Parents' Guide to

The Man from Snowy River

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Family-friendly Western with moments of harsh conflict.

Movie PG 1982 102 minutes
The Man from Snowy River Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 7+

Based on 5 parent reviews

bemezmerised
bemezmerised Adult
June 10, 2021
age 7+

Under-rated

I was shocked to see this get an overall rating of 3 when even IMDB it has a 7/10. Outside of the feminism and a few (realistic) foul language, this film was made on a low budget yet captured some of the best horse-riding stuntwork (the stuntmen/horseriders couldn't handle the Australian terrain, so they had to hire local Australian bushmen and farmers to film the work), the legendary Kirk Douglas brings 2 epic performances in a dual role. It brings alive a magnificent poem from the 1890s, the directing, screenplay, script and and acting are flawless. I watched this when I was 7 and have forever been in love with this film, to the point that my fiance and I are going to Orange NSW where Banjo Patterson was born on our honeymoon. This film's cinematography beats many higher budget films like the epic-budget, cinema flop of Australia. Forget Crocodile Dundee, if you want a taste of real Australia this is the film.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
BethDutton
BethDutton Adult
June 22, 2020
age 5+

parents may find it a bit predictable but overall a great choice for the whole family

Our older kids love Yellowstone, Longmire, and raunchy western dramas, and our younger kids like Spirit and horse cartoons. How to merge the two? family friendly live action westerns! this was great and kept everyone interested without having any sex, violence, or cursing, there was one b*****d and no other bad words in the whole film. Awesome riding and beautiful scenery.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set in late-19th-century Australia, this family drama follows Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson), who lives with his father, Henry, in the pristine hills of Snowy River country, where stampedes of wild horses routinely gallop through the land. After Henry is unexpectedly struck and killed, Jim is told he's too "green" to take over his own land and is forced to take a job with Mr. Harrison (Kirk Douglas), an American cattle baron who's made a fortune in Australia and is the talk of the country for his pure-bred colt worth 1,000 pounds. As Harrison's youngest employee, Jim strikes up a tentative friendship with Harrison's lovely daughter, Jessica (Sigrid Thornton). While Harrison and his crew of drivers and hands attempt to herd cattle off the hills, Craig and Jessica attempt to break the colt. But when Harrison returns and discovers that his daughter is smitten with a lowly cattle hand, tempers flare, the colt is freed, and Jim must prove he's above suspicion to secure the woman he loves.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (5):

Back in 1982, this family-friendly Western -- complete with A-list star Douglas and a sweeping score -- put the Australian film industry on the map and made American audiences take notice. Decades later, parts of the movie feel overly sentimental (the music is especially cheesy every time Jim and Jessica gaze at each other and heavy handed at the mere possibility of violence). But it's still a charming and feel-good film, especially for audiences who like stories about self-starting young heroes who don't let their perceived station in life get in the way of their ambition or their sense of duty. Jim has a remarkable belief in honor and what's right, even if Harrison treats him like a lowly employee.

The cinematography and the horse sequences are especially beautiful, as are all the sweeping shots of the snow-capped hills. Like the sequences of The Lord of the Rings that feature New Zealand's beautiful landscape, this film highlights the gorgeous Australian hill country with a tenderness that makes the land another character in the movie. One of the best parts of the tale is Douglas' double duty as the rich and powerful Harrison and his estranged brother, Spur, who's a peg-legged hermit convinced that there's gold to be found in the hills. The romance is mostly an exercise in longing looks and good-natured pranks, but it strikes just the right note of chaste fluttery for tween viewers. Families who appreciate animal tales will love this classic drama.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's message about class and ambition. Why does Mr. Harrison spurn Jim, even though he, too, is a self-made man? What about the mentions of a woman's place? Are they sexist or just accurate for the time period?

  • Compare this film to others featuring horses. How is this one different? Is the emphasis on one horse or the horseman? Name some other movies that feature horses in a starring role.

  • Nowadays movies are more likely to feature talking animals than animals in their natural state. What kind of animal movies do you prefer?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate