Patterson Film, The


The Patterson film is the most controversial film in North America. Bob Gimlin and Roger Patterson were walking through the woods in Bluff Creek, California, at 1:30 p.m. It was October 20th, 1967. Suddenly, the horses were disturbed by a foul odor, and the two men noticed a creature. Patterson managed to grab his camera and shoot 24 feet of shaky film of the creature, though at some times it is steady. He faced many obstacles as he jumped over rocks and logs on the sandbar. The creature left long, wide tracks in the sandbar that sank an inch deep, indicating that the creature was no ordinary man. Patterson contacted experts and asked them to come, but since they wouldn't, he got his friends at the scene. They concluded that they had seen bigfoot. To this day, people are having arguments about its authenticity. Those who believe in the film's authenticity claim the creature's muscle flexion and shining fur indicate that it would be very improbable that a suit was used. Skeptics argue that John Chambers, who designed suits for the Planet of the Apes film, may have been behind the Patterson Film and point out that a known track hoaxer may have told Patterson and Gimlin where to go to find the creature. Roger Patterson died in 1972, steadfast in his belief in Bigfoot. Bob Gimlin, who lives in Yakima, Washington, also insists that the creature was real. This year it will be the 35th anniversary of the Patterson film on October 20th. By then, will it be proved fake or genuine? So far, this seems improbable. Who knows? Maybe this is a brilliant hoax, or genuine proof of a hominid or ape living in North America. Only time will tell.

For more on the Patterson Film, see Sasquatch

- entry provided by Will Huysman