Son of Flubber

History and Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland














Michael's Movie Grade: B
Year Released: 1963

                                                    History
Son of Flubber marked the studio's first feature length sequel, being a sequel to The Absent Minded Professor. However it was not the studio's first sequel ever. Before they had made two sequels to the extremely popular 1933 Silly Symphony short cartoon with three more shorts, The Big Bad Wolf, Three Little Wolves and Practical Pig. Despite this live action film being Disney's first feature length sequel, the studio would not release its first animated feature length sequel until 1990 with The Rescuers Down Under.

This film had the same director as the first one, Robert Stevenson. As well as this actors Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, and Tommy Kirk also resumed the roles they had played for the last movie. Interestingly Ed Wynn is also in this film, but playing a completely different character than he played in the first movie. Also featured in this movie is Bob Sweeny. Bob Sweeny, had appeared in Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks With the Circus and Moon Pilot. This was his last time appearing in a Disney film, but he would later direct a few episodes of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. Like the first movie this one was shot in black and white in order to make the special effects more believable.

Critics felt that while the film was good it was not as good as The Absent Minded Professor. Audiences loved the film and it became a huge box office success.

When released this film had some tie-ins with various merchandise. These included footballs and football player toys. This merchandise however also included a Flubber toy, that was quickly recalled because it gave children rashes. Also while watching this film, look for Walt's grandson Walter Elias Disney Miller make a cameo as a baby in a fake commercial, as well as the satellites reused from an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color called Eyes in Outer space. Also note that with all the football involved in this film's storyline, co-producer Ron Miller played Football.

                                                       

Review

Very good movie even if it isn't as great as The Absent Minded Professor.

The humor in this film is excellent. Like the first movie this film features plenty of different types of humor, such as slapstick, verbal word play, and political satire, and like in that movie they all work quite well. The slapstick of the football game is obviously the film's comedic highlight. All the slapstick humor here works fantastically and is only made better by various characters' reactions to the slapstick goings ons. However this is not the only really funny part of this movie. A talk with an IRS man leads to some of the funniest and smartest political satire to come out of the Disney studio. Also very funny is an advertisement for flubber floors, which features a great mixture of satire and slapstick. On top of this the acting is great and the characters are very likable.

However what keeps this movie from being as good as the first one is that it has too many stories. There is the romantic story, the story about saving the school with a lack of money, the story about the professor trying out his new invention, and the story of the professor's rivalry with Mr. Hawk. One problem with having this many stories is that none of them can feel fully devolved in a less than two hour movie. Another problem is that the stories seem to often be interrupting each other. The biggest problem though is that it loses some of the simple charm of the first movie. However there is so much good about this film that overcomes this fault quite well.

Definitely recommended, just keep in mind that the first film is better.

