Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the November 20 article: Toon Talk: Frank and Ollie DVD at <a href="News-ID280040.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID280040.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Good review as always Kirby. Does anyone know if this is available at Best Buy or Barnes and Noble? Or is it only available at the Disney Store?
Originally Posted By MouseBear Salutations Kirby, I have this on VHS and it is an excellent film. It always encourages me when very talented people are also kind and good people. Lee
Originally Posted By arstogas Kind of a slight review. I was disappointed, Kirby. Not your usual thorough approach. The film excels in two great ways, where many documentaries have not: It portrays a great FRIENDSHIP, and a bond between two highly decent people. This decency is at the core of their creativity, their longevity, and pervades their ability to see into the human condition, which is what has released such great performances in their animation. As the men have grown and evolved, their capability to create great characters, full of heart but also at times, full of cunning or malice or whatever else was required... has also been refined. They understand THEMSELVES well as human beings, and this informs their insight into the human condition, period, and that's what really makes for great, memorable animation and living, breathing characters. Over and over again, when listening to these guys over the years, you get one word very clear: "REAL". Not "realistic", but "REAL". For them, a character works when the motivations are clear to the audience, and the character himself/herself is committed to a drive, a purpose, a goal. In Frank and Ollie, you see two men who have somehow balanced their families with their passion in art. They have managed to remain two regular guys in a crazy town full of every opportunity to become irregular, odd, bizarre. With their excursions into music, hobbies, etc, they have kept perspective on life in general and this has given their success perspective. Even in their sunset years, they have not lost passion for their artform, because they do not find their ultimate PURPOSE in that artform. They find it in their relationships, in each other. They truly have "heart". And this is what informs great Disney animation. It's what has infused it from almost the very beginning, and it comes OUT of these guys' lives. That is one of the true successes of this DVD. You see that realized and laid bare for the audience for the first time. The second accomplishment is to see two great MARRIAGES. Since I saw this documentary years ago in a small theater in Century City, I have recommended it to anyone who wanted to see an example of successful marriages. We don't, of course, see any of the turmoils they've survived, or the conflicts or bitterness that might have gone into some of the seasons of these two marriages... in the Johnston House or the Thomas House. What you DO see is this: Two couples who have lived all their lives together. A loving documentary produced by the SON of one of the two fathers. Two families that have lived, specifically, right NEXT DOOR to each other, for half a century or more. Wrinkled, elderly couples who, until recently, still DANCED together regularly, affectionately. I had the privelege of sitting with Frank and Ollie and their dear wives (and one of the children) at a film festival awards banquet several years ago. This was after I'd seen the film. And I can tell you, there's nothing but loving commitment in those two couples, for each other's spouse. And this comes across very clearly in the film, as a subtextual, but incredibly resonant and glowing component. For anyone who wants INSPIRATION of a different variety - one that you can still be in love well into your eighties, Ted Thomas has captured some of that here. There is hope for the romantic and for those that are still looking for their soulmates. In FRANK AND OLLIE, beyond the insight and common knowledge that has already been captured in books, what Ted sought to capture principally, and what he succeeded brilliantly in doing for the first time, is bringing a spotlight to a marvelous friendship, and to two decent, honorable men, who have honored each other, and their WIVES, in spite of their work in creating some of the biggest films of all time, for the better part of the last century. I don't know any director or producer in Hollywood who can claim the same thing.
