Toon Talk: Walt Disney Treasures: Davy Crockett
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DISC 2:
With the real history of Davy Crockett exhausted in the first season, Walt and his staff turned to the innumerable legends inspired by the folk hero for two more episodes the following year.
Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race
November 16, 1955.
While heading to New Orleans, Davy and Russell unwittingly get involved in a keelboat race down the Mississippi River with the self-acclaimed "King of the River", Mike Fink (Jeff York).
Without the mantle of history to live up to, this episode is the most traditionally Western of the lot, even if it does take place mainly on the water. And that's not to say it isn't a hoot to watch, due mostly to the over-the-top performance of York as the rascally Fink and Kenneth Tobey, in a far cry from his noble Jim Bowie in the last episode, as his flunky Jocko. Here Davy's nemesis', they return as friends in the following episode.
This episode was the inspiration for the Disney theme park attraction Mike Fink Keelboats, which had replicas of the Gullywhumper and the Bertha Mae.
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
December 14, 1955.
On their way back to Tennessee, Davy and Russell discover a band of pirates posing as Indians terrorizing the Ohio River. With Mike Fink and his crew as allies, they track down the scurvy crew.
The banjo-plucking Colonel Pluck may sound familiar to some. He is played by character actor Walter Catlett, who provided the voice of J. Worthington Foulfellow in Pinocchio.
The last Davy Crockett episode, combined with the previous show and released theatrically on July 18, 1956 as Davy Crockett and the River Pirates.
BONUS FEATURES:
The Davy Crockett Craze
Maltin is joined by Paul F. Anderson, author the book The Davy Crockett Craze. They discuss the real Davy Crockett and how he differed from the Disneyfied version, and reveal such behind-the-scenes facts as how Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as Davy, until Walt saw Fess Parker in the sci fi B-movie Them!
Anderson elaborates on how Davy Crockett was the Star Wars of it's time, and the extensive merchandising that was produced for the show. During the height of this Davymania, over $3 million dollars worth of coonskin caps, children's clothing, toys, games, books, et cetera were sold to a hungry public.
A Conversation With Fess Parker
From the grounds of his winery in Los Olivos, California, Parker is interviewed by Maltin on his experiences in buckskin. Parker recollects his first meeting with Walt and reveals the initial friction between himself and director Foster.
Parker recalls fond memories of working with co-stars Ebsen, Bakewell and Ruysdael and his nationwide tour of personal appearances, including opening day at Disneyland.
Gallery
Click on the different "framed picture" icons to see a great selection of publicity shots, production photos and such merchandise artwork as sheet music, album and book covers. Great addition: the original wood-carving artwork from the opening titles. And captions!
There is one Easter Egg on this second disc: from the "Supplemental Features" menu, click on Davy's coonskin hat to watch the clip of Norman Foster introducing Fess Parker as he sings "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" from The Disneyland Story episode of Disneyland. (This scene is available in full on the Disneyland USA DVD set.)
At a time of national crisis such as we are living in today, it is a pleasure to watch again the simple, wholesome adventures of our childhood heroes such as Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.
Toon Talk Rating: A
Toon Talk Trivia:
- Fess Parker (Davy Crockett) also starred for Walt in such adventure classics as The Great Locomotive Chase, Westward Ho, the Wagons!, Old Yeller and The Light in the Forest.
- Buddy Ebsen (George Russell) had a chance to show off his musical side as the father of The One and Only, Genuine Original Family Band. He was also the live action reference for "Project Little Man", which led to the creation of Audio-Animatronics.
- Jeff York's many memorable performances for Disney, beyond Mike Fink, included turns in The Great Locomotive Chase, Westward Ho, the Wagons!, Johnny Tremain ,and as Bud Searcy in Old Yeller and Savage Sam.
- Helene Stanley (Polly Crockett) was the live action model for Cinderella and Princess Aurora.
- Mike Mazurki (Bigfoot Mason) returned in The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin and Dick Tracy.
- Hans Conried (Thimblerig) was, of course, the voice of Captain Hook and Mr. Darling in Peter Pan. His other Disney credits include The Cat from Outer Space and The Shaggy D.A.
- Director Norman Foster also helmed such other Disney television favorites as Zorro and The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca.
- The official title of the theme song written by George Bruns and Tom Blackburn is "The Ballad of Davy Crockett: His Early Life, Hunting Adventures, Services Under General Jackson in the Creek War, Electioneering Speeches, Career in Congress, Triumphal Tour in the Northern States and Services in the Texas War".
Final Word:
"Be sure you're right, then go
ahead."
-- Davy Crockett's motto.
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-- Kirby C. Holt
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. A frequent contributer to the LaughingPlace.com Discussion Boards, he currently resides near one of the Happiest Places on Earth: Orlando, Florida.
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted December 18, 2001