Tag: tommy kirk

Reviews

Son of Flubber (1963)

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(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my About page first! Thanks!)

Walt Disney was known as a guy who wasn’t fond of sequels. Having said that, here we are taking a look at the sequel he made to The Absent-Minded Professor: Son of Flubber! Apparently, the main reason that this sequel was made was because there were leftover gags from The Absent-Minded Professor…and it shows! Let’s take a look at one of the last (if not the last) black-and-white film from Disney: Son of Flubber!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “Son of Flubber (1963)” →

Reviews

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

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(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my About page first! Thanks!)

In 1812, author Johann David Wyss, published Der Schweizerische Robinson (The Swiss Family Robinson), a novel about a Swiss family who were shipwrecked Robinson Crusoe-style. The first film adaptation of this novel was in 1940 and after having watched it, Walt Disney decided to make his own film version 20 years later. Directed by Ken Annakin, the Disney film has since been beloved by many and its legacy is present in the Swiss Family Treehouse attraction found in multiple Disney parks. What do I think of the film? Read on to find out!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “Swiss Family Robinson (1960)” →

Reviews

Old Yeller (1957)

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(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my About page first! Thanks!)

If you’re into live-action Disney, then you definitely know the name, Tommy Kirk. Having started out his Disney career as Joe Hardy in a The Hardy Boys serial for The Mickey Mouse Club, Tommy Kirk later went on to star in a number of theatrical and TV films for Disney. Some of these include The Shaggy Dog, Babes in Toyland, and The Misadventures or Merlin Jones. He would act in other non-Disney films later on in his career (most notably in a number of beach party films), but his fame would always be tied to his work for Disney.

Sadly though, on September 28, 2021, Tommy Kirk passed away at the age of 79. To pay tribute to him, I decided to watch and review the very first Disney film that he acted in (and one that I’m surprised nobody up to this point has requested me to review): the beloved classic, Old Yeller! Directed by Robert Stevenson and based on the book by Fred Gipson, this is a film that has made its mark in cinematic history if only for its unforgettable ending! Heck, if you’ve never seen the film before, you already know how this film ends. Without further ado, here’s my review of Disney’s Old Yeller!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “Old Yeller (1957)” →

Notable Deaths

Actor Tommy Kirk Dies at 79

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In sad news, the Disney legend, Tommy Kirk, has passed away at the age of 79. It’s impossible to talk about live-action Disney and not mention Tommy Kirk (1941-2021)! He appeared as Joe Hardy in the The Mickey Mouse Club serial, The Hardy Boys, and went on to appear in multiple live-action Disney films including Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, The Absent-Minded Professor, Babes in Toyland, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones. He appeared in a number of non-Disney films as well, although his fame would arguably be connected to Disney.

My condolences go out to his family and friends. He shall be missed!

Reviews

Bon Voyage! (1962)

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(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my About page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

You’d think a film about a family taking a vacation to Europe would be an interesting film to watch. If this were the film in question, you’d be wrong. Nevertheless, we must go through with it. Here’s my review of the James Neilson-directed Bon Voyage!.

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “Bon Voyage! (1962)” →

Reviews

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964)

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(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my About page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

There’s not much to say in terms of an introduction other than this was the first time I saw this film. I had known about its existence for years though. Am I glad I finally saw it? Well, here’s my review of The Misadventures of Merlin Jones!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964)” →

Reviews

The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)

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(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my About page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

Before I get into the review, I firstly wanna apologize for how late this review is! I ran late on editing it.

Secondly, I wanna point out that this film was one of the few films that Disney made in black-and-white. However, it was later colorized and I happened to watch the colorized version. I would have preferred to see the original black-and-white version, but this was the copy that I got my hand on. So without further ado, let’s take a look at The Absent-Minded Professor!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)” →

Reviews

The Shaggy Dog (1959)

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theshaggydog

(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my About page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

On October 6, 2015, we lost another live-action Disney legend, Kevin Corcoran.

Gonna miss you, kid!
Gonna miss you, kid!

Known best for his childhood appearances in Disney films, the actor was 66 years old when he passed away. To pay tribute to him like I did for Dean Jones, I decided to review one of the films that he was in. I’ve already reviewed two of his films before (Pollyanna and Babes in Toyland), so today I’m doing a film that many find beloved: The Shaggy Dog. Do I find it beloved? Well, let’s find out!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “The Shaggy Dog (1959)” →

Reviews

Babes in Toyland (1961)

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babesintoyland

(If this is your first time on this blog, I ask you to read my “About” page first! You can find a link to it at the top left-hand corner of this blog. Thanks!)

When people think of live-action Disney musicals, films like Mary Poppins or Bedknobs and Broomsticks come to mind. But the first live-action musical film that Walt Disney made was the 1961 film, Babes in Toyland. Based on an operetta of the same name, this would be only the 2nd theatrical adaptation of the film (the other being with Laurel and Hardy) and the first to be shown in Technicolor.

Is it worth watching? Should we give a darn about this Toyland place? Well, let’s find out!

And remember, SPOILERS AHEAD!

Continue reading “Babes in Toyland (1961)” →