Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) (Movie Review)

     In 1937, Walt Disney released one of the crowning achievements in film history, Americas very first theatrical animated movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. It was a huge success, and paved the way for the classic animated pictures that proceeded. However, only a hand-full of movies followed directly after, as the ensuing events of World War 2 changed the face of the studio for the next decade, and made it challenging for the studio to release any full-length animated pictures. It wasn’t until 1950 with the release of “Cinderella” that the studio was saved from bankruptcy, and they were able to make the animated Disney classics we all know today. 

So, what kept the studio going through the 1940’s war times? Well, in order to save time and money, as well as keep the animation studio going, Disney released a series of theatrical package movies. Basically, they were animated anthologies comprised of Disney shorts, and each with their own themes and tones. Some were educational travelogue’s, others revolved around contemporary music, and some were scripts intended for full-length pictures, but trimmed down to half-hour shorts. What an interesting bit of movie history … can you imagine today, going to the theater and instead of seeing a full-length animated movie, you get a collection of cartoons that seem like specials you’d see on T.V.? Of all the theatrical package movies released during this decade, one of my absolute favorites is the 1949 picture “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”, or “Ichabod and Mr. Toad” for short. This was Walt Disney’s 11th animated picture, and like any of his animated films, it made their adapted sources some of the most recognizable and iconic in the media.

    Unlike most Package movies of the time, which contained a huge assortment of shorts, as well as featured appearances from recognizable characters like Mickey Mouse and so forth, this film acts as double feature with only two shorts, and no guest appearances from animated Disney icons. Also, instead of adapting fairy-tales, this was Disney’s attempt to bring literary classics to the silver screen ... namely “The Wind and the Willows” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. The film is appropriately set in a library, with famed talents Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby acting as our disembodied storytellers for each individual story. Watching this movie as a kid, I had no point of reference for either of them, so it’s cool watching this movie again as an adult and identifying both of our narrators. I’ll always associate Basil Rathbone with "Son of Frankenstein" and “Sherlock Holmes”, while with Bing Crosby, I’ll always associate him with holiday classics in the vain of “White Christmas” and “Holiday Inn”. Speaking of which, both short’s complement each other by taking place during different holidays, as “The Wind and the Willows” is set on Christmas, while “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is set on Halloween. From here, it’s probably best to look at each short individually. 

(The Wind and the Willows)

Our first tale revolves around the mad adventurous of Mr. Toad, based on the novel “The Wind and the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame. I actually grew up with several different takes on the classic fable as a kid, and this one by Disney was my favorite by far. Mr. Toad is nuts about motor cars, and in an uncontrollable obsession with getting the fanciest vehicle he can find, he trades his estate with a crooked group of Wesel’s, in exchange for their shinny motor car. Their nasty leader, a bartender named Winkie proceeds to frame Mr. Toad for stealing the vehicle, and thus, he’s convicted, and sent to prison. Following a daring escape, Mr. Toad, along with his other animal friends, set off on a mission to prove his innocence. On the surface, it seems like your typical children’s adventure with cartoon animals, but it’s not without an undercurrent of adult and dark themes, with legal procedures, and even scenes with characters smoking and getting drunk. One thing I always found a little strange was that the setting of the story features talking animal characters in regular clothing living alongside human characters. Usually it’s one or the other, but here, animals and people are mixed together, and their even at proper scale … it’s just kind of odd and makes me wonder why all the characters couldn’t just be animals.

   While I’ve always looked back on this short as mostly “okay” by Disney standards, I’ve always remembered the characters, with Mr. Toad himself standing out as a personal favorite of mine. 

He’s full of energy, has some quirky lines, a highly animated personality, and even conveys a reserved sense of dramatic emotion. If it wasn’t for Mr. Toad, I don’t think this animated short would be as enjoyable as it is. With that said, the other animal characters are fine, with the friend Mole being a lovable companion and the horse has his share of quotable lines. While the villain Winkie is nothing special, his gang of Wesel’s have become minor icons among Disney’s cartoon rouges, and were the main inspiration for the Toon Patrol seen in "Who Framed Roger Rabit". This short also features my favorite musical number called “Merrily on our Way (Nowhere in Particular)”. While this movies collection of songs in general aren’t too memorable, this song has always stuck with me as something special. I remember back when I was a kid, I loved this song so much that I’d sing the lyrics whenever my parents took me on a road trip ... “Are we on our way to Nottingham? To Brittingham, to Buckingham? Or any hammy hamlet by the sea? … No!”. Overall, Mr. Toad’s adventure doesn’t reach the same heights as other animated shorts, but it’s perfectly passable, it’s colorful, and has some entertaining cartoon action. The final battle for Toad Hall even features cell animation that would be reused during an action sequence in Disney’s “The Jungle Book”. However, this short is really just the appetizer for the main event …

