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Daryl Hannah, Pamela Reed, James Remar, Thomas G. Waites, John Doolittle ... see more see more... , Curtis Armstrong , Karen Austin , Bart the Bear , Natino Bellantoni , Paul Carafotes , Joey Cramer , Martin Doyle , Barbara Duncan , Nicole Eggert , Adel C. Hammond , Salome Jens , Gloria Lee , Tony Montanaro , Janne Mortil , Mike Muscat , Lycia Naff , Keith Wardlow , John Wardlow , Christiane Boyce , Guila Chiesa , Rory L. Crowley , Amy Cyr , Colin Doyle , Shauna Fanara , Catherine Flather , Emma Floria , Pierre Lamielle , Samantha Ostry , Shane Punt , Linda Quibell , Mary Reid , Bernadette Sabath , Penny Smith , Rick Valiquette , Alan Waltman

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 Neandert... read more read more...hal 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

Flixster Users

47% liked it

6,540 ratings

Critics

13% liked it

8 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Michael Chapman

Release Date: January 17, 1986

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DVD Release Date: November 9, 1999

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Stats: 269 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (269)

  • puffchunk
    December 17, 2008
    puffchunk
    Slow and pointless. Lacks great elements like Quest for Fire, which had Ron Pearlman and tons of monkey people fights.
  • deano
    January 28, 2007
    deano
    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.
  • hypathio7
    March 31, 2008
    hypathio7
    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... read more 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.
  • Doctor0Quinzel
    December 27, 2008
    Doctor0Quinzel
    What did I just watch? This is strange and I really wasn't that interested.
  • skootertaylor
    March 31, 2010
    skootertaylor
    I've seen this many times and I just love it. It really makes me wonder what cave life was like. I was also impressed that they left Daryl Hannah's legs hairy and unshaven. Now, THAT'S reality!
  • terris85017
    July 12, 2009
    terris85017
    (1986 Director: Michael Chapman) This was not bad, some entertainment value. NOT as original as I had hoped.
  • MorrighanLupercus
    February 17, 2009
    MorrighanLupercus
    The book was better (as is usually the case), but this rendition wasn't bad. Note: There is little or no dialog in this movie.
  • firstamb
    July 8, 2008
    firstamb
    Darryl Hnnah plays a human woman raised among Neadrethal-like humanoids. Ha. Except for Hannah, this movie is pretty pathetic.
  • santap8
    November 5, 2007
    santap8
    Some nice cinematography, but the 80's probably wasn't the best era to attempt to film a story like this.
  • Spiraling
    August 31, 2007
    Spiraling
    One of the worst movies I have ever seen. Completely ignores the years of research that went into the novel to show "character development" and the main character aging by having her spin around a forest glade calling her name. Total crap.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
November 1, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

As the cave wall says, stay with the book.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Imagine a chick-flick "Quest for Fire" that makes no sense.

Shane Burridge
January 1, 2000
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews

A catalogue of second-best decisions

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 4, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Frank Swietek
October 31, 2003
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

Philip Martin
January 24, 2003
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Brian J. Arthurs
October 18, 2002
Brian J. Arthurs, Beach Reporter (Southern California)

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Clan of the Cave Bear Trivia

  • Which of the actors in Kill Bill acted also in "Clan of the Cave Bear"?  Answer »
  • What is the name of the movie thats main atress plays as Alah. It is also a book by Jean Auel.  Answer »
  • Daryl Hannah plays Ayla in this 1985 film based on Jean M.Auel's fantasy novel series. A young Cro-Magnon child is adopted by very primitive Neanderthals. She helps advance ideas and culture to the society. Name the movie.  Answer »
  • Who played the adopted cro-magnon child in "Clan of the Cave Bear"?   Answer »
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