Originally Posted By ecdc This was a thoroughly enjoyable documentary. Granted, like most things about Disney, it wasn't exactly hard-hitting or in-depth, but it was great to see some old faces. Very cool to see Kevin Corcoran, Tommy Kirk, and James MacArthur interviewed.
Originally Posted By ecdc It was broadcast tonight on TCM as part of their Sunday showcase of Disney live-action classics. It may be released on DVD someday, but in the meantime it's slated to be rebroadcast a couple of more times this month. My TiVo says there's one on 12/21 and there may be another on 12/28, but it doesn't go out that far. I'd check www.tcm.com for more info.
Originally Posted By DAR I just saw the replay, well done. And I forgot that Kim Richards from the Witch Mountains became a hottie,
Originally Posted By ecdc I really need to go watch the Witch Mountain movies again. I haven't seen them for like 25 years and they're just a confused blur. All I remember is telekinetic abilities, and a van in the Rose Bowl parking lot. And for all I know, I got those details confused from other movies.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Stumbled across this documentary last night. I really enjoyed it. Kurt Russell will always be cool.
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF I'd love to see this. Oh well...maybe it will end up on a future Blu-ray...
Originally Posted By ToonKirby I finally watched it the other day and, while it was well done from the point of view of a "non-hardcore fan", it didn't bring much insight to the films or their impact. The only thing I had never heard before was the bit about Bobby Driscoll and "Treasure Island". And it seemed to skip over a lot towards the end (no "Black Hole"?) and ended abruptly at "Tron". Still, it was an enjoyable watch, just not very in-depth. - kch
Originally Posted By ecdc >>The only thing I had never heard before was the bit about Bobby Driscoll and "Treasure Island".<< Although I'm not the least bit surprised they didn't do it, this could've been a really insightful documentary if it had explored the challenges child actors face as they grow up. Bobby Driscoll is a very sad tale, and his story could've been used to great effect. Although I don't know her story as well, I understand Haley Mills went through some growing pains as well. It's a shame these Disney documentaries are so oversimplified to just show the genius of Walt, and not much else.
Originally Posted By basil fan Finally got to watch this. I enjoyed it immensely. I guess at this late date there's nothing more to say about it. Loved it, fluffy or not. Hercules <a href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/disney/hero.html" target="_blank">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...ero.html</a>
Originally Posted By TheRedhead "this could've been a really insightful documentary if it had explored the challenges child actors face as they grow up." But it is supposed to be about Walt and his films. An expose on child actors would've been awkwardly out of place. Besides, it will be hard to make that point with a grinning, well-adjusted Kurt Russell there, reminding us that he still makes Disney live action movies.
Originally Posted By basil fan Did you see how great Nancy Olson looked? Mouse Tales <a href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/disney/mice.html" target="_blank">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...ice.html</a>
Originally Posted By ecdc >>But it is supposed to be about Walt and his films. An expose on child actors would've been awkwardly out of place.<< I disagree. This was a puff piece. It was a fun puff piece for us Disney fans. I enjoyed it - honestly. But it was a puff piece. And there was far more puffery than just not talking about child actors. Most good documentaries about filmmaking cover the challenges, the tensions, and the personality conflicts. But one walks away from this thinking everything was perfectly positioned to achieve greatness. Walt Disney, like many other filmmakers, sometimes ran out of use for child actors who got acne and had squeaky voices and weren't cute anymore. That's how it goes sometimes - Walt Disney was a producer, not a charity worker. He has no obligation to employ people who won't fit the vision of his films. But there are rough consequences with that. Bobby Driscoll is one of many examples. And who said "expose?" A few minutes giving a short overview of the struggle of child actors, followed by the information about Bobby Driscoll et al, wouldn't have been out of place at all. >>Besides, it will be hard to make that point with a grinning, well-adjusted Kurt Russell there, reminding us that he still makes Disney live action movies.<< Kurt Russell is a rare exception. Apart from the myriad of well-known child actors who have fallen from grace (from Gary Coleman to Makauley Culkin), there's hundreds more, like Bobby Driscoll, long forgotten by all but the specific fans of their specific films or TV shows.
Originally Posted By ToonKirby They could have made a whole other documentary on the pit falls of child actors alone. In fact they have, just watch E!
Originally Posted By ecdc >>They could have made a whole other documentary on the pit falls of child actors alone. In fact they have, just watch E!<< Ah, good old E! I set my TiVo to record Saturday Night Live reruns since E! acquired the rights. I quickly learned they literally repeat the same 12 or so episodes hosted by young, popular stars (and I use the term loosely) today and that's it. Natalie Portman, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, and a handful of others. It's bizarre. But, I digress. I worry I'm giving off the wrong impression on this special. Like I said, I really did enjoy it. But I would call it a "special" rather than a documentary. I'm not looking for an expose or a smear job on Disney. I love these films and own a great many of them. But I guess after being a Disney fan for quite a while, I'm looking for a little meat to these things. A nod to some of the difficulties encountered. It makes these things all the more real, and in away, impressive. What were the challenges? What were the conflicts? Did Walt ever fire anyone because they weren't working out? What problems did they encounter shooting on location, beyond the anecdotal, "Once, we got stuck in this really crazy rainstorm!" followed by the obligatory chuckle. These are some intense, frenetic films - was anyone ever injured? Good documentaries need drama and conflict. I get that Disney as a corporate image is quite different than, say, Warner Bros., and they're going to protect that image. But sometimes it borders on silly just how near-perfect (or, dare I say it, Pollyannaish) these things are presented.
Originally Posted By DAR I would like some meat to some of these documentaries but you're rarely going to get it. And I would say that's true of most studio remembrances. Or look at the majority of the making of docs on dvds, you would think that every movie was a wonderful experience. That's why when you see something like the Making of Blade Runner on that movie's disc,that dealt with the hardship that movie faced it's refereshing to see.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>That's why when you see something like the Making of Blade Runner on that movie's disc,that dealt with the hardship that movie faced it's refereshing to see.<< That's a great documentary. I guess that's my problem, I've got so many DVD's with great making-of docs, I'm basing it off the good ones and not the studio EPKs and puff pieces. That Blade Runner doc, the Alien doc, the Star Wars doc, Indiana Jones, all the Criterion stuff, etc. These things show how to make a good documentary about a movie. And then there's the cadillac of movie documentaries, Hearts of Darkness. Oh man.
Originally Posted By Jim I didn't even realize this happened until I read TK column. Not having cable can be a real bummer. Does anyone know if this is online anywhere? How great that they did this. Was it produced by Disney? Disney really needs to do something to promote these classic films. I just saw TREASURE OF MATECUMBE for the first time and was surprised that it was actually very good. Disney might get more people to buy these lesser known titles if they did just a little advertising.
