DISNEY FILM REVIEWS || Years 1956-1959
DISNEY FILM REVIEWS || Years 1956-1959
my reviews of the Disney films in chronological order
After an evening out seeing Disney 100 The concert, I started this goal on a whim. Though initially I didn't realise how big of a dream this would be, it has expanded my watching of films and documentaries. So far, and more to go, there are many of these films and features I've not heard of or seen before.
Before this goal, I wouldn't have even considered watching them, even with them being Disney. Whether this goal takes me three years or my lifetime, I'm glad that I'm noticing things about what I'm watching and of myself.
My Disney film-watching continues into the latter half of the 1950s, and I am posting my thoughts on the 14 films from 1956 to and including 1959. Disney created twenty-eight films in this decade, and because of that, I divided the 1950s into two parts. You can read the first half of the 1950s here. This decade has taken me longer than expected due to needing to rent some films and stay within my budget.
The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)
This is the first of a few in this stretch of films that I've had to search for outside of Disney Plus. It was interesting that it was based on actual events but that they kept the names the same. I've always thought films based on actual events have names changed. This film had a familiar face, though a slightly different role to Davy Crockett; some similarities exist. Overall, this was an alright film depicting the events of the time. Now and again, there were a few singing scenes, which were a theme in the film. It wouldn't be a film I'd rent again but wouldn't turn over if there wasn't something else to watch. It would be a solid 3.5 stars.
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956)
I started watching with an open mind due to the message of misconceptions at the start. Having already watched the first Davy Crockett film, I knew what I would be watching. This is the fourth and fifth episodes put together for this film. This time, not in the time of war but in the water, having a boat race to New Orleans with untrained men. Singing and music are spaced out, but I wouldn't call it a musical. It was a nice break within the film. Along the race, pirates and sabotage cause complications. There were some comical moments. The second part was back on land, where they ran into trouble. But it wasn't long till they were back on the water to clear the name of the Indians. Together with their new friends, they find answers and save the day while causing a little chaos along the way. It's a film that I rate three stars. It was watchable, but it isn't one I'd choose to watch again.
Secrets of Life (1956)
Back to another true-adventure documentary. I like that they are consistent with who they are using for the narration and start with animation before going to the real-life videos that have been captured. This documentary focuses on nature's adaptations and how to protect itself, including how plants, fruit, and vegetables grow and populate. Moving on to bees, ants and other insects and then to fish. I either watch these episodes at times when I'm tired, or they're so relaxing I become sleepy. Out of all the true-adventure documentaries so far, this has been the first to keep me drawn in, even with the sleepiness. But like the others, I wouldn't be quick to watch again.
Westward Ho The Wagons! (1956)
This film was another that I had to rent on another platform. Walt Disney must have liked to employ certain actors time again. Again, this film saw the return of familiar faces. There's not much I can say about this film. Several families in wagons crossed the Pacific Northwest in 1844 and encountered challenges and tribes. There's fighting, misunderstandings and attempted trading of a young girl!! Otherwise, I got bored and couldn't see the whole point of the film. Not one I'd spend my money on again.
Johnny Tremain (1957)
I had to return to this one after watching a few later films due to needing to rent this and being short on finances. This film is based on a book written as historical fiction around the Revolutionary War. Johnny Tremain loses the use of his hand and has to find work elsewhere. Johnny ends up joining the Sons of Liberty. The film showed a snippet of what could have happened in the 1770s in Boston. I can't say if there is any truth to some of the historical events in the film. But even with that, I thought it was an alright film. I would watch this over a few of the others I have already seen.
Perri (1957)
This is a true-life fantasy following a little pine squirrel called Perri. This was a true-life adventure documentary focusing on one specific animal, where they made a story about the animals' daily lives. Even with this focus, other animals in the same area have a focus too. In my view, Perri didn't have the focus of the story. The narrator came back to Perri multiple times during the 75 minutes. I suppose other animals around them impact one animal and their movements. I'm not sure about the dream scene. I didn't see the relevance. The difference between this feature and the true-life adventure documentaries is that there are music snippets between narrations. It was nice to watch the animals with some music in the background. It was something new, slightly different from previous features, but I probably wouldn't watch it again.
Old Yeller (1957)
Days before I planned to watch this one, I had a spoiler. Not in the place I was expecting either. It was mentioned in Brene Brown's Atlas of the Heart, stating one of the things that happens in this film. I first thought, NOO!! But then I thought that's good to know. I got my tissues ready and was in the brain space to potentially cry. The same male actor as the past few that I've watched is back again, though only for small parts. I thought the oldest boy's actions and speech about the dog were extreme. I'm glad he came round to him. I nearly had a meltdown watching Yeller fight with the bear and the other fights he had to go through in the film. However, I didn't need to have my box of tissues in this film. Maybe because I already knew something was going to happen. It was a film that kept my interest for the majority. I probably wouldn't choose to watch it again, but I’d still put it above others I've watched.
