Gentle Giant

Tom and Ellen struggle as fish become scarce and the family tightens its belt. The shortage hits the local fishermen hard, threatening Tom's livelihood as a pilot who spots schools of fish. Young Mark, fascinated by animals, finds solace in the nearby game reserve.

While exploring the reserve, Mark discovers a black bear cub and begins to bond with it. The protective mother bear is killed by poachers, and the cub is captured. Mark reports the poaching to a local wildlife officer, who fines Fog Hanson.

The poaching incident sparks Fog Hanson’s anger, leading him and his gang to threaten Tom. A confrontation at the pier ends with Tom and a friend repelling Fog’s group from the water’s edge. The local justice of the peace sides with them and Fog is driven off.

Fog Hanson chains the captured cub in a dark shack, feeding it poorly and limiting its movement. Mark sneaks onto Fog’s property to feed and exercise the cub despite warnings. Over time, the cub grows into a sizeable bear named Ben.

Driven by compassion, Mark repeatedly visits Ben, feeding and exercising him against his parents' warnings. The two form a bond, and Mark gives the cub the name Ben. The bond deepens as Ben grows larger and more attached to the boy.

Fog catches Mark trespassing on his property after warnings were ignored. Tom prohibits any further visits with Ben and warns that danger lies in keeping the cub near people. Fog reveals plans to kill Ben and sell him for meat.

Mark undertakes a desperate rescue attempt, but he and Ben are caught on Fog’s land. To save Ben’s life, Tom pays Fog to buy the cub, bringing him back into the family’s care. The incident forces the Wedloes to accept that Ben must be kept safe, even if that means a zoo.

For a time, Mark and Ben enjoy a quiet period, but Fog and his gang threaten them again. Ben defends himself by mauling Fog when cornered, prompting the Wedloes to surrender Ben to a zoo. The plan is meant to protect others from Ben’s size and strength.

En route to the zoo, Ben breaks free from his cage and swims ashore, slipping back into the forest. The escape rekindles the bear’s wild instincts and reunites him with the Florida woods. Mark remains hopeful that Ben is still close.

Tom’s plane crashes, forcing him to take a new path as a wildlife officer in the Everglades. He quits flying and starts patrolling the wetlands for poachers. The change sets the stage for a fateful encounter with the bear he once befriended.

In the Everglades, a large bear charges Tom and he realizes the bear is Ben. Mark believes Ben would not hurt anyone, but Tom declares the bear dangerous and must be stopped. The three form a tense pursuit through the swamps as Tom closes in.

A dramatic turn occurs when a fallen tree traps Tom, and Ben finally helps by rolling the tree away. Ben leads them to a mother bear and newborn cubs he was protecting, changing Tom’s view of him. In a quiet, decisive moment, Tom spares Ben’s life and the three form an uneasy, renewed bond.