Secrets of Life

History and Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland

Michael's Movie Grade: B
Year Released:1956

                                                History
Unlike previous Disney nature documentaries, this film was not dedicated to one specific theme. This film would show many different areas and animals.

This film has much of the same crew as the previous True-Life Adventures, including director James Algar, producers Ben Sharpsteen and Walt Disney (of course), composer Paul Smith and narrator Winston Hibler. However with much more areas to shoot there were much more photographers than there were on previous nature documentaries. While there were some photographers who had previously worked with Disney such as Robert H. Crandall,  Murl Deusing, Stuart V. Jewell, and Tilden W. Roberts, there were also some who had never before worked for Disney such as William A. Anderson, Jack Couffer, George MacGinitie, and Nettie MacGinitie, and some who this would be their only time working at Disney such as Arthur Carter, Fran William Hall, Claude Jendrusch, Donald L. Sykes, and Roman Vishniac (in fact for a few of those photographers this would be the only film they worked on). This is also the very first feature-length Disney nature documentary to use time-lapse photography. This time lapse photography was done by Rex R. Elliott, William M. Harlow, Stuart V. Jewell, John Nash Ott Jr, Vincent J. Schaefer.

Like The African Lion this film has much less humor injected into it than the earliest Disney nature documentaries. This is because the humor had been was considered intrusive by many critics. and Walt look back and discovered they were right. Walt knew that he could always improve, and took the faults of previous Disney films to heart to make sure that his studio could keep making better and better movies.

Secrets of Life was a big hit with both audiences and critics. Critics piratically loved it, not only because of less humor but also because they considered the photography (particularly the time-lapse photography) revolutionary.

Review

One of Disney's best nature documentaries.

The photography in this film is down right amazing. The images of flowers blooming, volcanoes erupting, and more will stay in your mind after the film is done as absolutely amazing images. Also the time-lapse photography deserves all the praise the critics gave it and more. Technologically speaking this film was ahead of it's time.  

Again I don't much care for either the narration or humor in this series but luckily it was lessened from some of the series' earlier entries. The music can be a bit distracting at times, but at other times it works very well.

Overall despite some faults this is a great movie.

Film Credits 

Director: James Algar.

Writer: James Algar

Narrator: Winston Hibler

Producers: Ben Sharpsteen, Walt Disney

Music: Paul J. Smith, Edward H. Plumb, Franklyn Marks, Evelyn Kennedy

Photographers: William A. Anderson, Arthur Carter, Jack Couffer, Robert H. Crandall, Murl Deusing, Fran William Hall, Claude Jendrusch, George MacGinitie, Nettie MacGinitie, Tilden W. Roberts, Donald L. Sykes, Roman Vishniac, Stuart V. Jewell

Time-Lapse Photographers: Stuart V. Jewell, Rex R. Elliott, William M. Harlow, John Nash Ott Jr., Vincent J. Schaefer

Film Editor: Anthony Gerard

Production Manager: Erwin L. Verity

Sound Artist: Robert O. Cook

Special Effects: Ub Iwerks, Joshua Meador, Art Riley

Researchers: Rutherford Platt, Tilden W. Roberts

Resources Used

http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Secrets%20of%20Life

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049733/?ref_=rvi_tt

-Michael J. Ruhland

Day Crockett and the River Pirates

History and Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland














Michael's Movie Grade:C+
Year Released:1956

                                                  History
After the success of the first three Davy Crockett episodes, and Davy Crockett: The King of the Wild Frontier, everyone at the Disney studio knew they had a good thing going, and needed to continue this character's adventures. There was only one problem with this. That problem was that Davy Crockett had been killed off. The answer to this was to not make sequels, but rather a couple more stories about Davy that took place at an unknown time in Davy's life. These stories were first aired as two T.V. episodes and then edited into a theatrical feature film. Though Davy's previous adventures had been based off of true events (though very, very loosely), these would be all original stories created by the Disney staff. Like the previous film parts of the episodes were cut out when making it into a feature.Again like the previous feature audiences had seen the two episodes only in black and white, so this was their first time to be seen in color.

