Amazon.com

When a Great Dane puppy is raised with a litter of Dachshunds, itnaturally thinks it's a Dachshund too--even when it grows to 10 times thesize. Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette star as the hapless couple who tookin the galumphing dog, which wreaks havoc on their house and home. TheUgly Dachshund is mostly a series of spectacular disasters (the doggydemolition of Jones's art studio will delight kids and reduce adults tonervous wrecks), but it's held together by the convincing domestic banterof Jones and Pleshette (who was quite a dish in 1965); the pair went on tostar in a couple of other Disney live-action flicks, Bluebeard'sGhost and The Shaggy D.A.. Despite some racial and genderstereotypes, it's a good-natured and amusing movie in the Disney mold.Also featuring classic character actor Charlie Ruggles (Bringing UpBaby, The Parent Trap). --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great for Dachshund fans!
Very cute movie for Dachshund fans or Great Dane enthusiasts! My favorite live action Disney movie -- long out of print. I am so happy that Disney released this on DVD. It is fun seeing the original trailer and the little featurette about Disney's dog stars too.

Funny movie!
This is a clean, funny movie for the whole family. I would recommend it to anyone who needs to laugh. This movie is particularly funny if you own a dachshund.

I've been begging Disney for years to release this movie on DVD. I'm so glad they finally did!

Classic Disney Film
In the classic tradition of Disney fluff, comes Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette who play Mark and Fran Garrison, a childless couple who's baby is Danke, their prize winning Dachsie. When the film opens, they are rushing to the hospital to have a baby. Not their own, rather, Danke's.

Mark is now even more outnumbered by females 5-1, and he's ready for some more masculinity in the family. When Mark picks up the Dachsies at the Vet hospital, Mark discovers from the doctor that a male Great Dane pup has been rejected by his mother, and agrees to take it home and allow Danke to nurse it. Fran believes that Danke just had another puppy, even though he looks different.

As time goes by, Fran realizes that "Brutus" is a Great Dane and insists that he be taken back to the hospital. Mark agrees, but can't get that pup off is mind. When Mark is given a birthday only fit for Dachshunds, he blows his top, only to find Fran surprises him with Brutus, now almost full grown.

Over time the Dane and Dachsies grow up and get into lots of mischief. Most of the times the Dachsies were responsible, but Fran can't believe that for one minute! The ending of the film brings Fran and Mark back together and they both become proud of the Dane Brutus has grown up to be.

I highly recommend this film to all ages. I watched The Ugly Dachshund when I was little, and now my daughter enjoys it, so it definitely stays a favorite over the generations. This wholesome, comedic type of film is hard to find these days, so grab this dvd up while you can! I also recommend other Disney titles starring Dean and Suzanne- Blackbeard's Ghost and Shaggy D.A.

The Ugly Dachshund
This is one of the best movies for children that I have seen. It keeps moving so you don't get bored. And is very funny. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh. Watch it and enjoy!!

The Ugly Dachshund, Great For The Whole Family
This is one of my favorite movies! Dean Jones plays an artist married to Suzanne Pleshette who has a purebred dachshund about to have puppies. As a favor to their vet, Dean sneaks in a Great Dane pup with the dachshund pups and that's when all the fun begins! I had this movie on video and I've shared it with children and adults...everyone laughs at it. It's a sweet comedy that everyone can enjoy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When New York accountant Johnny Baxter (Dean Jones) learns he has inherited a Colorado hotel, he promptly quits his thankless job, packs up his dubious family, and heads west. Since this is a Disney comedy, the inn's only customers turn out to be nonpaying raccoons and its decorating motif is strictly cobweb. To make matters worse, the local banker not only refuses Baxter a loan, but tries to buy out the desperate newcomer with a lowball figure. But with the help of an eccentric squatter (M*A*S*H's Harry Morgan), a local snowmobile dude, and an avalanche, the city slickers eventually prevail. Jones' slapstick style is showcased in ski and snowmobile scenes featuring vintage 1972 special effects that are nevertheless hysterical to kids. With a G rating, this is safe, relatively entertaining family fare. (Ages 5 and older) --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Wacky Movie in Disney's Classic Family Style
This movie is a fun family movie in the Disney style we remember so well. Nearly cartoonish and typically contrived, the movie remains a delight more than 30 years after it was first released.

Johnny Baxter (Dean Jones) is a faceless white collar worker in New York City. A barely remembered uncle leaves him a hotel with a fancy-sounding name in Colorado and Johnny packs up the family to run the hotel. Alas, the hotel's name is far fancier than the hotel itself, inhabited by raccoons and a codger (Harry Morgan of "Dragnet" and "M*A*S*H"). Johnny, his wife Sue (Nancy Olson), son Richard (Johnny Whitaker), and daughter Chris (Kathleen Cody) decide to make a go of the hotel, partially because Johnny has burned a bridge at his old job and partially because of his pride.

Johnny tries to obtain a loan and quickly runs afoul of perennial Disney bad-guy Keenan Wynn, playing ruthless banker Martin Ridgeway. Johnny is able to borrow money from Ridgeway and fix the hotel to begin taking in paying customers, but as tends to happen in Disney comedies, Johnny tends to be prone to accidents. In this case the most serious accident comes in the form of a runaway steam engine.

Johnny is placed in a position of having no paying customers and no money, and his next loan payment to Ridgeway is coming due. Johnny enters a snowmobile race with the help of a local "expert" who isn't, and with co-rider Harry Morgan. Some of the funniest and most unbelievable moments of the movie occur during the snowmobile race.

The ending of the movie unfolds not quite as you might expect, so I'll leave the remainder of the movie for the viewer to discover.

The special effects were good for the early 70s, but now appear substantially dated, with a few exceptions, such as the runaway steam engine. Children and those of us that saw the movie when it first came out will still find it enjoyable and very solid, safe family fare.

Finally a Disney Favorite on DVD!!!
I am so happy that Disney has finally released Snowball Express on DVD! This is a great family movie that I've adored my entire life. The story is about a family man, John Baxter (played by Dean Jones), who inherits a hotel from an uncle. He quits his job and moves his family to the snow covered hills of Colorado where The Grand Imperial Hotel is located. However, the Grand Imperial isn't as "grand" as he had imagined, and Baxter decides that with a bank loan, he'll change the hotel into a ski lodge. The ruthless bank manager wants the hotel for his own greedy purposes, and this leaves Baxter to struggle to make his ski lodge dreams a reality. This movie is full of laughs thanks to the whit of Jones, Harry Morgan, Nancy Olsen, Johnny Whitaker, and an adorable St. Bernard dog that will have you re-winding the DVD to see those precious expressions over and over.
Now, why just 4 stars out of a possible 5? They DVD is greatly appreciated, but the quality is a bit lacking. Once again, like Disney's DVD release of Blackbeard's Ghost, Snowball Express is full-screen format. Also, it appears the the picture quality isn't as crisp as most DVD releases. It looks as if the DVD was directly copied from an original film reel. As you watch the opening credits, you'll see the specks of dust and scratches that are common when watching movies in theaters, but not on DVD. Also, there aren't any Bonus Features!! Boooooo!!!
Other than those little flaws, the DVD would make a great addition to a Disney DVD collection.