Film Credits

Director: Robert Stevenson

Writers: Bill Walsh, Dan Gagradi

Cast: Fred MacMurray (Prof. Ned Brainard), Nancy Olson Betsy Brainard), Keenan Wynn (Alzno P. Hawk), Tommy Kirk (Biff Hawk), Ed Wynn (A.J. Allan), Charles Ruggles (Judge Murdock), Leon Ames (President Rufus Daggett), Ken Murray (Mr. Hurley), William Demarest (Mr. Hummel), Paul Lynde (Sportscaster), Elliot Reed (Prof. Shelby Aston), Bob Swenney (Mr. Harker), Joanna Moore (Desiree), Edward Andrews (Defense Secretary), James Westerfeild (Officer Hanson), Forest Lewis (Officer Kelly), Alan Carney (Referee), Stuart Erwin (Coach Wilson), Alan Hewitt (Prosecutor), Jack Albertson (Mr. Barley), Eddie Ryder (Mr. Osborne), Harriet E. MacGibbon (Mrs. Edna Daggett), Beverly Wills (Commercial Actress), Wally Boag (Commercial Actor), Wed Miller (Commercial Actor), Ed Brandenburg (Courtroom Well-Wisher), Ron Brown (Football Player), Charlie (Himself), Steve Carruthers ( Military Officer), Christopher Dark (TV Announcer), Lindy Davis (Newsboy), Russell Carter ( Board Member), Don Edmonds (Moriarity), Joe Flynn (Rex Williams), George Ford (Court Room Spectator), Bryan Foulger (Proprietor), Michael Garret (Force General), Lee Giroux (Newscaster), Norman Grobonski (Football Player), Darby Hinton (Hobgoblin), Clegg Hoyt (George), Michael Jeffers (Court Room Well Wisher), Henry Hunter (Admiral), Gordon Jones (Rutland Football Coach), Virgil Johansson (Board Member), Harvey Korman (Husband), Mari Lynn (Commercial Actress), Ethan Laidlaw (Courtroom Well Wisher), Don McCart (Football Player), Tippi McClure (Police Officer), Mathew McCue (Board Member), Del McKennon (Juror), Walter Elias Disney Miller (Baby in Commercial), King Mojave (Board Member), Belle Montrose (Commercial Actress), Brad Morrow (Football Player), Burt Mustin (Bailiff), Ron Nyman (Courtroom Spectator), William H. O'Brien (Butler), J. Pat O'Malley (Sign-Painter), John Olezewlski (Football Player), Murray Pollack (Courtroom Spectator), Jack Rice (Juror), Waclaw Rekwart (Courtroom Spectator), Robert Robinson (Courtroom Well-Wisher), Hope Sansburry (Secretary), Phil Schumacher (Courtroom Well Wisher), Robert Shayne (Defense Secretary's Assistant), Hal Smith (Bartender), Arthur Tovey (Juror), Ginny Tyler ( Baby Walter Voice), Leon Tyler (Humphrey Hacker), Ned Wynn (Rutland Student Manager)

Producers: Walt Disney, Ron Miller, Bill Walsh

Music: George Burns

Cinematographer: Edward Colman

Editor: Cotton Warburton

Art Directors: Carroll Clark, William H. Tuntke

Set Decorators: Hal Gausman, Emile Kuri

Costume Designer: Bill Thomas

Makeup Artist: Pat McNally

Hair Stylist: Ruth Sandifer

Assistant Directors: Tom Leetch, Joseph L. McEveety

Second Unit Director: Arthur J. Vitarelli

Sound Artists: Robert O. Cook, Dean Thomas

Special Effects Artists: Peter Ellenshaw, Robert A. Mattley, Eustace Lycett, Jim Fetherolf

Stunt Artist: Paula Dell

Costume Department: Gertrude Casey, Chuck Keehne

Resources Used

The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin

Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057518/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Son%20of%20Flubber

-Michael J. Ruhland

          

               

In Search of the Castaways

History and Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland















Michael's Movie Grade:B+
Year Released: 1962

                                                             History
One of the biggest live action hits Disney had had by this point was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Because of this it is no surprise that Walt wanted to return to the work of Jules Verne. This time he went with a fairly forgotten book called Captain Grant's Children. It is also no surprise that Walt put one of his best directors and one of his biggest (and also best) stars on the project. The director would be Robert Stevenson, who had directed such films as Darby O' Gill and the Little People, The Absent Minded Professor, Old Yeller, and Johnny Tremain, and he would go on to direct a little film called Mary Poppins. The star would be Hayley Mills, who had previously stared in Pollyanna and The Parent Trap. One of the reasons Walt wanted to make this film was because it provided a very different role for Hayley Mills.

Besides Hayley also appearing in this film is Maurice Chavalier, Keith Hampshere, and George Sanders. Though this was George Sander's only appearance in a live action Disney film, he would return to the studio to do the voice of Sher Khan in The Jungle Book. This was Walt had seen Keith Hampshere in a stage production of Oliver, while vacationing in London once and was very impressed. Because of this he cast him in this film. This is one of the only two movies he acted in (the other being Play it Cool, released the same year). Most of his film career was as a still photographer for a large variety of movies including Superman II, Barry Lyndon, Chaplin, The Mummy and the Star Wars Prequels. This was Maurice Chevalier's first role for Disney. He would later appear in Monkey's Go Home and sing the title song in the animated feature, The AristoCats.  