(The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)

Things take a spooky turn with the adventures of Ichabod in a short based on “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Unlike the previous short, which feature characters with spoken lines, this segment has all its players speaking through a form of Mime storytelling. No joke, just about everything conveyed by the characters is through their movements, expressions, and Bing Crosby’s narration. In this short, one Ichabod Crane comes to the quiet town of Sleepy Hollow to be a respected school teacher. Yet, after meeting the towns beautiful Katrina, he becomes a self-centered schemer, determined to win her hand, and inherit her land. His only competition is local bully Brom Bones, who equally has the same self-centered ambitions. While Ichabod Crane has no problem outwitting a tough guy, he’s no match for a certain haunted figure who comes to life on Halloween night … The Headless Horsman. Straight to the point, it’s all thanks to this segment that “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” stands out as one of my favorite of Disney’s packaged movies. While I liked Mr. Toads short just fine, this movie wouldn’t have meant nearly as much to me if it were paired with something like Disney’s animated “Paul Bunyan” short instead. Likewise, Disney’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has become a staple for repeat viewings for me around the Halloween season. It’s one of my all time favorite animated Halloween specials, and it’s what elevates this movie into a treasured Disney classic. 

    It’s the textbook definition of a Gothic children’s cartoon, with its cryptic atmosphere, dark story, creepy visuals, and even the setting has a haunting history to explore. Above all else … it’s a rare case in which there’s no definitive hero’s or villains. All three of our principle characters are self-centered, with very little moral substance, but none are quite nefarious enough to be branded as evil. 

It gives both the story and experience a very unique feel, and it makes things less predictable, as it’s not bound by typical Disney conventions. Ichabod Crane has one of the most distinct designs of any animated human character I’ve ever seen, and when paired with his up-beat personality, it makes him a joy to watch ... even though the character is still kind of a jerk throughout. Katrina always made me think of Bo-Peep from "Toy Story", although slightly more beautiful if I'm being honest. Her design would also be an influence on Cinderella's illustration the following year. The scenes with Ichabod and Brome Bones fighting over Katrina are hysterical, and they lead to some of my favorite visual-based hummer I’ve ever seen in a Disney production. As the antics between these characters go on, I always find myself forgetting it’s a ghost story, but that’s the beauty of this tale. It doesn’t hit you over the head with visual reminders that it’s Halloween, and it lets all the spooky elements slowly sneak up on you.

     The songs in this segment are less memorable, although “Ichabod’s Song” always reminded me of “Belle’s Song” from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”. 

Both revolve around a single person walking into town, who’s odd behavior and persona becomes the main subject to the gossipy towns people. Actually, there’s a number of things that I feel might have inspired the future animators of “Beauty and the Beast”. Brome Bones is almost like a prototype for Gaston, and even some shots of the woods at night could have influenced some of the spookier moments of Belle’s dad getting lost in the woods. Of course, the big turning point of the story is when Ichabod is invited to a Halloween party, and Brome Bones learns of Ichabod’s fearful superstitions. This leads into “The Headless Horsemen Song”, which isn’t on par with any of the great Disney villain numbers, but it’s always stood out to me as a worthy Halloween song. This is when the darker elements of the story take shape, and we begin to see more visuals that put me in the mood for the season. There’s Jack O Lanterns, Black Cats, Scarecrows, shadows, and this random creepy image of a pail-man in a chair. It’s also a rare treat to get the villain song before we even see the villain. All the grizzly details of what The Headless Horsemen dose on Halloween night just get me all the more excited for when we finally see him.

     This leads into Ichabod’s lonely, and frightening ride in the woods at night, which is personally one of my favorite individual scenes of any animated Disney movie. 

The strengths of this sequence come from its chilling atmosphere, mood and build-up. Seriously, no other Disney moment makes me feel as submersed in the moment as this creepy walk in the woods. It’s a rare case in which I find the build-up even more rewarding then the actual payoff, and it still thrills me as an adult. Unlike the over the top monster designs of Snow Whites venture in the dark forest, or the creatures from Fantasia’s Night on Bald Mountain, this sequence keeps the designs simple, and only sparingly shows creepy imagery ... that way it really pops when something appears on screen. I’ll never forget that awesome image of the full moon, and what looks like an evil hand closing around it. 