Naturally this film would feature much of the same crew that worked on King of the Wild Frontier. This would include director Norman Foster, writer Thomas W. Blackburn, producer Bill Walsh, musician George Burns, and actors Fess Parker and Buddy Ebson.

When this film was released it made money,but it was nowhere near as big of a hit as King of the Wild Frontier was. The Davy Crockett craze was dying down. However Fess Parker would go on to star in many more Disney films, and Norman Foster would go on to direct Disney's Zorro TV series and the Disney feature The Sign of Zorro based off the show.

These stories inspired two rides. The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes (Originally called Indian War Canoes) ride appeared at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 1956. It is still at Disneyland, but not at Walt Disney World. Mike Fink Keel Boats also used to exist at both parks but are not at either anymore.

Review

Good, silly fun, even if it is not as good as the first film.

The story here isn't as strong as the first film, and it lacks that film's epic scope, but regardless this movie is simply quite fun. The acting is quite great. Fess Parker and Buddy Ebson are just as good as ever for these characters. However here adding to the fun is a fantastic performance by Jeff York as Mike Finn. Peter Ellenshaw's backgrounds are as good as ever as well.

Despite the story not being that strong, and even weak at times, this is a fun way to spend 81 minutes. Not as good as the first but still worth a watch.

Film Credits

Director: Norman Foster

Writers: Thomas W. Blackburn, Norman Foster

Cast: Fess Parker (Davy Crockett), Buddy Ebsen (George Russel), Jeff York (Mike Fink), Kenneth Tobey (Jocko), Clem Bevans (Cap'n Cobb), Irvin Ashkenazy (Moose), Mort Mills (Sam Mason), Paul Newlan (Big Harpe), Frank Richards (Little Harpe), Hank Worden (Fiddler), Walter Catlett (Col. Plug), Douglass Dumbrille (Saloon Owner), William Fawcett (Old Man), George J. Lewis (Black Eagle)

Producers: Bill Walsh, Walt Disney

Music: Thomas W. Blackburn, George Bruns

Songwriters: George Bruns, Thomas Blackburn

Cinematographer: Bert Glennon

Editor: Stanley E. Johnson

Art Director: Feild M. Gray

Set Decorators: Bertram C. Granger, Emile Kuri

Painter: Peter Ellenshaw

Special Effects: Ub Iwerks

Makeup Artists: David Newell, Phillip Scheer

Production Manager: John Grubbs

Assistant Director: Ivan Volkman

Sound Artist: Robert O. Cook

Costume Creator: Carl Walker

Resources Used

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049125/?ref_=ttsnd_snd_tt

http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Davy%20Crockett%20and%20the%20River%20Pirates

https://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/737/Disneyland-Resort/Disneyland-Park/Critter-Country/Davy-Crocketts-Explorer-Canoes

-Michael J. Ruhland

The Great Locomotive Chase

History and Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland









Michael's Movie Grade:A
Year Released: 1956

                                                  History
With Walt's love of trains, and Fess Parker's success as Davy Crockett, The Great Locomotive Chase seemed like a natural film for Disney to do at this time. The story would be based off of a true story that happened during the civil war. This story had been filmed before for Buster Keaton's 1926 classic The General (which if you haven't seen watch it now).However this time it was going to be filmed in quite a different light. It would be more serious here, and not a comedy like The General, and it would feature the north as the main characters rather than the south (as in Keaton's film). That is closer to the truth than Keaton's version as these character in the true story were from the north. This happened because Buster didn't feel he could make southerner's into the bad guys. However these films are too different from each other, and even though they are based off the same source this is by no means a remake of the earlier film.

This film was directed by Francis D. Lyon, who had previously worked for Disney on the Spin and Marty segment of The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. Lyon spent much of his career directing various westerns for both theaters and TV. This would include The Oklahoman (with Joel McCrea), Escort West, and episodes of the Laramie TV show. The Great Locomotive Chase would mark his first and last time directing a Disney feature. This film would also be the film debut of actor Morgan Woodward, who would later be in the film Cool Hand Luke and the TV show Dallas.  He would also appear in the Disney film Westward Ho, the Wagons!.