This film was another one of the Disney studio's British films following the movies, Treasure Island, The Sword and the Rose, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, Kidnapped and Greyfrairs Bobby. These films began because Walt had money in Britain that he could not spend in the U.S.. However these soon became a huge part of the Disney studio's live action output. Despite Hayley Mills being from England and starting her film career there with a movie called Tiger Bay, this was her first British Disney film. In Search of  the Castaways was shot mostly indoors at Pinewood Studios in England.

The film premiered in London before it premiered in the U.S.. It premiered in London on November 14th, 1962 and in the U.S. on December 19th, 1962. Critics felt the film was fun and looked good, but was lacking in the story department. It did extremely well at the box office. The film would be released twice once in 1970 and once in 1978.       

                                                           Review
Excellent adventure film is just a lot of fun.

This movie is really exciting. One of the reasons for this is that we care about and like the characters. This is due both to the writing and to how amazingly well done the acting is. The simple fact that we like these characters makes the action scenes all the more exciting. While some of the effects are dated, most of them hold up very well. The direction and the pacing on these scenes is fantastic. They go on long enough to gather up the needed excitement and don't go on too long that they lose the excitement. More than just the effects though, the whole film looks great. Often times you completely forget that this movie was shot indoors.

The big fault of this movie is that the fantasy element comes out of nowhere. The beginning of this film is fairly realistic and gives no hint of the fantasy that is to come. Because of this when the fantasy elements first appear they feel out of place and don't fully work. However as the film goes on you will probably grow to accept and enjoy these fantasy elements a lot, like I did. Once you accept these the film is just a joy to watch and a lot of fun.

Overall just a very fun movie.

                                                Film Credits
Director: Robert Stevenson
Writer: Lowell S. Hawley
Based on a novel by Jules Verne
Cast: Hayley Mills (Mary Grant), Maurice Chevalier (Jacques Paganel), George Sanders (Thomas Ayerton), Wilfred Hyde-White (Lord Glenarvan), Michael Anderson Jr. (John Glenarvan), Antonio Cifariello (Chief Thalcave), Keith Hamshere (Robert Grant), Wilfred Brambell (Bill Gaye), Jack Gwillim (Captain Grant), Ronald Fraser (Guard), Norman Bird (Guard), George Murcell (Ayerton's Assistant), Inia Wiata (Maori Chief), Mark Dignam (Man), Michael Wynne (Sailor), David Spencer (Guide), Milo Sperber (Sailor), Roger Delgado (Prisoner), Maxwell Shaw (Sailor), Andreas Malandrinos (Sailor), Barry Keegan (Irish Claimant), Joss Ackland (Seaman), Jean Alexander (Woman), Joy Andrews (Woman), Patrick Jordon (Hijacker), Larry Taylor (Hijacker), Michael Mallinger (Hijacker)
Producers: Walt Disney, Hugh Attwool
Songwriters: Richard and Robert Sherman
Music: William Alwyn
Cinematographer: Paul Beeson
Editor: Gordon Stone
Art Director: Michael Stringer
Costume Designer: Margret Fuse
Casting Director: Maude Spector
Makeup Artist: Harry Frampton
Hair Stylist: Barbara Ritchie
Production Manager: Peter Manley
Unit Manager: Clive Reed
Assistant Directors: Eric Rattray, Terrance Churcher, Grania O'Shannon
Second Unit Director: Peter Bolton
Special Effects Artists: Peter Ellenshaw, Syd Pearson, Brain Gamby, Godfrey A. Godar, Jimmy Harris, Jimmy Ward, Garth Inns, Fred Heather, Ron Jackson, Martian Shortall
Assistant Art Director: Ernest Archer
Draughtsmen: Terrance Marsh, Roy Dorman, Norman Dorme
Scenic Artists: Peter Wood, A.J. Van Montagu
Sound Artists: Peter Thornton, Ken Barker, Danny Daniel, Dudley Messenger, Gordon K. McKallum, Charlie McFadden, Graham V. Hartstone
Cameramen: David Harcourt, Ray Strugess, Michael Reed, Alec Mills, Michael Sarafian

