Toon Talk: Disney's American Legends
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At "sixty-three ax-handles high" and with a big blue ox for a sidekick, our next hero, Paul Bunyan was a perfect subject for a Disney animated featurette (1958, directed by Les Clark).
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From his early days as a giant baby washed up on the shores of a seaside town, to his fame as the greatest lumberjack that ever lived, everything about him was bigger then life. Legend has it that he formed the Grand Titons, built Pike's Peak, and is responsible for the Aurora Borealis, all retold here in grand Disney tradition.
Our final story features John Luther Jones, a.k.a. Casey Jones, The Brave Engineer (1950, directed by Jack Kinney). (Casey) Jones was "a master at the throttle" and had "an unflinching devotion to duty", according to (James Earl) Jones. But the accompanying short (the only one I had not seen prior to this collection) is a bit to manic and slapstick to fit the theme intended here; perhaps Johnny Appleseed's Melody Time co-star Pecos Bill would have made a more appropriate choice.
Although the program definitely presents the shorts in descending order of quality, it ends on a high note with these inspirational words from James Earl Jones: "Look for the heroes around you and celebrate them ... you can find them in the past, in the present, even in the mirror."
DVD Extras:
The DVD also features Walt Disney's original introduction to Johnny Appleseed from
the Disneyland television show, and an American Legends game.
It is also worth noting that the shorts are presented in the program sans opening or closing credits.
Toon Talk Rating: B+
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Toon Talk Trivia:
- James Earl Jones was, of course, the voice of Mufassa in The Lion King.
- John Henry's wife Polly is voiced by Alfre Woodard, also heard as Plio in Dinosaur.
- Disney voice favorites The Mellomen can be heard in Paul Bunyan, with Thurl Ravenscroft voicing the title character.
- If the narrator of The Brave Engineer sounds familiar, you're right. It's Jerry Colonna, voice of Alice in Wonderland's March Hare and narrator of another American legend, Casey at the Bat in Make Mine Music.
Final Words:
"Who will be the
doers and dreamers of tomorrow?"
-- James Earl Jones, closing monologue from Disney's American Legends.
Toon In To The NEXT Toon Talk For...
Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook are back in Return to Neverland, new in theaters Friday, February 15th.
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Related Links
- Purchase Disney's American Legends DVD from Amazon.com
- Toon Talk Review of John Henry
- List of all Toon Talk articles
-- Kirby C. Holt
Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
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 February 14, 2002