Standroules Plumbarmacy?
This is Disney at it's best. However, it isn't a recent film. It is one that is over 30 years old. It took then dipping into their regular actor pool to get Dean Jones, Harry Morgan, Johny Whitaker etc to make this classic. The movie and efects may seem old hat today but it has an ingrident that most of todays films don't. IT IS FUNNY. It is impossible to point out which scene is the funniest as they all are. Each sets you up for the next funny scene so well that I would wind up telling you the story and then you wouldn't buy the video. DIsney should make more films like this today and get Dean Jones and the others. If not as the stars then in smaller roles just to say thanks for making movies like this. Buy this film your kids and you will enjoy this G rated fun.

He's Related to Crazy Jake
With Dean, Jones, Keenan Wynn, Michael McGreevey,Harry Morgan, Nancy Olsen and Johnny Whittaker you can't go wrong with these incredible character actors. This is when Disney was great! As far as i'm concerned Disney died after The Rescuers (1978,1979).

John Sylvester Baxter inherits The Grand Imperial Hotel in Silver Hill, Colorado (not in Wyoming) from his crazy Uncle and tries to stop the foreclosure by Martin Ridgeway (Wynn)the town Scrooge.

Ties with The Shaggy D.A. in my top four Disney favorites

DISNEY DOESN'T GET IT!!!!
No wonder the company is about to be taken over and broken up -- DVD was introduced to be an alternative to video, to offer more than video: better picture, more extras, and most importantly, more picture. Letterboxing. Widescreen. The complete image. So what does Disney do? They take some of their most beloved live-action films such as this one, and dump it on DVD in full-frame editions. What is the point of that? Who isn't used to widescreen DVDs yet? Why should I waste my money replacing my old Disney videos with the same crappy full screen image as before? Disney just doesn't get it, and their sales show it. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Call yourself a scouter? Then why haven't you seen it yet?
For every human hobby, there will eventually be made a film. For fighter pilots, there's "Top Gun." For pee-wee hockey players, there's "The Mighty Ducks." For Boy Scouts, there's "Follow Me, Boys!" Of course you can appreciate and enjoy this movie if you're not a scout or scouter, but let's not fool ourselves about the intended audience here.

--

This film is the epitome of old-school Boy Scouting. Every traditionalist Scouter pines for the days when the boys didn't have to be back from the campout early for soccer practice. Every new scoutmaster wants to be the square-jawed, campaign hat-wearing, all-American scoutmaster of Norman Rockwell paintings. You'll never pull it off if you haven't seen this film.

In "Follow Me Boys!" Fred Macmurray goes from reluctant scoutmaster to super-scoutmaster, teaching boys to be men, year after year. His boys actually sing. They sing! What traditionalist scoutmaster hasn't given up years ago trying to get the boys to sing around the campfire or on the trail? The Scout program of "Follow me, boys!" is the antidote to the 1980's scouting movement that gave us nasty-colored patches and ball caps. It's the bridge between the scouts of today, and the scouts of 97 years ago.

If you ever want to be a great scouter, see this film, and read up on Baden-Powell. Make sure your boys know what he did at Mafeking. Make sure they know that their uniforms are based on the South African Constabulary. Make sure they stand up straight when they recite the Oath and Law. Get them off the trail occasionally. Get them to sing, loud and proud.

But you'll have to see "Follow me, Boys!" I don't know if it will work on the boys anymore, but it worked on me when I was a Tenderfoot.

GOOD SCOUT!
One of Disney's greatest classics, FOLLOW ME, BOYS! goes well beyond its theme about Boy Scouting in its early days in America. It's a story of love and of priorities when a disenchanted band member studying law, Lemuel Siddons, decides to get back to the basics in rural America. In the process he finds love and provides a sterling example to the town's boys.

This film also includes terrific performances by some Hollywood's who's who including the great Fred MacMurray (MY THREE SONS) as Lemuel Siddons, the would-be lawyer who settles for shopkeeping and leading the local scout troop, Vera Miles (THE SEARCHERS) as Vida Downey, the bank secretary who supports Siddons, falls in love with him and ultimately becomes his wife, Kurt Russell (MIRACLE) in one of his first films as Whitey, the tough who is adopted by Lem and Vida and becomes a boy-leader n the troop and finally a soldier and doctor. Look for a cameo by a bona fide screen legend, Lillian Gish as one of the town's business leaders Hetty Seibert.

Whether you've been a scout, know one or have had nothing to do with scouting FOLLOW ME, BOYS! Tracks the development of the troop and their experiences that bond them together. One of Siddon's later troops even captures a tank.

Yes, it's squeaky clean but who can't use a dose of Disney fantasy now and again.

THE HORSEMAN

Hey, Disney! This is the kind of film you should be making!
I remember the tune from when I saw it as a kid in the late 60s, and have hoped to see it again ever since. What a breath of fresh air compared to the tripe that Disney puts out today. Films like these remind us of America's Golden Age. Wonderful performances by all, uplifting singing on the trail, and a heart-rending, happy ending make this film a MUST HAVE in the libraries of parents who want wholesome entertainment for their kids. I wonder why more of the 1960's Disney movies have not come out on DVD. As a parent, I dont have to be woried about foul language ,sexual inuendos, or even "attitudes" that my kids will see glorified when we watch films like these. I gave my copy to a newly-minted Eagle Scout, and will order another for my family...

A must see for leaders of Boy Scouts
This is an excellent movie showing the proper relationship between an adult Scout leader and his Scouts. This is a better version than the previously released video, because the DVD adds back 13 minutes removed by the video. The added-back minutes greatly enhance the quality of the story and bring additional valuable insights to the story. If I were in charge of any adults that work with Boy Scouts, I would require them to see this movie.

I'll Follow Lem Anywhere
This is a classic all-American Disney feel good movie. If that's your thing you will love this film. I found it highly entertaining and a great look back to an idealized simpler time. My only complaint with the film would be that the last quarter seems to drag on a bit because of several drastic plot twists that come completely out of left field. But this is a minor flaw to a great film that is suited for the entire family.

The DVD itself needs some help. For reasons unknown the film is not presented in it's original aspect ratio and worse, there is a yellow border around the picture while the opening credits are playing. On the plus side, there is a great 11 minute bonus documentary, "Looking back With Lem's boys" which features interviews with the grown up kids who appeared in the film. Kurt Russell does not appear in it but it's still a great feature ... Read more

Description

Sam is no ordinary dog. He is the son of Yeller, the four-legged hero who won your heart in Walt Disney's classic adventure, OLD YELLER. With his two young masters Travis and Arliss Coates (Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran), gentle Sam faces even greater dangers than Yeller did. From the ferocious attacks of wolves and wildcats to the hostile actions of renegade Indians, Savage Sam presents a heartwarming story of love, devotion, and trust set in the sprawling pioneering days of the untamed West. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Little Secret Found!!!!
I first caught this movie on the television and had no idea there was a sequel to Old Yeller. Although I haven't yet figured out how he turned out to be a blue tick coonhound, it is a wonderful movie. Seeing the boys from Old Yeller back at it and into things is wonderful. I couldn't wait to add it to my collection and was tickled that it was already on DVD when I looked for it. We need more movies like this! It is full of adventure and if you own coonhounds, it does them justice. I hate to say much about the movie because you need to watch it and I hate to know the ending or too much about one when I get one, but the saying boys will be boys is true for Arlis. There is nothing like the love of a child and his dog!!