This scene is almost like a simulation, putting you in his place, and making you feel the fear, adrenaline and anxiety that something evil or dangerous might be out there waiting to strike. In general, I think we’ve all had times when we've felt dismal, frightened, and alone in the dark … we hear strange sounds, and we get a scary feeling that there’s something lurking in the shadows. You try to convince yourself that it’s just the wind or an animal, but you just don’t know for sure. Never before has that feeling been captured so well on screen then in this moment. We see him begin to panic at the sounds of frogs, owls and crickets, and all while the narrator gives frightening detail of how the forest seems to close in behind him, and consume him whole. Back when I was a little kid, I could never watch this scene by myself, and it’s personally my absolute favorite spooky sequence from any family picture.

    There’s also a great little moment in which Ichabod thinks he hears the Horseman coming up fast, but it’s really a bunch of twigs agents a log … and then … he just cracks! It’s an effective peace of comedy that leads into the film’s most famous scene … when The Headless Horseman makes his grand appearance, leading into a thrilling, climactic chase in the woods. 

This sequence is often regarded as one of the spookiest scenes from any of Disney’s animated pictures, as well as kid’s films in general. While I personally fond the buildup scarier, it’s still a really fun sequence, and The Headless Horseman is still a spectacle to view on screen. I could easily see how he might frighten younger viewers, especially with him swinging his sword around trying to decapitate pore Ichabod. With his menacing laugh, bright red cape, creepy looking red eyed horse, and of cores his flaming pumpkin, he’s always stood out to me as a seasonal mascot in the same vain as either Dracula or Frankenstein. His wicked laugh is also one of my all-time favorites, especially in this one moment when Ichabod gets a close-up look at his headless body while he’s letting out an evil chuckle. It’s also interesting to note that this is the only Disney movie that didn’t change the ending for a traditional happily ever after, and instead, it kept the dark twist ending of the novel. Ichabod is presumed dead, and Katrina gets married to the town bully Brome Bones. Wow … I love it when a kid’s film isn't afraid to take risks.

      In the end, “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” stands out as one of Disney’s very best packaged deals, and one that I highly recommend. While my feelings for the Sleepy Hollow short overshadow the Mr. Toad segment, his is still a fine companion peace, and it makes the experience overall feel more rewarding. The animation for it’s time is also worth praising, and still looks good all these years later. There are some creative angles, the energy is high, the colors pop, and even the backgrounds are expressively detailed. While this probably won’t be remembered as one of the great Disney classics, it still has its own strengths, and is a nice little underrated gem to add to any Disney collection.

Thanks for reading my review of Disney’s 1949 animated picture “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!

Stay tuned for Mr. Movies October Marathon, which begins October 1st and will last all month long!

American Movie (1999) (Movie Review)

  When it comes to my overall love of movies, I love watching them and discussing them … but I’ve always been on the fence about actually making them myself. During my college years, I was adamant about making short films, and collaborating with friends to make our own low budget, independent productions. Half the time, the experiences we had making them were more exciting and perhaps even interesting then the final products. It always got me thinking, what were the adventures like behind the camera, and it sparked my interest in seeking out movies about … well … making movies. One of the best I discovered during this time was the 1999 Documentary Comedy simply titled “American Movie”. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t any kind of goofy mockumentary in the vein of the 1984 comedy classic “This is Spinal Tap”, it’s a real documentary focusing on a crew putting together an independent film … and it just happens to have a sense of hummer along with any comedy classic … as well as human drama, and a warm sense of inspiration for anyone with set goals. 

  We follow independent filmmaker Mark Borchardt, who’s working on a short horror film called “Coven”, which if successful will raise capital for a potential feature film called “Northwestern”, which is his biggest passion. His filming experience is set between September 1995 and August 1997, and during this time, we see Mark’s process of translating his short film script from page to screen. Unfortunately for him, the project is riddled with set-backs, including Mark’s addiction to alcohol, his ex-girlfriend threatening to move out of state with their three kids, and a lack of enthusiasm from his film crew … which is mainly comprised of friends and family. Marks closest friend during the production is Mike Schank, who also composes the music, and is always there for his friend during the hardships of the production.

  The documentary itself was directed by Chris Smith, who captured the best of what his talented ensemble had to offer. Neither Mark Borchardt or his buddy Mike Schank were bound by any kind of scrip, it’s just these two natural guys being themselves, and exploding with humorous chemistry as a result. We have Mark driven by his passion to get the film made, and he frequently brings his distinct sense of hummer to his drive … “There are no excuses, no one pays the price of admission to look at a blank screen that reads “sorry, we couldn’t film this scene, so please use your imagination” … I’ve been to the movies and that’s never accrued”. Even with his witty retorts, Mark is also very humble, as he acknowledges his own faults, but aspires to better and achieve something significant in his life. His buddy Mike is quieter and more content, but holds personality deep within, and lets it explode out of him at special times … like screaming into a microphone. The two do make for an engaging pair, as we want to see them complete their film, and they can be quite funny in their own unique ways. 