The Light in the Forest (1958)
This was another film that wasn't on Disney Plus. I could find a low-quality version of it for free on YouTube. Looking past the quality, I got the main points of the film. Disney's favourite actor of the time is back again in this film. I couldn't always figure out the other actors and actresses; there were a few I had become familiar with from the previous films. I had moments where I was creeped out, but I thought it was sweet and heartbreaking. I had to remind myself of the time it was filmed due to some of the outdated remarks/beliefs it showed. There were times that I thought I would instead go back and watch Old Yeller. Even if the quality of the picture were better, it wouldn't increase my enjoyment of the film.
White Wilderness (1958)
Searching for this feature brought up claims of Disney faking the True Adventure documentary. More to the lemming part of the documentary. The claims stated this wasn't on location; they brought lemmings to a set and made them jump off the cliff. As far as I could tell, this hasn't been confirmed. But it makes more sense why it's not on Disney Plus compared to the other documentaries. This is set mainly in the Arctic, where land and sea animals are present. Not many different species interact with each other like the others, which could be realistic for the habitat. The narrator was straightforward to follow throughout. I am not 100% sure of the correctness of the information for the time. Like the others, it had a calming effect on me, and my eyes closed now and again, but I could still hear what was being said. I couldn't see anything in what I watched to indicate any fake footage. It looked all the same and in tune with the others in the series. Also, like the others, I've watched it, but it's not a documentary I would take time to watch again.
Tonka (1958)
I saw the blue Castle and Walt Disney writing logo when this feature started. I was trying to reflect on all the previous films I have watched, but this is the first time it has been shown. There are mixed statements regarding this film's source; some say it is based on a true story, and others say it is based on a novel. It could be a mixture, but I cannot determine which, though the D23 website stated it is based on a book. I did struggle to watch this one at times. I was hiding behind my hand during it due to the treatment of the horses. I do hope no horses were harmed in the making of this film. Taking the horses out of the equation was a slow story, and I know it is one I wouldn’t watch again.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
I know the story of Sleeping Beauty, and I’m sure I've seen it, but I can't remember it. While watching it, I initially thought I recognised characters from somewhere else, but I could only gather them from this film. I had also forgotten that the princess was called Aurora and that Maleficent was in this. I feel that I'm mixing my memories with another Disney film. The owl reminds me of the owl in Winnie the Pooh. Watching this film made me feel like I was watching Disney films again. Although Disney made the previous films, they didn't give the Disney feels I get from the Disney films I grew up with. Well, this wasn't the film I had in my memory box. I was watching this as if it was my first time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think this is beating Lady and the Tramp at the top spot.
The Shaggy Dog (1959)
With the thumbnail of this film being in colour, I expected that the film would be in colour. It was in black and white. I recognised the two boys; on checking, I saw they were both in Old Yeller. Looking at their film lists, they will be appearing in a few upcoming Disney films. I couldn't stop laughing at this one after the boy turned into the dog and was trying to be a normal person. Mouthwashing was one thing, but driving a car was another! To be fair, even with the unrealisticness of a dog doing things a dog shouldn't, it was an alright film. It made me smile. I would put it on again. It got me watching a black and white film. I've only watched one before, and that was only last year. When I was younger, I used to put off watching black and white pictures, but now I would watch them anytime.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959)
Darby O’Gill is based on H T Kavanagh stories with the same name. The little people in this film are leprechauns. Darby has taken the king to have his three wishes. While also trying to set his daughter up with the gentleman to take over this job. I kept thinking I recognised that gentleman. I had to look it up to realise he was one of the James Bonds. There are a couple of songs within this, but I wouldn't classify it as a musical. It got boring during this one, unfortunately. I liked that Darby did a selfless act to save his daughter towards the end. However, he still hadn't learned about his wishes. This wouldn’t be a film that I would watch again.
Third Man on the Mountain (1959)
Initially, this film was on Disney Plus. I had it on my watchlist in preparation. However, when I got around to watching it, it was gone! It had been removed. My procrastination on watching a Disney film I hadn't heard of or seen before had bitten me in the arse. Meaning I ended up renting this film. Thankfully, this rental cost was cheaper than previous ones I've purchased, so it didn't dent my budget.
This film was based on a novel but aired first on telly with the book's name rather than this one. The book the film was based on is Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman. Based on the appreciation statement at the start, they must have used the guides of the mountains to aid in their filming. Seeing the people climb a mountain and rescue someone in suits seemed odd. It wasn’t climbing as I would attempt. The climbing appeared to be the free climbing I’ve only seen in documentaries before, but in this case, the only aid used was rope. The film kept me in anticipation of the majority. The adventure and love of mountains kept me interested on the whole. It would be a film that I would put on again.
Out of the 14 films in this section, I had only heard of one before, and even then, I couldn’t remember watching it. I was surprised by what I found I did or didn’t and where I ranked the films. At this point in the journey, Sleepy Beauty is number one.
Have you seen any of the films above? Would you want to watch them?
Stay well,
Tami