl weathers, maury chaykin, ed lauter and andrew stevens. A mad mystery man who led canadian mounties on a 150mile wilderness chase is still buried with his secrets intact. I found the mad trapper of rat river by dick north sitting on my bookshelf unread, apparently purchased years ago. Mad trapper almost evades pursuers one last time the star.
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. 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. Hes been dead for 75 years, but the mad trapper of rat river almost evaded pursuers one more time. Carl weathers tracks charles bronson in death hunt. Johnson was a loner living in the bush who shot a mountie that tried to question him about some illegal trapping in the area. All about history the story of the mad trapper of rat river. 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.
Albert johnson played the leading role in a sevenweek game of catandmouse that captivated a nation. 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 boat trip on the mackenzie delta seemed like a great way to see the north. Mostly, death hunt is an excuse to turn bronson loose with a bunch of guns and a fur coat the size of a twobedroom condo, and its not going to win any acting awards, but its rather entertaining. Earlier films exploring the same topic were the mad trapper 1972, a british madefor. 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.
Albert johnson was a loner, a deadly shot, who in 1932 triggered a gruelling manhunt that has become an arctic legend. The mad trapper the mad trapper 1972 the protectors detective 1972 softly softly. A film crew exhuming the body of the legendary outlaw in an effort to finally identify him had. Months later, following a string of mysterious and esca. The arctic trails do indeed have their secret tales, and one of the best is that of the mad trapper of rat river, equal to the legends of bonnie and clyde or john dillinger. The story of the mad trapper of the northwest territories albert johnson told by the rcmp officers who captured him. Heritage house publishing co, 2000 history 96 pages. 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. Documentary mystery the mad trapper, pure history specials arctic manhunt 0 please subscribe my channel. Earlier films exploring the same topic were the mad trapper 1972, a british madefortelevision production and challenge to be free also known as mad trapper of the yukon and mad trapper 1975. 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 bbc two england 28 december 1972 bbc genome. The ensuing manhunt one of the largest in canadian history lasted 48 days and covered.
Dramatisation of a manhunt that took place in canada between the spring. The story of the mad trapper of rat river is an iconic tale from northern canada. A radiodial entertainment short film, hunt for the mad trapper. Grave of the mad trapper of rat river northwest territories. 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. Overview of mad trapper, the, 1972, directed by tay garnett, with mike mazurki, mari aldon, fritz ford, at turner classic movies. 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. Death hunt was a fictionalized account of the royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit of a man named albert johnson.
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. 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. This 1966 britishcanadian coproduction stars oliver reed as a. Dec 01, 2005 the arctic trails do indeed have their secret tales, and one of the best is that of the mad trapper of rat river, equal to the legends of those other 1930s outlaws, bonnie and clyde and john dillinger. In his attempt to flee, johnson led the rcmp, as well as civilian and military volunteers, over 240 kilometres of rich. 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. 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. 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. Albert johnson the mad trapper of rat river home facebook. 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. Albert johnson mad trapper of rat river 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. The mad trapper is based on the 1931 royal canadian mounted police rcmp pursuit.
Dec 31, 1972 i found the mad trapper of rat river by dick north sitting on my bookshelf unread, apparently purchased years ago. In his attempt to flee, johnson led the rcmp, as well as civilian and military volunteers, over 240 kilometres of. 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. With del henney, neil mccallum, brandon brady, dan mcdonald. Inspired by real events, a northern small town family embarks on a manhunt to avenge the death of one of their own. The mad trapper, pure history specials arctic manhunt.
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