Interesting Kirk/Corcoran vehicle
Disney cast Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran as brothers 3 times, the younger Kevin tough, spunky, and "masculine," the older Tommy shy, sensitive, "feminine"...Here they are teenagers living alone in the Old West, visited from time to time by next-ranch neighbor Marta Kristen, who can't seem to remember that she's in a Disney movie, and stares at Tommy as if she's a moment away from ripping his clothes off.

All three are abducted by Indians, who intend to make Tommy a slave, Kevin a brave, and Marta a squaw (they leave Tommy and Marta pretty much alone, but their voracious manhandling of little Kevin would certainly be censored today) When Tommy is accidentally left behind, he teams up with the dog, Savage Sam, to rescue the others (although the fragile little thing loses consciousness at the drop of a hat). Eventually a posse of white men joins them, and they shoot the Indians and go home.

Aside from the anti-Indian prejudice, "Savage Sam" is superior...in plotting, characterization, and suspense. I loved Uncle Bill. . .um, I mean Uncle Beck (Brian Keith) strutting around in his flamboyant pink shirt as if daring us to draw conclusions about his character...

Fine, no frills presentation
Disney's "Savage Sam" is an entertaining and authentically staged presentation of the Fred Gipson story. It's presented in square-screen format, but since Disney films of this type were produced with eventual TV airings in mind, the cropping of the image is minimal and no action is lost. The quality of the image is good. It's not a "Vault Disney" piece like the other Gipson story, "Old Yeller," but it's worth having even without bells and whistles.

One thing that didn't age as well as the rest of the film is the title song. Really hokey. But after that's over, the story is told in a no-nonsense style. It dramatizes something Texas settlers contended with for four decades: the abduction of children in an Indian raid.

As befits a family film, "Savage Sam" soft-pedals the realities of such raids. Tommy Kirk's character, a teenage boy, would have been treated more harshly. Torture on the trail and a horrendous death upon arrival at the tribe's base camp would have been his fate. The teenage girl would have been raped right off. But Kevin Corcoran's character, a young child, would have been taken for adoption, just as the film shows, and the Indians' good-humored toleration of his combativeness is right in line with that.

All in all, a serious depiction of a slice of history that few Americans learn about in school anymore.

Glad to hear this movie is on dvd
I was excited when I heard that this movie would be released on DVD. It is another great dog movie by Disney and stars Tommy Kirk and Brian Keith with Sam(who looks like a bluetick coonhound). I would like to know about the picture quality of this dvd before I buy it. If anyone has seen this dvd, please let me know if it is worth buying.

Great Old Movie
One of the best old movies out there. I cant wait for it to come out on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

There is which character is David Niven?
This is one of those cute films that are safe for kids. It has the Disney signature all over it.
Casey Brown (Jodie Foster) is recruited and in cahoots with a con man and his wife. The wife used to work for the family of a castle and can teach Casey how to fool her way in as a long lost relative. Once inside she is to find the alleged treasure of a pirate captain. In the process of searching she is forced to cooperate with the family which is trying to scrape up enough money to save the castle. She appears to be softening up. Where will her loyalties lie? Is there really treasure or is it just a story? And why is the butler never seen with the gardener?

Excellent family fun
David Niven gives it his all as a butler trying to protect his Mistress played superbly by Helen Hayes from the harsh realities of the present. He takes on various guises of people long dead so that Hayes can pretend her life in the crumbling English mansion Candleshoe has not changed in forty years. A youthful Jodie Foster is a street-wise young con artist who agrees to impersonate Hayes long-lost granddaughter in order to make a fast buck. What follows is a barrel of laughs as Jodie, an assortment of orphan children, Niven, Hayes and a band of hilariously inept baddies, one of whom is the fabulous Leo McKern, find themselves on the hunt for a lost English treasure. A treasure that Niven wants to find so that his Mistress will not have to leave Candleshoe which is about to fall into the hands of debtors. Slowly Jodie finds herself at odds with the task she has been paid to do, and she changes sides, helping Niven and the children save Candleshoe for the old woman she has grown to love. Disney has created a cast of colorful characters that have you laughing and crying in the same breath and Jodie Foster is brilliant as the cynical young American girl who just might be the real heir to Candleshoe. Delightful, and wonderfully harmless fun. Well worth buying just for the innocent it exudes from every single frame.

Candleshoe
An interesting mystery where a couple hires a young woman to poise as the missing hierest to a estate fortune to get the money for them. Only she come to care for the family who thinks she's a member of and decide to do the right thing and get the treasure to save the estate from going under. A heart warming disney classic with comic hi-jinx.

a GEM
I first saw the film twelve years ago as a child and since then 40 times. I love it. It's a perfect family film without any violance and with pretty good actors.
I must admit, that Jodie Foster now is not one of my favorite actresses but in this film (and in the Freaky Friday of course) she is perfect for the role as well certainly Helen Hayes, David Niven and Leo McKern.

Interesting plot, humour, no blood, sensational actors: do you need more?!

One of My All-Time Disney Favorites...
... and trust me, I am not a Disney groupie.

From a 1970's kids'-eye view, this movie has it all:

• Sassy and savvy lead character Casey Brown (Jodie Foster) is the kind of brash, street-smart survivor every kid imagines he would be if left to his own devices.
• The majority of the action takes place on a huge English estate, in a decrepit castle. Secrets abound!
• There is the thrilling hope of finding a pirate treasure.
• Clues to the treasure are revealed and solved one by one, allowing the viewer to actually feel a part of the search.
• David Niven is delightfully funny, playing four different characters, and leaving the viewer wondering just who he will become next.
• Although tame by today's standards, there is tension, and suspense... Can Priory (Niven) change clothes fast enough to continue his charade? Will the con-men be successful? Can Candleshoe survive its financial woes? Is Casey really Lady St. Edmund's (Helen Hayes) long-lost granddaughter? Will there be betrayal?
• The finale features a hilariously satisfying kids-triumph-against-bad-guy-adults melee.

It may not be the '70s anymore, and I am certainly no longer a kid, but I still love this movie. Given the chance, I think kids of today will love it as well. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Great movie!
It's pleasing to see so many positive reviews for this movie that was made at a time when Disney was not quite considered...up to par. Which is an unfair statement! There were several very entertaining films made by the studio in the 70's! Even if they did lose a little something special without Walt, they still are great and in a class all their own that can only be considered 70's Disney. I'm just saying, that's not as bad a class to be in as some people think! The Dexter Riley trilogy for example! Those are the Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Now You See Him Now You Don't, and The Strongest Man in the World, all starring teen Kurt Russel as well. I love those! The movies Disney made at that time were still Disney clean, and still Disney fun! In a cheezy way maybe, but so what! This movie is a great one, and yet, still not one of the best from the time, but I do recommend it to Disney fans, people who like clean, funny movies, and cat lovers of course!