The train used in this film was a train called the William Mason. This train was built in 1856, and was actually used during the Civil War to transport Union troops and supplies. This locomotive has also appeared in other films such as The Swan, Raintree Country, Wild Wild West, Tuck Everlasting and Gods and Generals.

Much of this film takes place in Georgia, and much of the outdoor shooting was shot there on location. However the indoor shooting was mostly done at the Disney studio in Burbank, California. Walt was not as involved with this film as he usually was. This is because at the time he was busy doing work at Disneyland. However he did play a role in the story meetings, and he visited the filming in Georgia for a weekend. 

The Great Locomotive Chase was a big hit both critically and at the box office. Some critics were happy to see this film go back to the big budget spectacle they excepted from Disney, after the modest budget The Littlest Outlaw. 

Review

Fantastic film. This film is great on nearly all levels. 

While the story is fairly simple and easy to follow, it never talks down to the audience and is not afraid to show the complexities of the history it is representing. I love that this is a movie without any real bad guys, but rather just people fighting for what they believe is right. This is truly fascinating and something that should be more common in films of this kind. While not to give anything away the ending is simply incredibly powerful, and something that should be seen by people who claim that Disney films are just simple minded escapism for kids, as it will definitely prove those people wrong.

One thing that really makes this film  great is the fact that it takes it's time to get to the big action scene. Because of this we are fully invested in the story and characters when it happens. This of course makes the scene much more exciting.

Like all Disney films of this era this film looks great. Peter Ellenshaw's paintings and Charles P. Boyle's cinematography are especially well done.

Overall this is an incredible film that deserves more attention than it currently gets.

Film Credits

Director: Francis D. Lyon

Writer: Lawrence Edward Watkin

Cast: Fess Parker (James J. Andrews), Jeffrey Hunter (William A. Fuller), Jeff York (William Campbell), John Lupton (William Pittenger), Eddie Firestone (Robert Buffum), Kenneth Tobey (Anthony Murphy), Don Megowan (Marion A. Ross),  Claude Jarman Jr. (Jacob Parrott), Harry Carey Jr. (William Bensinger), Leonard P. Geer ( J.A. Wilson), George Robotham (William Knight), Stan Jones (Wilson Brown), Marc Hamilton (John Wollam), John Wiley (John M. Scott), Slim Pickens (Pete Bracken), Morgan Woodward (Alex), W.S. Bearden (Switchman), Harvey Hester (Jess McIntyre), Robert Kent (Switchman), Rudy Bowman (Townsman), Richard H. Cutting (Gen. Mitchell), John Daheim (Cox), Robert Foulk (Gen. Ledbetter), Roy Gordon (Stanton),  Herman Hack (Townsman), Dick Johnstone (Townsman), Jack Kenny (Townsman), Mitchell Kowall (Raider), Billy McCoy (Townsman), Hank Patterson (Jailer), John Pickard (Lt. Fletcher), Chuck Roberson (Prison Captain), Dick Sargent (Soldier), Dale Van Sickel (Alonzo Martin)

Producers: Lawrence Edward Watkin, Walt Disney

Music: Paul J. Smith, Franklyn Marks

Songwriters: Lawrence Edward Watkin, Stan Jones

Cinematographer: Charles P. Boyle

Art Director: Carroll Clark

Editor: Ellsworth Hoagland

Set Decorators: Patrick Delany, Emile Kuri

Paintings: Peter Ellenshaw, Albert Whitlock

Special Effects: Ub Iwerks

Assistant Director: Robert G. Shannon

Make-up Artists: Louis Haszillo, David Newell

Unit Manager: Russ Haverick

Sound Department: Robert O. Cook, Virgil Smith

Stunt Artists: Chuck Roberson, Terry Wilson

Wardrobe:  Joseph Dimmitt, Chuck Keehne

Researcher: Harper Goff

Technical Advisor: Wilbur G. Kurtz

Resources Used

http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Great%20Locomotive%20Chase%20%28The%29

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049279/?ref_=rvi_tt

http://www.borail.org/William-Mason.aspx

-Michael J. Ruhland