Run Wild Run Free 1969 David Whitaker

Celebrated british composer and arranger the late David Whitaker produced a delightful score for this 1969 Richard Sarafian directed movie, based on the book of the same name by british author david rook who also wrote the movies screenplay. Shot beautifully on location in Dartmoor in south west England Run wild Run free is a poignant and heart warming movie about Philip a troubled 10 year old boy (played superbly by Oliver star mark lester) who has driven his anxious parents (Sylvia syms and Gordon Jackson) to despair as a result of not uttering a word to them or anyone else since he was 3 years old. Finding interaction with others difficult Philip shies away from the company of other children instead preferring to spend his days wandering around the nearby moorland. It is on the moors that Philip encounters the nature loving and recently retired colonel (john mills) who along with local girl Diana (Fiona fullerton) befriends Philip and shows him the abundance of animal life that can be found on the devon moors. And it is as a result of these explorations of the moors that Philip develops a strong bond with one of the wild ponies to be found living on the moors......this relationship between boy and pony forming the centrepiece of this gentle and sweet movie. The lyrics to the title track of the soundtrack were provided by regular John Barry collaborator don black. David Whitaker passed away on 11 january 2012 aged 81. Former child star mark lester gave up acting in the late 1970s later going on to train as a osteopath and now operates his own acupuntcure clinic in cheltenham. Apologies for the uneven quality of this track.

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