Good Movie
Its funny & you just don't know how exactly it will end but all & all its an older movie.A cat named Jake has to land on earth when his space ship breaks down.The space ship is found and taken away by the government who start to worry about strange beings finding their way to the white house & causing the downfall of the USA.Meanwhile Jake finds a brillant but not well known scientist to help Jake make repairs to his ship.What happens next?You really wanna know?If so buy the movie!

Before E.T...!
A genuinely smart and entertaining comedy sci-fi film from Disney that is low-key, to the point, and delivers on a modest scale. An alien cat's (named Jake) spaceship crashlands on earth and the ship is retrieved by the military. Jake eludes the military and seeks out help by revealing himself to an astro-physicist (Ken Berry as Frank) who happens to work at the military base where the spaceship is incarcerated. Seems that a modest amount of gold is just the thing needed to repair the lame spaceship. So, Jake uses his alien telekinesis (powered from a collar around his neck) to manipulate the outcomes of a few sporting events to place bets on. Then, win enough cash to buy the right amount of gold and repair the spacecraft. In the meantime, the military, gangsters, and gamblers are on the chase of the elusive alien cat. Ken Berry is excellent as Frank the astro-physicist playing a variation of another Disney character, Prof. Ned Brainard (played by Fred MacMurray) from THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR. Good support work from Sandy Duncan, McLean Stevenson, Harry Morgan (the two Colonels from tv's MASH!! in the same film) & Roddy McDowell as they round out this inventive Disney family fare that has the right amount of decent special effects and comic situations. Comic actor Ronnie Schell ("Duke" of tv's GOMER PYLE) provides the voice for Jake the Cat and also plays a supporting role as one of the military personnel (Sgt Duffy) after Jake the Cat. One funny note is that when Schell as Sgt. Duffy has any lines, his voice is dubbed over by another actor. His voice was so distinct and the producers found it fit to overdub his lines as to not confuse moviegoers. Note: Look for character actor James Hampton ("Caretaker" in THE LONGEST YARD)in a support role. He co-starred with Ken Berry in the classic tv series/western spoof F-TROOP.

A cute little move
When I was a little girl this movie was played every Thanksgiving on local TV. The movie really caught my eyes because the lead character was an orange cat from outer space. The movie is your usual Disney fair; no swearing, violence, or adult situations, and is suitable for all children and many adults.
The cat, a lovely Absymian named Jake, crashes on earth and seeks the help of a scientist and his quirky friends. The army gets involved, but not expecting a cat, get very confused very quickly. If you have a cat lover in your family who likes fun, campy romps, this one is sure to please!

A great movie for cat lovers
I loved this movie when I was a kid. I have it on VHS currently and cant wait to get a copy on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

First they blew into town... then they BLEW IT UP!
I bought this movie out of a sense of nostalgia, being a child of the seventies. Watching this movie now, it didn't quite hold up as well as I remembered, but it is somewhat entertaining, and I would feel comfortable showing it to my nieces and nephews, given its' lack of anything that could be considered even remotely offensive.

The plot has Donovan (Bill Bixby), a bachelor and small time hustler of sorts, getting stuck with the care of three orphan children. As he tries to unburden himself of his three wards, he finds the townspeople to be less than receptive to the idea of taking in the children. These orphans hold the deed to a goldmine, thought by everyone to be dried up, but an earthquake turns up a huge gold nugget, and now the townspeople are falling over themselves to take custody. Donovan, actually concerned with the welfare of the children, works up a plan to marry Dusty (Susan Clark), and pass the children on to her care, as she seems truly interested in the welfare of the children, and not their money.

Don Knotts and Tim Conway play a pair of bungling thieves who scheme, among other things, to try and steal the huge gold nugget. The whole ladder theft from the firehouse scene was pretty funny.

Some other easily recognizable stars in this movie are Harry Morgan and Slim Pickens.

As I said before, while the movie didn't seem as humorous to me now as it did when I was a child, it was certainly entertaining. It's a fine wide screen presentation, but what I really enjoyed was the special features. The interactive menus are excellent and grant access to quite a lot of interesting information like lengthy biographies, interviews, history of the back lots at Disney studios, promotional stills and advertising material for the movie, a synopsis of what was going on at Walt Disney in 1975 (the year this movie was released), and so much more.

Apple Dumpling Gang Is Finnaly On A Specail Edition DVD
I just got my copy of this DVD and I Love it. Another Great Movie for you to see is the sequel to this timeless classic Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. Which is also available on DVD from Amazon.com.

Here is a brief Description:

3 kids are sent to a backwoods town and are supposed to belong to a backwoods drunk. Well the backwoods drunk has other plans so he gives them to a town newcomer Donnavan. Well than the kids find gold, and that is when they meet the 2 hilarious crooks Tim Conway, and Don Knotts. Well after they find the gold everybody wants the kids . And it attracts attention to a group of crooks. Well as the movie goes on you find out that Tim Conway, and Don Knotts used to work for the Head of the gang of crooks until Tim Conway acidentally show the guys leg in a hold up. well it ends the Donavan and his friend Dusty get married and they move to St. Louis where he starts a Gambling Joint. But in the sequel you don't here anything about it, and in the sequel they said that Donavan and Dusty and the kids moved onto a farm. Did I miss something somewhere ?

Great Movie. 5 Star Rating.

One of Disney's best
One of the best live-action Disney movies. A sweet story about misplaced children, an unwilling but good-intentioned gambler as a foster parent and two bumbling crooks as the comic foil. Bill Bixby, of "My Favorite Martian" and "The Hulk" fame, plays Russell Donovan, the roaming gambler who is unwittingly stuck with some "valuables." Tim Conway and Don Knotts, a little past their prime, play the hapless crooks known as the "Hash Knife Outfit." Susan Clark plays the tomboy stage coach driver who fills in as the kids mother. Beautiful scenery, lots of action, comedy, and a fabulous saloon brawl that is the highlight of the film.

They call them the Apple Dumpling Gang
Once again Disney released a classic in it's fading days of "G" rated gems. The loose knit comedy team of Don Knotts and Tim Conway is always a hit in any situation. This is one is a bit plot heavy for them and Disney but it still makes you laugh. Bill Bixby is their straight man who carries most of the plot. At first they try to rob him but by the end they help him, his kids and his girlfriend defeat the bad guys and save the town. This is a very good movie and the sequel is even funnier.

Excellent Widescreen DVD release of a Disney favorite!
An excellent DVD release -- in WIDESCREEN -- that does justice to a Disney favorite from the 1970s. The print and sound are excellent -- the extras lots of fun. Note to Disney Home Video: PLEASE release all films in their original theatrical ratios. We were very disappointed with The Snowball Express, Balckbeard's Ghost, Babes in Toyland, and The Moon-Spinners. Disney fans take note: Escape to Witch Mountain is another outstanding "Special Edition" release that is highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

delightful Disney musical
Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson star in the classic Disney musical THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, a delightful story centering on the Biddle family of Philadelphia.

