come on everybody! is everyone blind or something? KEVIN CORCORAN DOES HIS OWN STUNT WORK HERE. so do the other two children. i have read many reviews like Leonard Maltin's and even looked at the wikipedia for this film and nobody points this obvious fact out. i mean what a thing to leave out. if you don't at least mention this you are not giving Kevin Corcoran the true credit he deserves for his outstanding performance. if one more person writes a review of this film without mentioning this i'm gonna scream "foul"! you might really like the film but if you don't mention this you are being too forgetful, unobservant, and unfair.
hopefully one day this minor children's classic will get the good treatment it so richly earns and deserves. it is definitely one of Disney's very best from the studio's golden age. it is very solid film making and even though there might be better films, few films have achieved this kind of neat and tidy perfection. every little element works beautifully.
not to mention the film is very cute with an abundance of simple heart. i was surprised to find out the book was so unpleasant. i read 'Toby Tyler' when i was about nine yrs old but i don't seem to remember anything about the book. i certainly didn't remember it was that dark. but i'll take that reviewers word for it. the books themselves are usually darker and grittier than their Disney film adaptations which tend to be more wholesome. i always remembered the film better because i saw the film a few times first. i remember loving the film but not having much of an opinion about the book. probably because i was afraid of it or something.
besides an amazing performance by the film's lead, Kevin Corcoran, the film also highlights the wonderful Henry Calvin and Gene Sheldon, two of my favorite Disney performers. they were both cute and funny when teamed up as Laurel and Hardy look alikes for 'Babes in Toyland', but their performances here resonate more warmth and realistic human appeal. especially Calvin, who i think should have been nominated for this. but Disney films were not taken seriously in the "actor" categories back then. Kevin Corcoran should have at least been given a special "outstanding juvenile performance" award.
it's also fun to see veteran Disney Composer/conductor Oliver Wallace in a cameo role as the circus band leader.
love the heck out of this film. i first liked it because of the cute monkey 'Mr. Stubbs', but now i appreciate so much more about it's timeless appeal and cheery message. this is one of those Disney "feel good" movies that always reminds me why i am such a "Disney groupie, fanatic".
hopefully one day this minor children's classic will get the good treatment it so richly earns and deserves. it is definitely one of Disney's very best from the studio's golden age. it is very solid film making and even though there might be better films, few films have achieved this kind of neat and tidy perfection. every little element works beautifully.
not to mention the film is very cute with an abundance of simple heart. i was surprised to find out the book was so unpleasant. i read 'Toby Tyler' when i was about nine yrs old but i don't seem to remember anything about the book. i certainly didn't remember it was that dark. but i'll take that reviewers word for it. the books themselves are usually darker and grittier than their Disney film adaptations which tend to be more wholesome. i always remembered the film better because i saw the film a few times first. i remember loving the film but not having much of an opinion about the book. probably because i was afraid of it or something.
besides an amazing performance by the film's lead, Kevin Corcoran, the film also highlights the wonderful Henry Calvin and Gene Sheldon, two of my favorite Disney performers. they were both cute and funny when teamed up as Laurel and Hardy look alikes for 'Babes in Toyland', but their performances here resonate more warmth and realistic human appeal. especially Calvin, who i think should have been nominated for this. but Disney films were not taken seriously in the "actor" categories back then. Kevin Corcoran should have at least been given a special "outstanding juvenile performance" award.
it's also fun to see veteran Disney Composer/conductor Oliver Wallace in a cameo role as the circus band leader.
love the heck out of this film. i first liked it because of the cute monkey 'Mr. Stubbs', but now i appreciate so much more about it's timeless appeal and cheery message. this is one of those Disney "feel good" movies that always reminds me why i am such a "Disney groupie, fanatic".