This 1949 Disney film was the last of the so-called "package features" and while none of these films could be considered masterpieces, they do have charm and entertainment value and this one is no exception.
The movie is divided into two-parts, telling the story of two fabulous characters from both sides of the Atlantic. The first is a faithful retelling of the classic "The Wind in the Willows." This segment is technically well made and has some laughs but it's more cerebral than the slapstick second half of the film. The narration is provided by Basil Rathbone, who does a superb job. All in the all, this one was pretty good.
The second half is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" narrated by Bing Crosby (an odd choice, in my view) and with the exception of Crosby, back-up vocalists and a quick cameo by composer Ollie Wallace, there is no dialog in this segment. This results in a stilted sense of pacing and story and unlike "Willows" this one lacks solidity.
The story is redeemed with a fantastic sequence where Old Icabod is chased through the Hollow on a creepy, moonlit night by the cackling horseman. Genuinely tense and well-animated, it redeems the segment as a whole.
Although not perfect and certainly no classic, "Icabod and Toad" should please children and keep adults amused.
The movie is divided into two-parts, telling the story of two fabulous characters from both sides of the Atlantic. The first is a faithful retelling of the classic "The Wind in the Willows." This segment is technically well made and has some laughs but it's more cerebral than the slapstick second half of the film. The narration is provided by Basil Rathbone, who does a superb job. All in the all, this one was pretty good.
The second half is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" narrated by Bing Crosby (an odd choice, in my view) and with the exception of Crosby, back-up vocalists and a quick cameo by composer Ollie Wallace, there is no dialog in this segment. This results in a stilted sense of pacing and story and unlike "Willows" this one lacks solidity.
The story is redeemed with a fantastic sequence where Old Icabod is chased through the Hollow on a creepy, moonlit night by the cackling horseman. Genuinely tense and well-animated, it redeems the segment as a whole.
Although not perfect and certainly no classic, "Icabod and Toad" should please children and keep adults amused.