Cordy Biddle (Lesley Ann Warren) becomes engaged to Angie Duke (John Davidson). When this should be a happy occasion, Angie's snooty mother (Geraldine Page) still ensures that Angie hangs onto her apron strings. Cordy's mother (Greer Garson) tries to sort things out while Aunt Mary (Gladys Cooper) engages in some bitchy repartee with Mrs Duke!

The entire production is flawless, and while Leonard Maltin has criticised this film for being too long, I think the time flies by.

The Sherman brothers songs are strong throughout, and the supporting cast, including a very young Joyce Bulifant, are wonderful.

Highly recommended.

lavish disney production does not equal the sum of its parts
THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE is the last live production that Walt Disney oversaw before his death. The movie is an attempt to emulaite the big blockbuster reserved seat movie musicals popular following the SOUND OF MUSIC's success during 1960s and also to duplicate MARY POPPINS success. The production is lavish in terms of settings and costumes; with a great cast led by Fred MacMurray and Greer Garson; The songs by the Sherman brothers are likeable and not as bad as critics would have you believe; there are some great dance sequences. Unfortunatly, the plot is such a simple trifle which goes on and on for 164 minutes(in the restored version)that the movie eventually becomes a bloated, overlong bore. Its too bad because all the right ingrediants are there except a good story and script. The new DVD finally restores the movie to its original roadshow lenght. MILLIONAIRE was cut by 20 minutes following its premiere engagements.In fact the print which opened at Radio City Music Hall in NYC was already cut. The colors are excellent, the stero sound is good and the source materials are generally in good shape (a few markings here and there are not worth complaing about). This movie is now more a curiousity of its era and the wanning days of Disney's regime. It is certainly worth a look and may appeal to non-discriminating fans of musical movies.

NOT THE HAPPIEST, BUT CERTAINLY THE MOST TYPICAL FROM DISNEY
Walt Disney's was a visionary film pioneer; he took the fledgling craft of animation and transformed it into an art form of the highest order, and, in the process, altered our collective perception of what childhood is all about. However, occasionally that vision was marred by Disney's own lack of foresight into changing audience tastes. By the end of the 1950s the Walt Disney Studios had incurred huge expenses on Disney's foray into live action films, the birth of his theme park - Disneyland - and the lack luster box office response to his most recent and most expensive animated feature - Sleeping Beauty. Though the old master was set to recoup his losses, the sumptuously mounted, though often dismal, The Happiest Millionaire (released the year after Disney's death) was the personal and financial failure that rounded out Disney's tenure as the mogul of one of Hollywood's great cinema dream factories.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s road show engagements for movies of distinction were quite common. Road shows were designed to elevate movies to the lofty ambitions of live theater. They usually began with a lush orchestrated prelude, included an intermission half way through, and exit music to escort audiences out of the theater after the final credit sequence. One often dressed up for this sort of premiere event, certainly paid extra to attend and was often provided with a printed program as a keep sake from the occasion. Disney had attempted the road show only once before, on Fantasia (1940) and the result had been an unqualified financial disaster. What a pity then, that The Happiest Millionaire - what should have been an eighty-minute tune-filled - if antiseptic and sexless - melodrama, is over inflated into a gargantuan three hours spectacle that, quite simply, fails to dazzle.

The plot is a fictionalized account of real life circumstances that concern an eccentric Philadelphia millionaire, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (Fred MacMurray). He runs a combination Bible and physical fitness college of sorts, loves boxing and keeps alligators in a solarium adjacent his dining room. When immigrant John Lawless (Tommy Steele) becomes Biddle's new butler he does indeed find his new surroundings rather odd. Not that Lawless isn't odd himself - it's just that, unlike Biddle's quirkiness, which can be grating to the point of distraction, Lawless becomes a genuinely loveable reprobate of congenial good humor, thanks to Tommy Steele's remarkable performance. The plot is thread bare to the point of nonexistent. It concerns Biddle's only daughter, Cordelia (Lesley Ann Warren). She's a sort of tomboy desperate to be feminine and sent off to a lady's finishing school where she meets and becomes engaged to New Yorker Angie Duke (John Davidson). Mrs. Duke (Geraldine Page) is social snob but Angie doesn't share her values. He wants to forgo the family business and build automobiles in Detroit. True to Disney form, everything does indeed work out in the end with Angie and Cordelia driving off toward an unintentionally apocalyptic matte painting that depicts the Motor City as something of a cross between Blade Runner and Mary Poppins, a glowering jungle of towering chimneys blackening the skies with the aftershocks of modernity.

Plot construction is problematic; As Cordelia's mother, Greer Garson is given extremely little to do. One of Disney's good luck charms - Hemione Baddeley has even less of a say. Equally curious is the fact that after the film takes great pains to introduce the Biddle two sons Tony and Livingston (Paul Petersen and Eddie Hodges) - even giving them a song - it suddenly loses interest in their character development by sending them off to school where, as an audience, we forget that they ever existed.

Of course, the plot - such as it is - would be largely forgivable if Disney's resident song writers, the Sherman Brothers had come up with a score worthy of their best endeavors. Tommy Steele opens the show with a bang with, Fortuosity, but the rest of the score does not live up to expectations and, in spots, is painfully sweet and cuddly. Valentine Candy or Boxing Gloves is so coy one wishes for the elegant Tommy Steele to burst into the room and tap dance its treacle into silence. All in all, Steele is remarkably well served by the score, belting out I'll Always Be Irish and several other songs with such austerity and charm that he easily dismisses the awkward lyrics. His choreography by Mark Breaux and Dee Dee Wood showcase Steele's finer points, particularly in the barroom number that closes the second half of the show. Unfortunately, there are no memorable showstoppers that leave one with a sudden urge to run out and buy the soundtrack or even leave the theater humming.

THE TRANSFER: This re-released DVD of The Happiest Millionaire is about as dismal as the film itself. Everything's present: the Overture, Entr'acte and Exit music, but the transfer is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. Unlike the previously available DVD from Anchor Bay, colors seem somewhat more dated this time around and fine details breaks apart with a considerable amount of pixelization and edge enhancement, especially when viewed on a larger monitor. There are also several cases where mis-registration of the camera negative results in an excessively blurry print - something else absent on Anchor Bay's version. This DVD compresses the entire running time on one side of the disc, which I suspect is the biggest problem. There are no extras, not even the trailer.

BOTTOM LINE: Get the Anchor Bay version instead!

Best Musical Ever!!
This is my favorite movie of all time! I used to rent it over and over when I was in high school. I love the music, the story, the characters, everything. It is funny and wonderful! I loved the fact that Cordelia never could make it past a first date, because she always "knocked out" literally, all of her dates! The alligators and the butler from Ireland make for some hilarious scenes also. Don't wait, get the DVD. You'll love it!!