  The same kind of genuine hummer comes from many of the supporting players, including Uncle Bill, who’s an elderly man in his Atom years, yet still dishes out a number of witty remarks … “Do they sell cigarettes in Heaven, I don’t think so”. For all the films humorous qualities, it still isn’t without it’s share of relatable or dramatic touches. One of the more memorable scenes for me is when Mark needs his mother to stand in as an extra during one of his shoots. It’s a relatable situation that brought back memories from my college years, in which I had my sister act in some of my own short films. Between good times and stressful times, the film manages to convey a sense of hopeful optimism. Mark Borchardt comments in the film that pursuing one’s goals against all odds is the “American Dream”. Personally, I feel this sentiment can apply to anyone following their passions. 

  In the time sense my college years, I haven’t continued to pursue filmmaking, but I still have my passions I follow, and I still look on this film as a genuine source of inspiration. It’s no-wonder this picture has achieved cult status, and truthfully, I’d say it’s a must watch for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in filmmaking. It’s got laughs, drama, quotable lines, and genuine sincerity to go around. While I personally wouldn’t label “American Movie” as one of my absolute favorite films, it is without question one of the best I’ve seen in the sub-category of “movies about making movies”, and I think it can be a genuine source of inspiration for anyone pursuing their dreams … especially young filmmakers. 

Thanks for reading my review of the 1999 Documentary Picture “American Movie” … and continue to follow your passions … whatever they may be.

Top 10 Favorite Animal Attack movies

     When it comes to sub-genera’s in Horror movies, there’s plenty to choose from. There’s the haunted house franchise, the zombie franchise, the slasher movies and psychological thrillers. But the cheapest, most clichéd and non-scary sub-genera in horror movie cinema by far is the animal on the attack franchise. You would think that a series of Horror films based on real predators that have been known to attack and kill humans would be very terrifying but for the most part, their just cheap, fun enjoyment. Now there are some that manage to be rather scary and even some of the really lame one’s like “Eight Legged Freaks” and “Spring Break Shark Attack” are still fun to watch on an afternoon with nothing better to do. I’ve seen plenty of animal attack films including “Anaconda”, “Piranha 3D”, “Bats”, “Lake Placed” and “Kingdome of the Spiders” but there’s a select few that I thought made for really fun B monster movies all the same (and maybe a bit scary). So from the Sharks that terrorize our seas to the Spiders that invade our own homes, these are my top ten favorite Animal Attack movies.       

10. The Ghost and the Darkness 

                                                

      With a title like that, you probably would think this movie has something to do with haunted houses or cursed people as opposed to an unstoppable killer lion. Well the plot goes like this, “Val Kilmer” is hired to take out an angry lion that’s preventing locals in Africa from completing the construction of a bridge. Well, he succeeds, but soon after, another lion begins to attack the villagers. However, this is a far more aggressive lion that attacks like a demon and is really hard to kill. Is it the ghost of the first lion or is it the brethren of the first out for revenge. Either way, “The Ghost in the Darkness”, may not be a very memorable creature feature but it is original (actually it's based on a true story), has a decent score by Jerry Goldsmith and it still manages to be a worthwhile film.           

9. Peter Benchley’s The Beast 

      Peter Benchley is an American author who wrote a lot of story’s about the dangers that lye in the ocean. Most of his novels were adapted into films including “The Island”, “The Deep”, “Peter Benchley’s Creature”, “Orca” and the most famous of all of them being “Jaws”. Well, “The Best” is one of his better adapted stories into film and one of the more competent animal attack movies. The plot revolves around a giant squid that’s plagueing an ocean harbor and a group of people who are determined to hunt it down and kill it. The Squid effects are pretty cool (for the most part) and the characters are nicely developed for this type of genera. There’s a lot of good build up and it doesn’t fall victim to as many predictable clichés. It may be a little long and overshadowed by better monster films but it’s still one of the smarter animal attack movies that the genera has to offer.      

