Year Released:1958
Michael's Movie Grade: B+
History
Tonka was originally planned to be a five part episode of the Disneyland TV show. However as production moved along it was decided that Tonka should be instead be released as a single feature film. This film was directed and written by Lewis R. Foster. Foster had directed some fantastic Laurel and Hardy shorts (including their first talkie Unaccustomed as We Are), he would also direct the films El Paso and The Brave and the Bold. However he would probably be better recognized as a writer, writing for such films as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and The More the Merrier. He was already working at Disney at this time directing and writing for their Zorro TV show.
Westerns had by this time proven to be some of Disney's greatest moneymakers. Starting with the studios work with Davy Crockett, these films soon became a major part of Disney's output. Starting with Old Yeller, these films were become more dependent on drama and less on action. Like The Light in the Forest, Disney's last feature length western this film deal with race relations between whites and American Indians. This is a subject that would not have been seen in the earliest Disney westerns.
This is the first pf Disney's feature length westerns not to feature actor Fess Parker. Fess Parker when he started at Disney as Davy Crockett was getting leading roles in the all of the Disney westerns. However starting with Old Yeller he had begun getting smaller roles. He did not like these smaller roles and also felt like he was being typecast. When offered a very small role in Tonka, Parker left Disney.
Much of the scenes at the Indian camp were filmed in Oregon at The Warm Springs Indian Reservation, many of the resident of this reservation appeared in the film or worked as advisors.
Tonka fared very well with critics, but I am unfortunately not able to find much information on how it did at the box office.
Review
Excellent film. Brisk, and fun movie though not lacking in depth either.The best thing about this film is something the Disney studio excels at and this film is proof as to that fact. This is creating a very believable and charming relationship between humans and animals. The relationship between White Bull and Tonka is very moving, and is always charming. Both the writing and the acting (both human and horse) is just fantastic, and there could have not possibly been better chemistry between these two.
Once again the treatment of a subject as serious as race relations is treated with the upmost respect. This film never talks down to it's audience and treats both sides with much respect. The only exception is this film's version of General Custer, who unfortunately here is just a rather bland villain. With how well this film did the other characters, you think they could have done this one better.
An excellent film, that is very entertaining, but also has a good message, which is for the most part done very well.
Film Credits
Director: Lewis R. Foster
Writers: Lewis R. Foster, Lillie Hayward
Based on a book by David Appel
Cast: Sal Mineo (White Bull), Philip Carey (Capt. Miles Keogh), Jerome Courtland (Lt. Henry Nowlan), H.M. Wynant (Yellow Bull), Joy Page (Prairie Flower), Britt Lomond (Gen. Custer), Rafael Campos (Strong Bear), Herbert Rudley (Captain Benteen), Sydney Smith (Gen. Alfred Howe Terry), John War Eagle (Sitting Bull), Gregg Martell (Cpl. Korn), Slim Pickens (Ace), Robert 'Buzz' Henry (Lt. Crittenden), Jim Alderman (Cavalryman), Larry Baxter ( Cavalryman), Charles Biles (Cavalryman), Larry Ditmore (Cavalryman), Chuck Fite (Cavalryman), Wayne Houston (Cavalryman), Karl Kleint (Cavalryman), Robert Patrick (Cavalryman), William "Red" Reynolds ( Cavalryman), Gard Safley (Cavalryman), Jim Smith (Cavalryman), Frank Stoul (Cavalryman), Henry Welch (Cavalryman), C.R. Yount (Cavalryman), George Bernier (Ace's Man), Tom Bride (Ace's Man), Hugh Porter (Ace's Man), Rod Rosebrook (Ace's Man), Walt Smead (Ace's Man), Claude Brennan (Officer), Pat Castor (Officer), Alvin Grimes (Officer), W.C. Yeomans (Kellogg), Monroe Carlson (Maj. Marcus A. Reno), Stan Frank (Indian), Harold Green (Indian), Johnny Guerin (Indian), Chester Von Pelt (Indian), Leland Thompson (Indian), Alba Shawaway (Indian), Eddie Little Sky (Spotted Tail), Wallace Lee Hug (Child), Ed Saluskin (Scout), Levi Von Pelt (Child), Peggy Jaques (Pioneer), Renee Jaques (Pioneer), Al Wyatt Sr. (Trooper), Clem Klink (Dignitary), Dallas Quick (Dignitary), Conrad Well (Orderly)
Producers: Walt Disney, James C. Pratt
Music: Oliver Wallace
Songwriters: George Burns, Hazel George
Cinematographer: Loyal Griggs
Editor: Ellsworth Hoagland
Art Director: Robert Emmet Smith
Set Decorators: Oliver Emert, Emile Kuri
Makeup Artists: Pat McNally, Ruth Sandifier, Hedy Mjorud, William Woods
Production Manager: John Grubbs
Assistant Directors: Horace Hough, Herb Hirst, Mickey McCardle
Painters: Harry Bogart, Eldon Hall, Peter Ellenshaw, William Powley, Albert Whitock
Propmen: Stuart Brown, Charles Chrisman, Wilward Marty, Jim Trenor, Lou Wildley
Effects Artists: Clarence Burke, Max Luttenburg, Charles Sprugeun, Edwin Tillman
Cameramen: Judd Curtis, Harry L. Underwood
Assistant Cameramen: Dick Kelly, Bob McGowan
Resources Used
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney by Michael Barrier
-Michael J. Ruhland
No comments:
Post a Comment