Fun and silly
I remember catching this on the Disney channel back in the 80s and LOVED it! It was fun and just down right silly. I loved the music and a woman I had NEVER seen before and fell in love with, Lesley Ann Warren. I soon began to always remember this film due to her. I also really enjoyed most of Fred MacMurray's films from this time period also. A time that films were fun and innocent, or at least MORE innocent then the films now. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The horse of course
This is a great family film from the Disney Studio. A fun adventure with Dean Jones, without as much slapstick as his other Disney outings. A little adventure, big dose of comedy, with some romance thrown in while a single father has to sort out his priorities.

Jones is an advertising executive that is stuck between an employer who is pressuring him for a jazzy new ad campaign, and being a single parent of a daughter that desperatley wants a horse. He is not to keen on horses, the cost of the riding instructions she is attending, or even the instructor. Of course the instructor (Diane Baker) feels his daughter is a fantastic rider and should actually compete. He is opposed to the extra cost and the let he fears his daughter will have.

Through a few twists, suddenly the 2 needs meet and he not only buys a horse but lets his daughter enter it in shows. But he really does it to promote an ad campaign and figures out a way to have his clients pay for it. Meanwhile his daughter develops a love interest in another horseman, a very young Kurt Russell. And Dad begins to fall for the instructor he hates. Dianne Baker and Dean Jones have a wonderful chemistry and if you loike them together you should really see them as a married couple in another Disney comedy called, "the Ugly Dachsund".

The DVD version listed here does NOT include widescreen, or remastered, or have any extras, which is a big dissapointment. My VHS version is clean though and looks fresh even though it is also not in widescreen.

Adorable Horse Story
I am a horse-lover and when I saw this movie I just loved it as well! It's a cute story about a dad and his horse loving daughter. He finally is able to get her a horse to show, but there is a catch. The horse is named after a company as part of an ad campaign. The dad ends up falling in love and the daughter has a thing for a very very young Kurt Russell! Overall great family movie, and a must-have for any horse lovers video collection.

Full Screen Sucks ......... most of the Time!
DVD Movies have many great features: great picture quality, making of documentaries, trailers and much more. However my favorite feature would have to be "Widescreen". So that is why I was so disappointed when I found out this movie was full screen. I bought this movie anyways, because at less I could replace my old faded VHS tape with superb color and sound and it did. However it did more than that. Upon closer comparison I noticed that was getting a lot more picture on the top and bottom and left and right of the screen!!!! On my 32 inch TV it's about and extra inch and a half more picture around the out side of the screen compared to my VHS tape. I was overjoyed and delighted by this discovery. So don't be too hasty in judge this movie if you love widescreen. Give it a chance it will be sure to please.

DISNEY DOESN'T GET IT!!!!!
No wonder the company is about to be taken over and broken up -- DVD was introduced to be an alternative to video, to offer more than video: better picture, more extras, and most importantly, more picture. Letterboxing. Widescreen. The complete image. So what does Disney do? They take some of their most beloved live-action films such as this one, and dump it on DVD in full-frame editions. What is the point of that? Who isn't used to widescreen DVDs yet? Why should I waste my money replacing my old Disney videos with the same crappy full screen image as before? Disney just doesn't get it, and their sales show it.

Great Movie! LOVED it!
Well, I thought this movie was wonderful! I am a horse lover, so I usually like almost any movie with horses in it. But I think people who are and aren't horse lovers will like this movie too. It's funny, it has a good story, and it has gripping competition. The horses used in this movie were excellent jumpers (not to mention beautiful). I have rented this movie from the local video store a minimum of 10 times. Its a good old Disney Classic thats good to watch when you just feel like curling up on a couch and watching a video. ... Read more

Description

If man's best friend is a dog, get ready to meet man's funniest friend -- he's four pounds of sheer delight and one of the best scene stealers to ever upstage an actor! RASCAL tells the story of a boy (Billy Mumy) and his rescued pet raccoon, an animal whose talent for causing loads of mischief is equaled only by his power to trigger tons of laughter! Featuring superb performances by an all-star cast and spectacular lush scenery ... this is family entertainment at its finest! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

BORING!!!!!!!!!
Okay, what IS with all these dogs dieing? And if the mother is supposedly indian then WHY does she have blond hair? The dogs are cute,and the second movie is a slight improvement but other then that...

Disappointing
As an animal lover and a fan of such great tear jerker films such as The Yearling, Black Beauty and Old Yeller, I was sadly disappointed in this film. I found the actors were not that charismatic. Their clothing, hairstyles, and the sets appeared to be very 1970's(supposed to be depression era),and damn if that wasn't my 1964 Schwinn bike one of the kids in town was riding! When I finally turned it off, the kid was cutting down a beautiful old tree just so he could kill the 'coon that was hiding in it. Sorry, guys, but even the voice of Andy Williams singing original songs by the Osmonds couldn't do much for this cheesy redneck flick! Two stars for the cute puppies.

A man's Movie about a Boy and his Dog
A straight transfer to DVD from video but a very good cut. Where the Red Fern grows takes place in the Depression Era Oklahoma. The kid is absoultely dying to own a set of hunting dogs. He works his put off to earn the [amt] dollars that these 2 red tick hounds, Old Dan and Little Ann and then they become the top coon dogs in that part of the state. While I won't spoil the ending I will say as a dog owner I cry every time I watch with the love that those dogs show for there master and friend. A must have DVD for any dog lover. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

A Coon Dogs Friendship!
This story is quite simple and is for both children and adults. The story is about a boys wish to get a coon dog. He lives in a part of the country where coons abound and its just natural to have coon dogs. The coons can be sold to England for money, so it is a trade for some. For others it is a contest to show how many coons there dogs can catch. Competition and sport becomes important to many who own coon dogs. The young boy is the main character in the story and his relationship to two dogs that he saves money to buy and than train is mostly half of the movie. The next half is a competition between other coon dogs to see who can win prize money and the trophy by how many coons the dogs can catch. The last part of the movie is sad and sort of hokey. I don't particularly like hunting as a sport so maybe that is why I couldn't get into this movie. The story revolves around animals being chased into trees and up roofs, etc. The cinematography is just beautiful and I would have loved to have seen this on the big screen. It sort of reminds me of the landscape in Songcatcher. That movie was based in the Applacians. The acting in the movie is pretty dry and not alot of affect in put into their characterizations. Overall, I rated it three stars. I love animals and this movie is all about the relationship about the boy and his pets but it just doesn't show that bond that I wanted to see. There were some scenes where the dogs looked so cute, especially when they were first learning to hunt coons. But that was not enough for me to up this to four stars...

The Worst Movie Ever
Wow! They can turn one of the best books ever into the worst movie I think I've ever seen. I read the book in my Language class. I thought that the book was alright for something that we had to read. But then when we watched the movie, it changed my whole perspective on Where The Red Fern Grows. The actors were horrible, the same with the special effects. And if you get this movie to watch what you read, you need to find something else. It leaves out some of the best parts of the book. I was disgusted with this movie. It may be the worst movie I've ever seen.

One of the best movies about friendship
I first saw this movie when I was in third grade and it is still one of the most heartwarming movies I have ever seen. About a boy who, during the great depression, skrimped and saved to buy a pair of coon hounds. After he finally got them he raised them to become the best pair of coon hunters in the county. What the dogs do for him proves an unconditional friendship to the end. I never fail to cry at the end. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.

