Those Calloways

History and Review Written by Michael J. Ruhland












Michael's Movie Grade:A+
Year Released: 1965

                                                                HistoryThose Calloways was directed by Norman Tokar, who had previously directed Big Red, Savage Sam and A Tiger Walks for the Disney studio. He may also be remembered by fans of 1950's and 60's TV for directing a whole 93 episodes of Leave it to Beaver. The writer was Louis Pelletier, who had previous written Big Red for the studio. The cast also features some returning faces familiar to Disney fans including Disney regulars Brain Keith and Ed Wynn as well as Vera Miles who had previously been in A Tiger Walks.  However the most fascinating name to see here for fans of classic films is Max Steiner, who wrote the score. Steiner was one of the most prolific and best film composers of all time. He composed the scores for such films as Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, Lost Horizon, Dark Victory, The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Lost Patrol, The Letter and provided one of my favorite movie scores of all time with Now Voyager. This marked the last film he personally worked on and his only Disney film.

This movie was a big undertaking for the studio. Though some of it was shot in Vermont, the film's majority was shot on the studio backlot. This meant that a whole village set was built on this backlot including a lake. To complete the illusion 280,000 leaves were even painted, so that the film would look like Fall in Vermont.

The film did not do very well at the box office. With critics the film received very mixed reviews. Some critics absolutely loved the movie, while others found it a chore to sit through. Despite this though Walt knew the talent of those working behind the scenes and appreciated what they brought to the movie. Because of this he would team director ,Norman Tokar and writer, Louis Pellitier again for the later feature Follow Me Boys!. 




                                                      ReviewIncredible film is dripping over with not only optimism but pure sincerity.
While this movie could have easily come off as cheap or corny, it never does. The reason for this is that both the characters and the setting feel so incredibly real. Never for a moment do you not believe what is happening on screen. This is shown to its best advantage with our lead character Cam Calloway. While he is a dreamer fighting up against a cynical world, he too has his own demons, particularly drinking. His wife is loving and faithful, but still doesn't always see how things can work out. While his son has a complicated relationship with a neighborhood girl, but still takes the time to always be there for his father. These characters are far from the stereotypes often found in these films and instead are real characters that never lose their believability. This is not hurt by the great cast portraying them. The whole town around them also feels just as real. Not for a second do you ever think this town could have existed only in a movie studio's backlot. Instead it feels as real as if you could take a trip to visit there right now. Adding to all this Max Steiner's last film score is a complete triumph. This score sweeps you into the action and the setting for this wonderful film perfectly. It is an amazing last hurrah for one of the movies' greatest composers.

This film is an absolute delight from start to finish and a must watch for every Disney fan. Hopefully one day it will get the attention it so rightfully deserves.

                                                              Film CreditsDirector: Norman Tokar.
Writer: Louis Pelletier
Based on a book by Paul Annixter.
Cast: Brain Keith (Cam Calloway), Vera Miles (Lydia Calloway), Brandon de Wilde (Bucky Calloway), Walter Brennan (Alf Simes), Ed Wynn (Ed Parker), Linda Evans (Bridie Mellott), John Larkin (Jim Mellott), Philip Abbott (Dell Fraser), Parley Baer (Doane Shattuck), Frank de Kova (Nigosha), Roy Roberts (E.J. Fletcher), John Qualen (Ernie Evans), Tom Skerritt (Whit Turner), Paul  Hartman (Charley Evans), Russell Collins (Nat Perkins), John Davis Chandler (Ollie Gibbons), Chet Stratton (Phil Petrie), John Byrant (Doug), Frank Ferguson (Doctor), Renee Godfrey (Sarah Mellott), Kenner G. Kemp (Chauffeur)
Producers: Walt Disney, Winston Hibler
Music: Max Steiner
Cinematographer: Edward Coleman
Editor: Grant K. Smith
Art Directors: Carroll Clark, John B. Mansbridge
Special Effects: Eustace Lycett
Set Decorators: Emil Kuri, Hal Gausman
Costume Designer: Bill Thompson
Assistant Director: Tom Leetch
Hair Stylist: La Rue Matheron
Makeup Artist: Pat McNally
Sound Artists: Robert O. Cook, Dean Thomas
Matte Artist: Jim Fetherolf
Costumers: Chuck Keene, Gertrude Casey
Animal Unit: Lloyd Beebe, William R. Koehler

                                                                 Resources UsedThe Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059796/?ref_=rvi_tt
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/2011/09/those-calloways-1965.html  

Emil and the Decectives

History and Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland.














