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THE LOVE BUG (Robert Stevenson, 1969).
Released three years after the death of the its founder, Walt Disney Productions’ The Love Bug continued the tradition of fantasy comedies established by the studio a decade earlier with The Shaggy Dog (Charles Barton, 1959). It introduced Herbie, the anthropomorphic VW Beetle, to cinema audiences and would prove a massive hit for Disney, spawning a franchise which would include four theatrical sequels, a TV series and a made for TV movie.
The movie stars Dean Jones as washed up racing driver Jim Douglas whose fortunes are reversed thanks to the lovable VW Bug. He is pitted against arch rival David Thorndyke, who uses every dirty trick in the book to defeat Douglas in a cross-country race, the stakes of which are ownership of Herbie.
Disney regular Jones and love interest Michelle Lee make for attractive leads and prove themselves adept at light comedy. Less subtle, but just as effective are Buddy Hackett as a kooky new age mechanic and Joe Flynn as Thorndyke’s long suffering assistant. Best of all is the magnificent David Tomlinson as the comically villainous Thorndyke.
Ultimately the star is, of course, the car; brought to life through a combination of impressive stunt work and pre-CGI effects that hold up fine 50 years after release. Herbie has an endearing puppy dog charm and more personality than most humans!
Bill Walsh and Don Da Gradi’s screenplay mixes slapstick humour with some genuinely witty dialogue while Robert Stevenson, arguably the greatest director on the Disney roster, brings his flair for whimsical fantasy to what might be his best work after Mary Poppins (1964).
The Love Bug was to become the highest grossing movie of 1969 and one of the highest earners of all time. It’s easy to see why. With its winning mix of racetrack thrills and good natured laughs, it is a deftly performed, expertly crafted gem.
Check out my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME for more reviews of vintage Disney classics! Link below.
THE HORSE IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUIT (Norman Tokar, 1968).
Based on Eric Hatch’s book The Year of the Horse, Walt Disney Productions’ The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit is a lighthearted comedy set in the world of showjumping.
Madison Avenue advertising executive Fred Bolton (Dean Jones) has just 24 hours to appease a client and save a valuable account. He hits upon the idea of sponsoring showhorse Aspercel - named for his client’s brand of indigestion tablets - which his shy daughter will hopefully ride to glory.
Jones, in his 5th film for Disney is an amiable leading man. Diane Baker is equally likeable as his romantic interest. In her sole movie credit Ellen Janov impresses as Bolton’s daughter, while Disney regulars Kurt Russell and Norman Grabowski appear in smaller roles.
Yet despite this quality cast the movie is something of a disappointment.
To describe The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit as a gentle comedy would be an understatement. There are plenty of mild chuckles but few big laughs in a movie that canters rather than gallops to the finishing line. Even its climax at a critical International Horse Show event fails to generate much excitement.
It seems a little redundant to be over critical of The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit. It is well meaning and completely inoffensive yet also predictable and slightly dull. At just shy of 2 hours it is also about 20 minutes too long. In fact it is only the game playing of the appealing cast that saves it.
If you’ve seriously nothing better to do it will while away a couple of hours. Horse lovers will undoubtedly enjoy the equine aspect but, to be honest, it is no champion.
Check out my blog jinglebonesmovietime.blogspot.com for more reviews of vintage Disney classics!
THE SHAGGY D.A. (Dir: Robert Stevenson, 1976).
This kooky canine comedy from Walt Disney Productions was the belated sequel to hit The Shaggy Dog (Charles Barton, 1959).
Following on from the events of the original movie, now adult Wilby Daniels is now a successful lawyer, his dog morphing days behind him. However, the ancient cursed ring which turned him into a Bratislavian Sheepdog has been stolen from a local museum by some crooks in the pay of unscrupulous politician 'Honest' John Slade. With incredibly unfortunate timing, this occurs just as Daniels is about to run against Slade in a local election for the position of District Attorney. Daniels must run his campaign and try to get the ring back from Slade, whilst proving him corrupt. All the time running the risk of inadvertently turning into a sheepdog!
Replacing Tommy Kirk in role of Wilby Daniels from the original movie is Disney regular Dean Jones. Jones is appealing as ever, displaying his considerable talent for quirky comedy. Reunited with Jones in their 3rd film together is the equally appealing Suzanne Pleshette. With less to do than Jones, she still makes a good impression as the understanding Mrs Daniels.
Don Tait's screenplay, suggested by the Felix Salten novel The Hound of Florence, is his 5th screenplay for the studio and adheres rigidly to the cookie cutter approach adopted by Disney in this era. True to form, we have some broad slapstick humour, the inevitable car chase and the expected police car pile up. All achieved by some unconvincing back projection. Director Robert Stevenson had a 20 year association with the studio and this was to be his last feature before retiring. Responsible for classics such as Old Yeller (1957) and Mary Poppins (1964), The Shaggy D.A. must be regarded as one of his lesser works.
Still, I enjoyed this film as a child and get a nostalgic kick out of it as an adult. It doesn't quite live up to the weird and wonderful original but is certainly worth a watch if you like this sort of thing. Not quite Best in Show then, but a likeable mutt of a movie nonetheless.
Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME for a longer, more in-depth review of The Shaggy D.A. Link below.
THE MILLION DOLLAR DUCK (Dir: Vincent McEveety, 1971).
A domestic comedy from Walt Disney Productions. Referred to in publicity as $1,000,000 Duck, the tale is a spin on the Aesop’s Fable of The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs.
After radiation exposure, dumb duck Charley begins to lay solid gold eggs. Much to the delight of cash strapped research scientist Albert Dooley (Dean Jones) and his dippy missus Katie (Sandy Duncan). Friendly neighbourhood lawyer Fred (Tony Roberts) is in on the act of keeping their discovery from nosy nextdoor US Treasury Department employee Hooper (Joe Flynn). As gold fever engulfs the household, the generation gap between Albert and his son Jimmy (Lee Montgomery) grows. The kid only wanted a pet duck. At the risk of losing his poultry pal to the government, the pair fly the coop, hitching a ride on a hot-rod and creating crosstown chaos as mom and pop, the money men and the cops join pursuit of boy and bird.
Visit my blog JINGLE BONES MOVIE TIME to read the full review! Link below.