So good I wish I could give it 10 stars ! - by Damaris
Now after all the movies I saw I have to say that Where the Red Fern Grows was the BEST one.I have never seen anything like it before.I thought the movie was very strong.The movie had a lot of emotional parts in it.I thought the boy who played Billy was the kind of boy who always agreed with his dogs and who never gave up on them. Now I've been reading other people's review of the movie, and most of them wrote that the movie was bad because it was not the same as the book.Well, I thought they were wrong. There might be someone who didn't like the book, so they'd want to see the movie and if it was exactly the same as the book, they want to see the movie! I am Happy the way the movie is.The people who made the movie did a great job.

Where the Red Fern Grows
Our seventh grade just read Where The Red Fern Grows. It was the best book ever and the rest of my friends think so too. It just became our new favorite book and then our teacher, Mr. Cutlip, asked us if we wanted to watch the movie. We said yes -- we were so excited and when we first starting watching it we were so excited but the more we watched it, the more we did not like it. We got so mad at it because it was leaving some real good parts out because the book was just so good we all figured the move was going to be real good. We all were wanting to know if you could go back and remake the movie all over BUT this time make it as close to the book as you can -- then you will have the best book and movie ever. And trust me everybody would buy it -- I would be the first one to buy it because your book is so good my mom is going to buy the book for me and there is not one book that I liked to read until now and it is Where The Red Fern Grows. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Beware Disney's 1.66:1 ration DVD's
With the ration of 16x9 television actually being 1.78 to 1, how does Disney fit it's 1.66 to 1 movies on widescreen....by chopping off information, that's how.

First, Disney gives us full frame Pan & Scan pictures. Then, once someone has convinced them to start selling widescreen DVD's, they still can't get it right and adjust the picture so we see all of it.

In "Those Calloways", it is immediately noticeable during the opening credits....and continually pops up in the form of decapitated actors [or at least the TOPS of their heads.]

Tyring to get a decent transfer of a movie out of Disney appears to be like pulling teeth.

A Disney favorite in Widescreen!
Thanks so everyone at Buena Vista Home Video for releasing this film in its original theatrical ratios. While there are no "extras" on this disc, the one "extra" that really counts -- the entire film as it was meant to be seen -- is there. Hopefully, this release (and the release of "The Absent-Minded Professor" in widescreen) signal a shift in Disney policies. After all, these older films, created by Walt himself, appeal to serious Disney collectors who want the option of viewing films in their original ratios. Dare we hope that future releases will also be available in widescreen?

Its a classic AND ITS WIDESCREEN TOO
If your into classic disney, then dont pass this one up. Brian Keith and Vera Miles are truly wonderfull in a very engaging saga of a family trying to establish a sanctuary for wild geese. I remember seeing it many years ago and was struck by the colorful cinematography as well as a truly wonderfull score by Max Steiner, I believe this was his one and only score he ever did for disney. Im happy to report that this film IS in widescreen.

Rare Classic Finally On DVD
This DVD is a good movie. But it is bare-bone with no special features and it isn't even in Widescreen. The DVD is high quality other than that.

Cam Calloway (Brian Keith) is regarded as a crank by the locals because of his wish to build a bird sanctuary to save the Geese. While Cam is fighting the city. His son Bucky (Brandon DeWilde) is in the meantime in love with the beautiful Bridie Mellot (Linda Evans) well a wealthy man offers to buy Cams place and turn it into a bird sanctuary. Well Cam later finds out that they actually want to turn it into a hunting reserve. And Cam risks his life to save the birds

Great Family Classic. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

lots of nostalgic fun -That 70's Disney movie
Good clean Fun.Back in those days when the disney studio made a situation comedy there really was just one motive and that was to have fun. Hot of the heels after the success of the Love Bug, Boatniks tried to capture some of that rollicking sense of whimsey. Joe Flynn, Robert Morse and the entire cast are all seasoned pro's. Lots of fun

SOCIAL ISSUES?
WHAT THE HELL KIND OF SOCIAL ISSUES DOES THIS FILM TOUCH? WAS THAT OTHER REVEIWER SMOKING REEFER OR WHAT? STILLL THIS MOVIE IS JUST CHEESY ENOUGH FOR ME TO LOVE!TOO BAD DISNEY DOESN'T MAKE STUFF LIKE THIS ANYMORE.LIZZIE MAGUIRE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

boatniks
This is, by far, one of the greatest movies ever made. The deep content and social issues that it face are incredible. I would suggest that ever person in this country, that holds our freedom close to their heart, watchthis movie. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A heartwarming tale of an orphan, a man and an Irish Setter
Based on the novels of Jim Kjelgaard, "Big Red" is not a first rate Disney film, but is still a solid movie for the family. Rene Dumont (Gilles Payant), is an orphan who gets a job at the home of James Haggin (Watler Pidgeon), a wealthy but lonely man. Rene lives with Emile Fornet (Emile Genest), the overseer for Haggin's kennel. One of Haggin's dog is Big Red, a beautiful Irish Red Setter that he thinks might be a prizewinner, but who has proven to be totally untrainable. However, Rene and Big Red have an instant rapport. The orphan not only trains Big Red, but falls in love with the dog. Worried that Big Red is too dependent on the boy, Haggin orders Rene to stay away from the dog before the big show. But when Rene cannot resist waving at Big Red the night before the contest, the excited dog crashes through the window and ends up being seriously hurt. Haggin wants to put the dog down, but Rene runs off with Big Red and nurses him back to health.

"Big Red" is obviously about the love between a boy and a dog, but a strong element of the film is the transformation of Walter Pidgeon's character from a lonely old man to a loving father figure for an orphan. There is a simple elegance to this film and even if the basics are pretty much predictable, it is carried off quite well by both the cast and the beautiful dog. "Big Red" can be enjoyed by both kids and parents, who will take different things away from this film. Not a great film, but still a solid effort from Disney. This 1962 film, directed by Norman Tokar, features a pair of songs by Richard & Roger Sherman ("Mary Poppins").

big red
This is a must see for anyone who loves animals. I first seen this movie in 1962 and it is still my number one favorite.

Big Red
Wow! what a lovely family film about a beautiful Irish Red Setter and a boy who cares for him. It is based on the characters in the James Kjelgaard books but is NOT a film of the book "Big Red". But do not let that put you off! The scenery is breathtaking, the storyline is great family and dog lover fare and the acting beautiful and innocent

I have been searching for this film for 5 years and the wait was well worth it. This is one for the dog lovers and famalies with young children who love dogs.

