Davy Crockett was only five feature Frontierland
adventures which aired as part of Disneyland and was never a series.
The first three episodes were:
"Davy Crockett Indian Fighter" 12/15/54
"Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" 1/26/55
"Davy Crockett At the Alamo" 2/23/55
Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, a video Collection
of the first three Davy Crocket adventures is available for
purchase.
Customer reviews:
Rating:
- The original Disney trilogy of Davy Crockett adventures
I missed out on the Davy Crockett craze, which means I did not have a coonskin
cap and was not running around the neighborhood singing 'The Ballad of Davy
Crockett" over and over again. By the time I was watching television Fess Parker
was Daniel Boone and not Davy Crockett, so it took a bit of mental rearrangement
to get my young mind around the idea that he was both when "The Wonderful World
of Disney" rebroadcast the three adventures of Davy Crockett that were combined
into the theatrical film, "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier." They made
enough of an impression that my brother and I compelled our parents to buy us
the Disney record that had audio versions of the three adventures. So it has
been nigh on thirty, thirty-five years since I done seen these original
adventure of Davy Crockett and I was a might surprised to learn they hold up
pretty well.
"Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" combines "Davy Crockett, Indian
Fighter," "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress," and "Davy Crockett at the Alamo."
Davy and his sidekick Georgie Russell (Buddy Ebsen) stop a Creek uprising and
convince Chief Red Stick (Pat Hogan) to return to the ways of peace despite the
help of Captain Norton (William Bakewell) and with the tactic approval of
General Andy Jackson (Basil Ruysdael), spends some time speechifying in the
United States Congress, and then joins the small band of volunteers led by Jim
Bowie (Kenneth Tobey) defending the Alamo against the Mexican army of General
Santa Ana. The middle part of the trilogy is the weakest of the adventures
seeing as how Davy has to dress up in fancy duds to walk around the halls of
Congress. The conclusion at the Alamo is the most memorable sequence, having a
more serious tone and some impressive production values when you consider the
entire battle is being shot on a soundstage (for years when I drew the Alamo it
was the Disney version and not the real one that I was drawing).
Directed by Norman Foster and written by Thomas Blackburn, the biggest surprise
in these episodes is Davy's attitude towards the Indians. Instead of just
killing Red Stick in their tomahawk duel Davy persuades the chief to return to
the land. He stops Bigfoot Mason (Mike Mazurki) from stealing the land of
Charlie Two Shirts (Jeff Thompson), gives a speech in Congress defending the
right of Indians to their tribal lands, and befriends the brave Busted Luck
(Nick Cravat) on the way to the Alamo. The climatic battle has an appropriate
gravity and does a tolerable job of sticking to history beyond reducing the role
of Colonel Travis (Don Megowan). When Davy sings a final song on the last night
of the battle there is an unexpected poignancy, which contrasts well with the
simple determination to stay there until the end. The sight of Davy swinging old
Betsy as a club while about to be overwhelmed by the Mexican troops is a
memorable final image of our hero.
Ultimately the main strength of these stories are the performances of the two
leads. Parker completely natural in the role and Ebsen shows an understated
comic touch throughout. The friendship between Davy and Georgie becomes the one
constant throughout the adventures. There are several fine supporting
performances as well, particularly Ruysdael as Andy Jackson and Tobey as a
fatalistic Jim Bowie. Veteran character actor Hans Conreid plays Thimbelrig, a
gambler the boys pick up on their way to Texas. Granted, the nostalgic aspects
of "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" is going to be a strong part of
the entertainment value here, but these are very good yarns for the Fifties.
Walt Disney made two more adventures in the series, "Davy Crockett's Keelboat
Race" and "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates," both of which are much more
comedic than the original trilogy while making more of an attempt to present
Davy as a proper role model for the younguns.
Rating:
- My favorite movie
There has never been a greater movie (in my estimation) than Davy Crockett. I'm
a seventeen year old girl and I think this is great! There is so much action,
and Fess Parker portrays Crockett as a good clean honest citizen who aims for
the freedom of all men everywhere. This is an All-American classic.
Rating:
- Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier
Disney's Davy Crockett is a classic, and a slice of americana.
to many people, Fess Parker is and always will be Davy Crockett.
King of the Wild Frontier explores the life of Davy Crockett, from his days of
fighting bullies, to indians, to running for congress, and finally, to his final
moments at the Alamo.
there are some excellent speeches in this one, espically his speech in congress.
but the best part of course, is for what Davy Crockett is mostly well known for,
his participation in the battle of the alamo.
here, Disney created a miniature sized Alamo fortress which looks like more fun
to play paintball in than for the actual movie.
regardless, the battle scene is excellent.
you will truly enjoy Disney's Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier.
Davy
Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier Video
