Across the Great Divide - Special Edi

Rating:
Summary: What a blast from the past!
Review: This movie was a childhood staple for me. I can recall countless times I watched this movie with my grandparents - so I do consider myself a very reliable source for a review.
It's a great movie for these reasons: it's an adventure that will keep your interest, it's witty enough to cause a chuckle or two and there is nothing remotely "adult" about it (other than a running theme of an alcoholic gambler). It's also very obvious that the movie was made in the 80's on a small, small budget, so don't expect the almost flawless effects you see in kids movies today. Also, the story is set in America's Frontier Era, so be prepared for some not-so-understanding viewpoints from the characters concerning Native Americans and animal hunting (think "Little House on the Prairie" without all the sticky-sweet endings and less crying from Pa).
Here's the story: An alcoholic, drifting gambler comes across two orphaned kids and their dog trying to travel across Oregon. Thinking he can con them into giving him some food and shelter from all the people who are after him, he takes up with the kids on their journey and the rest of the movie is devoted to their adventures along the way to their destination (and maybe, just maybe, the drifter comes to form a bond with the orphans...maybe).