The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986)

13% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(6,541 ratings)

Cinematographer Michael Chapman directed this John Sayles adaptation of Jean M. Auel's best-selling ode to Cro-Magnon women. The story begins at the moment in pre-history when the last of the Neanderthal men were becoming extinct and the superior race of Cro-Magnons were starting to supersede them.… More Cinematographer Michael Chapman directed this John Sayles adaptation of Jean M. Auel's best-selling ode to Cro-Magnon women. The story begins at the moment in pre-history when the last of the Neanderthal men were becoming extinct and the superior race of Cro-Magnons were starting to supersede them. Focusing on a tribe of wandering Neanderthals who adopt a young girl named, Ayla (played as an adult by Daryl Hannah). She grows tall, lithe, and smart. The Neanderthals quickly accept her into their tribe, but once a tribal member, Ayla begins to question the tribe's male chauvinistic presumptions. Unable to conceive of why only men are given weapons, she takes it upon herself to learn how to use a slingshot. She then questions the tribe's assumptions concerning sexual politics. She learns to count and becomes the assistant to the local medicine expert. As the seasons wear on, the tribe utilizes Ayla's knowledge for their own good while Ayla's continues to try the patience of the tribe with her unspeakable feminist demands. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Michael Chapman
Written By: Jean M. Auel, John Sayles
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jan 17, 1986 Wide
On DVD: Nov 9, 1999
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
As the cave wall says, stay with the book.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Imagine a chick-flick "Quest for Fire" that makes no sense.
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A catalogue of second-best decisions

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Curtis L

Slow and pointless. Lacks great elements like Quest for Fire, which had Ron Pearlman and tons of monkey people fights.
Dean M

The perfect movie for Darryl Hannah. She does an excellent job with use her sign languages in her character as a cavewoman by communicating each other.
Byron B

I've seen some bad reviews of this, even the author of the book, on which this is based, evidently didn't like it. I did like it though. I thought the minimal use of spoken dialog and consistent primitive sign language was well done. The subtitles did not distract, they… More
I've seen some bad reviews of this, even the author of the book, on which this is based, evidently didn't like it. I did like it though. I thought the minimal use of spoken dialog and consistent primitive sign language was well done. The subtitles did not distract, they helped because the characters do not use a known language. I identified with the theme of having to walk alone in the end because of questioning the ways of the clan too much. Ebert says, "it never quite makes them seem frightened and ignorant and vulnerable and bewildered." In a way they are subject to nature and these qualities, especially Brun who's fault is the way in which he tries to deal with these qualities. But I don't think Ebert has a legitimate critique because most cultures won't show these traits because they think they have it all figured out. Ebert also sees the fact that "every one of these people has motives that are instantly recognizable and predictable" as a fault. I think this is the point of the story, the books were bestsellers because they are about how human motives have always been the same.
Marion R

What did I just watch? This is strange and I really wasn't that interested.

Cast

            Daryl Hannah as Ayla

            Pamela Reed as Iza

            James Remar as Creb

            Thomas G. Waites as Broud

            John Doolittle as Brun

            Curtis Armstrong as Goov

            Karen Austin as Aba

            Bart the Bear as the bear

            Natino Bellantoni as Gorn

            Paul Carafotes as Brug

            Joey Cramer as Young Broud

            Martin Doyle as Grod

            Barbara Duncan as Uka

            Nicole Eggert as Middle Ayla

            Adel C. Hammond as Vorn

            Salome Jens as Narrator

            Gloria Lee as Oga

            Tony Montanaro as Zoug

            Janne Mortil as Ovra

            Mike Muscat as Dorv

            Lycia Naff as Uba

            Keith Wardlow as Crug

            John Wardlow as Droog

            Christiane Boyce as Baby Durk

            Guila Chiesa as Young Girl

            Rory L. Crowley as Durc

            Amy Cyr as Young Girl

            Colin Doyle as Young Boy

            Shauna Fanara as Young Girl

            Catherine Flather as Baby Durc

            Emma Floria as Young Ayla

            Pierre Lamielle as Barc

            Samantha Ostry as Young Uba

            Shane Punt as Young Vorn

            Linda Quibell as Aga

            Mary Reid as Ayla's Mother

            Bernadette Sabath as Ebra

            Penny Smith as Ika

            Rick Valiquette as Voord

            Alan Waltman as Norg
See full cast