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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Disney
EAN: 0786936234299
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Label: Walt Disney Video
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 2.0 MonoSpanishSubtitledFrenchSubtitled
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
MPN: DISD33660D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: July 06, 2004
Running Time: 110 minutes
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1968
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 07/06/2004
Amazon.com:
"All I know is, the Democrats elected a president, and the Republicans cheated 'em out of it!" No, this is not a Michael Moore documentary, but a 1968 Disney musical. The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band is probably the best musical comedy set against the 1888 presidential campaign between Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison. The family band, a bit like American prairie Von Trapps, settles in the Dakota territory. Problem is, Grandpappy Walter Brennan is a diehard Democrat, and Dakota is rife with Republicans, including the suitor (John Davidson at his dimpledest) to his granddaughter (Lesley Ann Warren). The score by the Sherman brothers is not their best, and the "family fare" approach almost killed Disney films during this era. Nice to see old hoofer Buddy Ebsen get to dance a bit, and trivia buffs should note that Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are first linked here--he's one of the kids, she's a featured dancer. --Robert Horton
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
Based upon Family Band - From the Missouir to the Black Hills 1881-1900, this is the story of how a Presidential election affects a three-generation family of musical performers. It's 1888, and the Bowers--Grandpa Rensselaer (Walter Brennan), a passionate Democrat and Confederate veteran (though thoroughly reconstructed) who plays violin and conducts; father Calvin (Buddy Ebsen), an easygoing Republican who plays banjo; mother Katie (Janet Blair), who plays woodwind and has, in self-defense, imposed a rule forbidding political talk in the house; and eight kids, three boys and five girls, ranging from 16-year-old Alice (Lesley Ann Warren) to to six-year-old Laura (Pamelyn Ferdin)--are prosperous farmers in Iowa, adding to their income by playing music locally. With a Presidential election looming, and Grover Cleveland set to defend his office, Grandpa has written a lively campaign song, "Let's Put It Over With Grover," which compares the incumbent to Washington and Lincoln, and which he hopes will gain the family an invitation to the Democratic convention in St. Louis and a chance for the youngsters to ride on a train, something they've always wanted to do. Meanwhile, Alice has been corresponding with Joe Carder (John Davidson) of Rapid City, DT, the young editor of the town's Republican newspaper, who comes to Iowa to meet her and incidentally drum up enthusiasm for emigration by "good Republican families." Calvin is so enthused by the possibility of his sons being able to file on their own homesteads that he decides to head West, and Grandpa unselfishly gives up his dream of playing at the convention to allow it. But he's still a fiery Democrat, and when Benjamin Harrison is nominated to oppose Cleveland--on a platform including "no new states"--and the people of the Black Hills Region begin talking about forming a government and dividing the Territory into a North and a South Dakota, his well-meaning attempts to indoctrinate the schoolchildren in what he considers proper loyalty to Washington backfires into powerful community sentiment and a break with his own family as well as trouble for the two young lovers.
With several infectious musical numbers (including "The Family Band," "The Happiest Girl Alive," "Ten Feet Off the Ground," "Drummin', Drummin', Drummin'," "Oh, Benjamin Harrison," the ensemble "West of the Wide Missouri," Davidson's stirring solo "Dakota," and his duet with Warren, "'Bout Time") and a good period feel (though rather a lot of showing of leg by supposedly virtuous females!), this is an interesting if little-known Disney family musical that gives a good sense of the kind of powerful passions aroused by political partisanship in the America of c. 1865-1916. Brennan, who was 74 when he made it, provides one of the high points in his portrayal of a former Confederate who on his return from the war told his son that the nation's newly confirmed unity must be preserved forever, and has lived by that motto ever since. The big dance number on Election Night reminds me somewhat of the barn dance in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Davidson shows he's more than just a pretty face as he brings to life a passionate young man with powerful political views and a deep attachment to the girl he's chosen, even though the combination leads him to a rivalry with local cowboy (and Democrat) Ernie Stubbins (Steve Harmon). Watch for Goldie Hawn (credited as Goldie Jeanne) as a giggly dancer at the Election party.
Rating: -
Believe it or not this was one of my favorite movies as a kid, even with all of the singing. I had not seen it in almost 37 years and always wondered why Disney did not bring it out again. I now know it was because it was not rated well at all as they didn't develop all the characters very well, etc. But as a kid you don't see that as I do now. But it is a fun and clean movie still today.
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I can't tell you how long the history lessons in this movie have stayed with my family. Just sing one of the songs and you rembember 19th century politics and US expansion. Another generation will love it.
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I have waited years to get this on DVD. Very catchy - the whole family will love it!
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My wife grew up watching this film on a worn out VHS and it brought back so many great memories for her. Best Buy couldn't order it for me but Amazon came through. Thank you Amazon!
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