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.
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
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