Michael's Movie Grade: B+
Year Released:1964


                                                            HistoryEmil and the Detectives was another foreign made Disney live action feature. This time the film was shot in Germany, often on location in Berlin and featured mostly a foreign cast. However unlike most of the previous foreign made Disney efforts this one was one of the studio's live action comedies. This was also the only Disney movie directed by Peter Tewksbury. Tewksbury only directed four other theatrically released feature films (Sunday in New York, Doctor You Have Got To Be Kidding, Stay Away Joe and The Trouble With Girls). He had a great career directing for television though. In his TV career he directed a whooping 134 episodes of Father Knows Best and 37 episodes of My Three Sons.


The film was adapted from a 1929 book by Erich Kastner of the same name. This was not the first time this book had been made into a film. In fact three film adaptions existed before hand. There was a 1931 German film version (written by Billy Wilder later director of such classics as Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard and Some Like it Hot), a 1935 UK version and a 1954 German version. After the Disney film version would also come a 2001 movie version made in Germany. All of these were named Emil and the Detectives.

Despite being the Disney studio's big Christmas time release (first played: December 18th, 1964), it failed to gather much if any attention at the box office. Critics however gave the film positive reviews, especially praising the performances by the child actors.


                                                               ReviewExcellent movie is just a lot of fun.

There is so much that is very charming about this film, not the least of which is the characters. While not all the characters are fully developed, all of them are likable and fun to watch. Gustav is probably the most developed of these characters and he is a treat. His character is always very relatable and charming but most of all a lot of fun to watch. On top of this you really do feel for him emotionally when things at their worst. Both our tough and vulnerable sides can be seen through this character and both are completely believable as the same character. Adding to this enjoyment is the fact that this film has some really good laughs in it. This movie may not be jam-packed with gags, but there still are definitely some real laugh out loud moments in here. In fact none of the humor in this film misses and even the weakest jokes have a bit of charm to them. Adding the charm even more is how good this film looks amazing. Art directors, Werner and Isabell Schliching and cinematographer, Günther Senftleben are at the top of their game here. More than just looking good this look helps tell the story by making the environment it takes place in so vivid.

There are some faults to this film though. One of these faults is the musical score. It can be a bit overwhelming at times by constantly echoing the characters movements and letting you know a joke is funny. Another fault is that the climax can feel a bit slow and too long compared to the rather fast pace of the rest of the film. Regardless of these, the movie's good points outweigh the bad, making this an excellent film and even if it is not one of Disney's best that is just a testament to how great so many Disney films are instead of anything against this movie.

                                                                        Film CreditsDirector: Peter Tewksbury
Writer: AJ Carothers
Based on a book by Erich Kästner
Cast: Bryan Russel (Emil Tischbein), Robert Mobley (Gustav), Walter Sezlak (Baron), Heinz Schubert (Grundeis), Peter Ehrlich (Müller), Cindy Cassel (Pony), Elsa Wagner (Nana),  Eva-Ingeborg Scholz (Frau Tischbein), Wolfgang Völz (Wachtmeister Stucke), Franz Nicklisch (Desk Sergeant), Brian Richardson (Professor), Robert Swan (Hermann), David Petrychka (Dienstag), Ann  Noland (Frieda), Ron Johnson (Rudolf), Rick Johnson (Hans)
Producers: Walt Disney, Peter V. Herald
Music Score: Heinz Schreiter
Cinematographer: Günther Senftleben
Editors: Thomas Stanford, Cotton Warburton
Art Directors: Isabell Schliching, Werner Schliching
Customer Designers: Leo Bei, Josef Wanke
Makeup Artists: Joachim Schmalor, Jupp Paschke
Assistant Director: Brigitte Liphardt
Production Manager: Paul Waldherr
Cameraman: Franz Hofer
Sound Artist: Bernhard Reicherts

                                                                        Resources UsedThe Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Emil%20and%20the%20Detectives
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058056/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

-Michael J. Ruhland