Indescribable Beauty
I must have watched this picture a million times, and still never get tired of it. It has the same affect on me today and my child. The scenery is breathtaking, as is the music and acting. Anyone who owns,or has ever owned an Irish Setter, understands what this movie means to them. It really catches your heart and trully shows what love there can be between a boy and his dog.I own the VHS as well as the DVD which is fantastic. Should anyone know of the whereabouts of the boy who played Rene (Gilles Payant),please email me at bigred62@worldspy.net Thank you

A great Story
I first saw this movie in a theater as a young child and loved the story. I'm a little biased since we have always had Irish Setters for dogs, but a wonderful story of the companionship of a boy and a dog. It shows how love and faith can change things. It brought back memories of how special a dog was in my growing up years. I am thrilled to have it be available for my children and it has become one of their favorite films. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Reportedly the last feature to be personally shepherded by Walt Disney himself, The Happiest Millionaire is a stubbornly old-fashioned musical intended to build on the success of Mary Poppins, relying on songs and score from Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, the studio's resident songwriting team responsible for the hits of Poppins. Despite that pedigree, and a cast headlined by Fred MacMurray, Greer Garson, Tommy Steele, Geraldine Page, and, in their screen debuts, Lesley Anne Warren and John Davidson, the would-be successor wound up a white elephant.

Released in 1967, a watershed year for youth culture and social upheaval, The Happiest Millionaire romanticizes Philadelphia's upper crust circa 1916. Its title character, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (MacMurray), is a militant industrialist urging America's mobilization against Germany, and noteworthy for an eccentric lifestyle that includes his own bible study classes, martial arts training, and (in a lone nod toward any remotely modern social values) a readiness to empower his lovely, headstrong daughter, Cordelia (Warren).

Under Norman Tokar's busy but routine direction, the project does muster moments of charm, and packs its story line with enough twists to partly explain its excessive 144-minute length. But the unintended irony of paeans to capitalism and conservative politics in an era of Sgt. Pepper isn't masked by the Shermans' music, which is eminently forgettable, despite the game mugging of Tommy Steele as an immigrant Irish butler. Equally game is MacMurray, but as a singer, he's no Rex Harrison. --SamSutherland ... Read more

Reviews (40)

delightful Disney musical
Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson star in the classic Disney musical THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, a delightful story centering on the Biddle family of Philadelphia.

Cordy Biddle (Lesley Ann Warren) becomes engaged to Angie Duke (John Davidson). When this should be a happy occasion, Angie's snooty mother (Geraldine Page) still ensures that Angie hangs onto her apron strings. Cordy's mother (Greer Garson) tries to sort things out while Aunt Mary (Gladys Cooper) engages in some bitchy repartee with Mrs Duke!

The entire production is flawless, and while Leonard Maltin has criticised this film for being too long, I think the time flies by.

The Sherman brothers songs are strong throughout, and the supporting cast, including a very young Joyce Bulifant, are wonderful.

Highly recommended.

lavish disney production does not equal the sum of its parts
THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE is the last live production that Walt Disney oversaw before his death. The movie is an attempt to emulaite the big blockbuster reserved seat movie musicals popular following the SOUND OF MUSIC's success during 1960s and also to duplicate MARY POPPINS success. The production is lavish in terms of settings and costumes; with a great cast led by Fred MacMurray and Greer Garson; The songs by the Sherman brothers are likeable and not as bad as critics would have you believe; there are some great dance sequences. Unfortunatly, the plot is such a simple trifle which goes on and on for 164 minutes(in the restored version)that the movie eventually becomes a bloated, overlong bore. Its too bad because all the right ingrediants are there except a good story and script. The new DVD finally restores the movie to its original roadshow lenght. MILLIONAIRE was cut by 20 minutes following its premiere engagements.In fact the print which opened at Radio City Music Hall in NYC was already cut. The colors are excellent, the stero sound is good and the source materials are generally in good shape (a few markings here and there are not worth complaing about). This movie is now more a curiousity of its era and the wanning days of Disney's regime. It is certainly worth a look and may appeal to non-discriminating fans of musical movies.

NOT THE HAPPIEST, BUT CERTAINLY THE MOST TYPICAL FROM DISNEY
Walt Disney's was a visionary film pioneer; he took the fledgling craft of animation and transformed it into an art form of the highest order, and, in the process, altered our collective perception of what childhood is all about. However, occasionally that vision was marred by Disney's own lack of foresight into changing audience tastes. By the end of the 1950s the Walt Disney Studios had incurred huge expenses on Disney's foray into live action films, the birth of his theme park - Disneyland - and the lack luster box office response to his most recent and most expensive animated feature - Sleeping Beauty. Though the old master was set to recoup his losses, the sumptuously mounted, though often dismal, The Happiest Millionaire (released the year after Disney's death) was the personal and financial failure that rounded out Disney's tenure as the mogul of one of Hollywood's great cinema dream factories.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s road show engagements for movies of distinction were quite common. Road shows were designed to elevate movies to the lofty ambitions of live theater. They usually began with a lush orchestrated prelude, included an intermission half way through, and exit music to escort audiences out of the theater after the final credit sequence. One often dressed up for this sort of premiere event, certainly paid extra to attend and was often provided with a printed program as a keep sake from the occasion. Disney had attempted the road show only once before, on Fantasia (1940) and the result had been an unqualified financial disaster. What a pity then, that The Happiest Millionaire - what should have been an eighty-minute tune-filled - if antiseptic and sexless - melodrama, is over inflated into a gargantuan three hours spectacle that, quite simply, fails to dazzle.

The plot is a fictionalized account of real life circumstances that concern an eccentric Philadelphia millionaire, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (Fred MacMurray). He runs a combination Bible and physical fitness college of sorts, loves boxing and keeps alligators in a solarium adjacent his dining room. When immigrant John Lawless (Tommy Steele) becomes Biddle's new butler he does indeed find his new surroundings rather odd. Not that Lawless isn't odd himself - it's just that, unlike Biddle's quirkiness, which can be grating to the point of distraction, Lawless becomes a genuinely loveable reprobate of congenial good humor, thanks to Tommy Steele's remarkable performance. The plot is thread bare to the point of nonexistent. It concerns Biddle's only daughter, Cordelia (Lesley Ann Warren). She's a sort of tomboy desperate to be feminine and sent off to a lady's finishing school where she meets and becomes engaged to New Yorker Angie Duke (John Davidson). Mrs. Duke (Geraldine Page) is social snob but Angie doesn't share her values. He wants to forgo the family business and build automobiles in Detroit. True to Disney form, everything does indeed work out in the end with Angie and Cordelia driving off toward an unintentionally apocalyptic matte painting that depicts the Motor City as something of a cross between Blade Runner and Mary Poppins, a glowering jungle of towering chimneys blackening the skies with the aftershocks of modernity.

Plot construction is problematic; As Cordelia's mother, Greer Garson is given extremely little to do. One of Disney's good luck charms - Hemione Baddeley has even less of a say. Equally curious is the fact that after the film takes great pains to introduce the Biddle two sons Tony and Livingston (Paul Petersen and Eddie Hodges) - even giving them a song - it suddenly loses interest in their character development by sending them off to school where, as an audience, we forget that they ever existed.

Of course, the plot - such as it is - would be largely forgivable if Disney's resident song writers, the Sherman Brothers had come up with a score worthy of their best endeavors. Tommy Steele opens the show with a bang with, Fortuosity, but the rest of the score does not live up to expectations and, in spots, is painfully sweet and cuddly. Valentine Candy or Boxing Gloves is so coy one wishes for the el