8. Arachnophobia 

      Of all the animals on the planet, nothing scares me more than spiders, the way they can just sneak into your house without you being aware of it, that's such an eerie feeling. I’ve heard many terrifying stories of neighbors whose kids are severely poisoned by spider bites. Well, the movie “Arachnophobia” is very self aware of how frightening they are and has fun with the concept of these poisonous creatures sneaking into your house. It has a fun cast including “Jeff Daniels” and “John Goodman” and there are a lot of unintentionally funny moments. As a result, the film succeeds at being both creepy and good, cheese fun. It’s all one big loving tribute to classic creature on the loose movies and for that, it earns a spot on the list.     

7. Them! 

         There are lots of fun monster movies from the 50’s atomic age, but the best giant monster movie of the time (by far) is “Them!”. It avoids the self parody feel of other giant monster movies like “Earth vs. The Spider”, the visuals are great (maybe even menacing at times), some good chills, rather strong writing and plenty of B movie charms to win you over.    

6. Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid 

      Some may complain that it’s just a cheesy B monster movie but really, what more were you expecting. I actually found it to be an improvement over the first “Anaconda” because it felt like there was more of a self awareness to it. I was very young when I first saw it and I found it to be a rather exciting jungle adventure with thousands of giant snakes chasing a group of people. I can see now how cheesy it is but it’s still a rather enjoyable film with some decent characters (especially the computer geek named Cole), some rather nice scenery that subjects you to the harsh jungle environment, some elements were a little creepy (most notably that spider) the climax was good and some of the music was fun. If a simple animal attack movie is what you want, then that’s what this film offers.   

5. Snakes on a Plain 

 Now here’s a fun, cheesy flick. This film has an awesome premise that has no limits, it’s wild and free to do whatever it wants. The result is a film with fun characters, good visuals, nifty action, the always fantastic Samuel L. Jackson (who’s at the top of his game), a fun sense of hummer and a big plain full of snakes. It may not be that scary and is far from perfect but it really doesn’t need to be. If you’re in the proper mind set, this can be a really entertaining film. All in all, it’s solid, B movie entertainment.

4. Rogue 

      When it comes to movies about killer crocodiles, their rarely good. But “Rogue” is a rare, good animal attack movie with a very talented cast of basically un-known actors. The characters hold your attention, the crocodile effects are surprisingly good and there are some rather suspenseful, on the edge of your seat moments. This is also an amazing looking film, with lots of colorful locations, beautiful wildlife and some breathtaking cinematography. Overall, there was a lot of effort put into this film to make it a better than average animal attack film, and for the most part, it succeeds.      

3. Jaws 

     Of cores I had to have the classic blockbuster about a killer shark, and to this day it’s still regarded as one of the greatest Horror films (or just films) in cinema. It may be a standard monster movie but it’s done so well, with great characters that you care for, a terrific slow build up, some strong writing, a classic theme, some really frightening shock moments and a fascinating climax that’s still just as exciting every time I watch it. “Jaws” may be the most competent and memorable film on the list but there’s still two others that I thought were a little more fun.  

2. The Birds 

     

      The Key to any great horror movie is build up and that’s the strength that this film caries. Alfred Hitchcock’s brilliant direction and style made animals as simple and common as birds terrifying and the movie dose a damn good job of bringing on the terror from these every day creatures. It may seem a little hard at first to sit through so many boring scenes (especially in the opening) of just people talking but its all necessary to make the second half of the film so exciting. One great strength to this film is all the mystery, were never given any clear answers as to why these animals are behaving so viciously. Is it a plague, does it have something to do with these two caged love birds, is there a master mind behind it or is it just the early stages to the end of the world, it’s never explained and that’s why it remains to be such a griping and exciting film, full of terrific visuals, strong build up and intense action.        

#1 Deep Blue Sea  

     This is a fun, fun movie that plays perfectly to audience expectations and gives a few surprises and chills along the way. The plots almost like a mix of “Jurassic Park”, “Poseidon” and “Jaws”. We don’t have mindless sharks attacking people on beaches, instead we follow a group of people who are trapped in an underwater, science base that’s flooding. But escaping isn’t the only thing the group needs to accomplish, they also need to find a way to kill 4 super intelligent tiger sharks that are trying to escape into the ocean and are picking the team off one at a time. The characters are all great, especially this awesome black cook who kills a shark by saying “You ate my Bird!” Then there’s Samuel L. Jackson, who gets the funniest “Oh shoot, I didn’t that coming” death sequence ever. We have girls striping half naked, the base offers many cool locations for an action sequence, the sharks are pretty menacing and we have some outstanding twists to some old, monster movie clichés. For example, this movie doesn’t end with both the lead boy and lead girl living. Instead the lead girl dies and the awesome, supporting black guy survives. If I was flipping through channels on some afternoon with nothing to do and I came across this film, I would definitely put that remote down to finish it.

     The End