1:15 AM – The Ugly Dachshund (1966)

Inspired by The Ugly Duckling, The Ugly Dachshund paired Dean Jones with Suzanne Pleshette for the first time in their Disney careers. And while The Littlest Outlaw shows Disney being respectful of another culture, The Ugly Dachshund features one of the most offensive Asian stereotypes in any of the Disney films. But that one scene shouldn’t discredit the rest of the picture, which is pure 1960’s Disney fun.

When the Garrison’s prize-winning dachshund has a litter of puppies, they bring home one extra runt from the vet. As Brutus grows bigger and becomes the Great Dane that he truly is, the couple begin to feud. But their quarrel leads husband Mark to enter his “ugly dachshund” into the dog show to prove his worth.

If Brutus looks familiar, you may remember him from his role as Duke, one of the dogs in Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson. Winnie the Pooh fans should note that he made his debut in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, which was attached to The Ugly Dachshund in its initial release. This film was released the same year that Walt Disney passed away from lung cancer. There’s a scene where Suzanne Pleshette gives Dean Jones a gift for his smoking habit and he reminds her that he already quit. This may all be coincidence, but perhaps the line was inspired by Walt’s personal struggles with smoking and the realization that it would be his undoing.

Recommendation: This sweet comedy offers a lot of fun, while predictable and sticking close to the Disney formula. Catch it if you’re a fan of Disney comedies, all others should pass.

3:00 AM – A Tale of Two Critters (1977)

Unless you were a child in the 1970’s and were taken to see The Rescuers in theaters, you’ve probably never seen A Tale of Two Critters before. I certainly hadn’t. This live-action animal short was attached to The Rescuers in its original theatrical run and was released to video rental stores in 1981, but has been otherwise unavailable since.

“It was not the best of times, it was not the worst of times,” are the first words our narrator says as he introduces us to a young bear and raccoon, two unlikely friends who will have to rely on each other’s talents to survive when they are separated from their families. This kid-friendly animal film features lots of mischief as our protagonists come into contact with wolverines, foxes, and skunks as they go through the seasons together.

Recommendation: The most obscure “Treasure” to date is worth a view if you’re a fan of Disney’s animal films, but it’s otherwise pretty forgettable.

4:00 AM – Sammy the Way Out Seal (1962)

One of the most memorable 2-part TV movies to come from The Wonderful World of Color, Sammy the Way Out Seal is full of charm and nostalgia for simpler times. The 4:00 end of Treasures from the Disney Vault is usually reserved for the worst selection of the night. But this time around, it’s actually one of the best.

When brothers Arthur and Petey happen upon an injured seal at the beach, they sneak the animal home and name him Sammy. Hiding him right under their parent’s noses, the boys do their best to care for the mischievous Sammy. But when the seal sneaks out and crashes a neighborhood party, they will have to find a way to stop a feud between neighbors.

Filmed almost entirely on the Disney lot, the boys in Sammy appear to share the same neighborhood as the couple in The Ugly Dachshund since they all live on historic Residential Street. Fans of classic Disney films will recognize Ann Jillian, who played Bo Peep in Babes in Toyland, and Michael McGreevey, who went on to star as one of Dexter Riley’s friends in the Kurt Russell film series. Another bit of fun trivia is that the pool scenes were filmed inside soundstage 3, utilizing a portion of the tank originally built for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Recommendation: Sammy the Way Out Seal is a must-see for all Disney film fans and my second favorite film of the night, behind Old Yeller.

This animal edition of TCM’s Treasures from the Disney Vault featured a few wonderful animal films, plus two memorable Silly Symphonies. It’s one of the few versions of the programming lineup that has managed to stay on-theme from start-to-finish and this theme could easily be repeated several times over without re-airing a single film. However, my hope is that next December returns to a winter and Christmas theme with films like The Happiest Millionaire (featuring the song “It Won’t Be Long Until Christmas”), Melody Time (featuring “Once Upon a Wintertime”) and Swiss Family Robinson (it has a Christmas scene).