Resources Used
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056095/?ref_=nv_sr_2
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/2011/07/in-search-of-castaways-1962.html

-Michael J. Ruhland
  
 

The Legend of Lobo

History and Review Written by Michael J. Ruhland

Year Released: 1962
Michael's Movie Grade: A-


                                                               History

Like Perri and Nikki Wild Dog of the North, The Legend of Lobo was another film that told a fictional story with nature documentary footage. The film was directed and produced (along with Walt on producing of course) by James Algar and Jack Couffer, both of whom had directed some of the studio's nature documentaries. James Algar had started with the Disney studio in 1934 as an animator and worked on such films as Snow White, Bambi and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. He even directed The Sorcerer's Apprentice scene in Fantasia. Jack Couffer started with the studio as a nature photographer for the first Disney feature length nature film, The Living Desert.    

The film was shot in in Sedona, Arizona only, unlike most of the studio's nature films that were shot in multiple places. Unlike many of the studio's nature documentaries only two photographers worked on this movie. These were co-director Jack Couffer and Lloyd Beebe. Lloyd Beebe had started working as one of Disney's nature photographers with The Vanishing Prairie, the studio's second feature length nature documentary.  

The film was narrated by country singer/songwriter Rex Allen. Allen had previously narrated for episodes of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color and would go on to narrate for such Disney films as The Incredible Journey, A Country Coyote Goes Hollywood, and Charlie the Lonesome Cougar.

Critics liked the narration very much, but felt that the visuals didn't work as well. It is unknown how the film did at the box office.

                                                      

                                            Review
A fantastic film.

This film has a lot going for it. As in all of Disney's nature films the photography is gorgeous. It is amazing they were able to get half these shots. While I don't much care for the narration on the straight nature documentaries, I have little to no problem with it being used in these fictional films that use real nature documentary footage. The narration being done by Rex Allen doesn't hurt at all. He has such a warm and friendly voice that it just helps add such a charm to this movie. The song with him and The Sons of the Pioneers is excellent and as a fan of country music myself I find it very fun. Unfortunately the actual music score doesn't fare so well, but the movie is so good it really doesn't hurt much.

The best thing about this movie though is the way the characters are presented. They are not villains in any sense, but the film doesn't tone down what the wolves do at all. They feel like real wolves, each having their own personality, and neither really being good or bad, but just real. The characters are very likable though and we feel a lot for Lobo in the climax. Speaking of the climax it is really exciting and so much of this has simply to do with the fact that Lobo feels so real to us.

This is definitely a forgotten Disney Treasure.

                                                                Film Credits
Directors: James Algar, Jack Couffer.
Writers: Dwight Hauser, James Algar
Based on a story by Ernest Thomson Seton
Narrator: Rex Allen
Songs Performed by Rex Allen and The Sons of the Pioneers
Producers: Walt Disney, James Algar, Jack Couffer
Song Writers: Richard and Robert Sherman
Music: Oliver Wallace, Evelyn Kennedy, Walter Sheets
Photographers: Jack Couffer, Lloyd Beebe
Production Manager: Erwin L. Verity
Sound Artist: Robert O. Cook
Editor: Norman Palmer
Animal Supervisor: Ralph Helfer

                                                          Resources Used
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/2011/07/legend-of-lobo-1962.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056173/?ref_=rvi_tt

-Michael J. Ruhland