The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin

 

History and Review by Michael J. Ruhland

Year Released: 1967
Michael's Movie Grade: B+

History

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin was the last western to bear Walt Disney's name. True to the direction the Disney studio had been heading at this time, this film was much more comedic than the more dramatic Disney westerns of the 1950's. 

As well as the last western for Walt Disney, this would also be the last Disney film to be directed by James Neilson. Neilson's previous Disney films had included Sign of Zorro (1958), Summer Magic (1963), Bon Voyage (1962), and The Moon-Spinners (1964). The writer for this film was Lowell S. Hawley, who had written such Disney movies as The Sign of Zorro (1958), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), Babes in Toyland (1961), In Search of Castaways (1962) and A Tiger Walks (1964). He would later write the Disney film, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968). He also wrote various episodes of the Disney anthology show for TV. Though this is a live action film, there are a few animated interludes and special effects provided by the legendary Disney animator, Ward Kimball.

Roddy McDowall plays the lead here, though he had played a smaller role in That Darn Cat (1965), this is the first time he played a major role in a Disney film. He would later play large roles in the Disney films, Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and The Cat From Outer Space (1978). He would also voice Mr. Soil in Pixar's A Bugs Life (1998). His other Disney credits include doing voices for episodes of the TV cartoons, Darkwing Duck and Gargoyles. Suzanne Pleshette plays the leading lady. She had previously been the leading lady in Disney's The Ugly Dachshund (1966). Her other Disney credits include Blackbeard's Ghost (1968), The Shaggy D.A. (1976) and voicing the character Zira in the direct to video movie, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998). Outside of Disney, she is best known for playing Emily Hartley in The Bob Newhart Show and Annie Hayworth in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963). The younger brother is played by Bryan Russell, who played the main role in Disney's Emil and the Detectives (1964). Also in the cast is character actress, Hermione Baddeley. She had previously appeared in Disney's Mary Poppins (1964). Her future Disney credits include The Happiest Millionaire (1967) and The Aristocats (1970) as the voice of Madame. Judge Higgens is played by the great Karl Malden, who previously played the Reverand in Disney's Pollyanna (1960). Malden is a very celebrated actor among film buffs for his great performances in such movies as A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), On the Waterfront (1954), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Patton (1970) and many more. TV fans also know him for the lead role in the series, The Streets of San Francisco. The character of Quentin Bartlett was set to be played Tony Hancock. However due to erratic on-set behavior, he would be replaced by Richard Hayden. Disney fans might know Richard Hayden as the voice of the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland (1951). 

When this film was released to theaters, it received mixed reviews from critics. Some enjoyed the comedy and performances, while others felt the film was too slow-paced. The movie did poor at the box office and would in 1971 appear on Disney's anthology TV show.  

Review

A delightful Disney comedy. 

After the last couple live action Disney comedies, it is great to see one that made me laugh out loud as much as I did here. So much of this film is full of great gags. These gags range from clever satire to out and out slapstick. The slapstick gags are often in the pure Mack Sennett style. This is to say they are completely over the top and impossible. More than any other live action Disney comedy, this film feels like a live action cartoon. These slapstick gags are provided with so much energy, enthusiasm and complete lack of pretention that it is simply hard not to have fun watching it. The climatic fight scene is one of the pure highlights here. It provides wonderful slapstick gag after wonderful slapstick gag. Each on builds on top of the last to become more over the top, silly and funny. The satire here is also wonderful as this movie does a great job of parodying various movie clichés. This is especially shown during the brief animated interstitials, which are delightfully but knowingly old fashioned. Those interstitials also feature some ballad type singing that wonderfully parodies a trope common in Westerns at this time. The humor doesn't sacrifice our two main characters here. Both Griffin and his young partner Jack are delightful characters. Though they are not complex characters, they are very likable characters, that we enjoy spending this journey with. Like all Disney movies of this era, the film benefits from a simply wonderful cast. When it comes to the actors and actresses there is not a weak link here. 

This film does have a couple flaws though. One is that for such a silly comedy, it can feel a little overlong and repetitive at times. Also, while our two main characters are great, much of the rest of the characters are often times too sidelined for us to get to know or care about. 

If you enjoy the live action Disney comedies, you should have a lot of fun watching this one. 

Film Credits 

Director: James Neilson.

Screenplay: Lowell S. Hawley.

Based on the book By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman.

Cast: Roddy McDowall (Bullwhip Griffin), Suzanne Pleshette (Arabella Flagg), Bryan Russell (Jack Flagg), Karl Malden (Judge Higgins), Harry Guardino (Sam Trimble), Hermione Baddeley (Miss Irene Chesney), Liam Redmond (Capt. Swain), Cecil Kellaway (Mr. Pemberton), Joby Baker (Bandido Leader), Mike Mazurki (Mountain Ox), Alan Carney (Joe Turner), Parley Baer (Chief Executioner), Arthur Hunnicutt (Referee), Dub Taylor (Timekeeper), Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez (Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez).

Producers: Walt Disney, Bill Anderson, Lou Debney.

Music: George Bruns.

Songwriters: Richard and Robert Sherman, Mel Leven and George Bruns. 

Cinematographer: Edward Colman.
Titles and Things: Ward Kimball. 

Editor: Marsh Hendry.

Art Directors: Carroll Clark, John B. Mansbridge. 

Set Decorators: Emile Kuri, Hal Gausman.

Costume Designer: Bill Thomas.

Costumers: Chuck Keehne, Neva Rames, Emily Sundby.

Makeup Artist: Pat McNalley.

Hair Stylist:  La Rue Matheron.

Assistant Director: John C. Chulay.
Second Unit Director: Arthur J. Vitarelli

Sound Artists: Robert O. Cook, Robert Post.

Matte Artist: Peter Ellenshaw.
Special Effects: Eustace Lycett.

Resources Used

The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin.

http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Adventures%20of%20Bullwhip%20Griffin%20%28The%29