Disney in Space

Walt Disney was a true visionary and his most far-reaching vision examined the future. During the 1950s his investigation into space exploration and the wondrous opportunities and challenges of space travel not only came alive in several Disneyland TV shows, but helped create strong public support for The United Stated space program.

Title: Man in Space
Release: March 9, 1955
Genre: Documentary-Space
MPAA Rating: G
Based On: Man in Space by Heinz Haber
Writer: Ward Kimball & William Bosche
Director: Ward Kimball
Music By: George Bruns
Produced By: Ward Kimball
Distributed By: Walt Disney Pictures (Disneyland)
Run Time: 51 minutes

Inspiring, educational, and entertaining are the best words to describe Walt Disney's TV show Disneyland (later to be known by several other names). Their first truly educational film was Man in Space which was a kind of documentary about how being in space would effect man with famous scientist guest stars.

One of the original "Nine Old Men" Ward Kimball was the narrator and he was put in charge of all Disney's featurettes about space after this one was not only was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short but was also used by the president to show at the Pentagon. A few years later the space race had begun and on July 20, 1969- fourteen years after Man in Space was released, man actually did go to space and land on the moon.

Ward Kimball is one of my very favorite animators (besides Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas) so it was interesting to see how easily he's able to take on a role that Walt would usually do on the series. Not only does he have a pleasent persona and voice but he seems to be really enjoying himself too. I knew he had an affinity for trains (and actually got Walt interested in them too) but I wasn't aware of the fact of just how much the idea of space travel had touched his, and everyone's lives back then.

Normally something like this documentary would bore me to tears but Disney makes sure that never happens with humourous drawings illustrating what could have easily been a dry lesson. Also it was interesting to see something that we take for granted today was such a major thing back then. Theoretically, I know man has been to space but watching the often dangerous (I can’t help but wonder how many people have died while they were trying to learn what works and what doesn’t) attempts on getting there makes me want to know more.

Links: Imdb.com, Wikipedia, Von Braun and Walt Disney article, Disney and Space Travel

Leonard Martin Intro:


Man in Space Part 1:

Fighting for Liberty

Fess Parker captured the hearts of millions with his strong, confident portrayal of the legendary king of the wild frontier. There's never been a folk hero quite like Davy Crockett, and you'll see why when you watch him "grin" down a bear, battle an Indian chief in a tomahawk duel, and fight for freedom at the Alamo.

These are the action-packed adventures that led to 10 million children sporting coonskin caps and singing "The Ballad of Davy Crockett." As Walt Disney himself proclaimed, the story of Davy Crockett, with its entertaining blend of drama, humor and adventure, will always be a colorful reflection of the frontier spirit.

Title: Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
Release: May 25, 1955
Genre: Adventure
MPAA Rating: G
Writer: Thomas W. Blackburn
Director: Norman Foster
Music By: Thomas W. Blackburn & George Bruns
Produced By: Walt Disney & Bill Walsh
Distributed By: Buena Vista Film Distribution Company
Run Time: 93 minutes (originally 150 min.)

Walt Disney’s TV show Disneyland introduced audiences to his films (both new and old), gave behind the scenes tours and showed people how the Disney magic was made but it also was entertaining. About once a week, a film would be broadcast too but on December 15, 1954, Disney released the first of three films about the legendary Davy Crockett: Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter. The following month Davy Crockett Goes to Congress delighted viewers and in February was Davy Crockett at the Alamo. Shortly thereafter, Disney Productions started marketing merchandise for the film version in which all three episodes were edited into called Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier.

Despite the fact that just about everyone had seen Davy Crockett’s adventures on TV, audiences flocked to the theaters to see it on the big screen, many adorned with their own coonskin hat- the “Crockett craze” was in full swing. That year the theme song The Ballad of Davy Crockett went to number one on the Billboard chart and several covers of it made it in the top 10 as well. Watching it now for the first time more than 50 years later, I can easily see why Disney’s version of Davy Crockett was such a huge hit with audiences young and old.

There were several reasons why I enjoyed each part of Davy Crockett’s journey but the actual “King of the Wild Frontier” was the main one. The real-life Crockett is rumored to have done many of the things that Disney’s version does but I doubt that he was quite as popular back then as he became in the 1950’s! As wonderfully sincere as Fess Parker is, as (and man, can he give a speech!) an actor, my favorite person in this film was Buddy Ebsen who plays Crockett’s friend and faithful companion George Russel. If it were any other actor, he may have been overshadowed by Parker’s larger than life character but in my mind at least, they shared the spotlight equally. Of course, with Ebsen being the companion, his character was mostly the comic relief though until the third part where Thimblerig (played by Hans Conreid, better known as Disney’s Captain Hook/ Mr. Darling) and Busted Luck (Nick Cravat) take over.

This was such an amazing film and I would have loved to be able to see the original unedited broadcasts of it because I can’t help but wonder how much was left out and added. However, if I had not already known that it was an edited version of three stories collected into one feature, I would hardly be able to tell at all. The story flows almost seamlessly from one scene to the next (although it was awful funny seeing “Davy Crockett” in a suit at one point) with Parker’s “folksy charm” shining through in every piece.

Besides having such brilliant actors in this amazing film, in addition to the beautiful matte art (painting on glass and placing it in the way of the camera so it looks like it’s part of the scene) by Peter Ellenshaw the Disney studio filmed in some truly gorgeous locations (besides California of course) like the hills of Tennessee and the Qualla Indian Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina too. This is why at the beginning of the film it says:

We extend our thanks and gratitude to the members of the Cherokee Indian Nation
of North Carolina to the Forest Rangers of the Great Smokey Mountains National
Park and to the people of Tennessee and Texas for their generous cooperation in
the filming of this story.

Links: Imdb.com, Film Wikipedia, David Stern Crockett Wikipedia, Fan Page , Crockett Publicity Photos (some with Walt Disney)
Interview: Fess Parker in 2004, TVParty’s article on Davy Crockett- includes a Parker interview too, Fess Parker Life Story on video (3 1/2 Hours )

Fess Parker Sings:


Buddy & Fess:

Crooks With Hearts of Gold

The film that made Shirley Temple a star, LITTLE MISS MARKER was the first filmed version of a tale by Damon Runyan (GUYS AND DOLLS). Temple plays Markie, who is left behind by her father as collateral for a gambling debt. She swiftly charms the hardened bookies and crooks (including classic Hollywood character actor Adolphe Menjou) who are taken her in with her precocious singing and dancing and childish cleverness. After this film Temple would go on to be one of the box office's biggest draws for the next few years.

Title: Little Miss Marker
Release: June 1, 1934
Genre: Family- Drama
MPAA Rating: N/A
Based On: Little Miss Marker by Damon Runyon
Writer: William R. Lipman, Sam & Gladys Hellman
Director: Alexander Hall
Music By: Ralph Rainger
Produced By: B.P. Schulberg
Distributed By: Paramount Pictures
Run Time: 80 minutes

A newspaperman and author who specialized in tough guys- usually gamblers, gangsters, or hustlers- wrote a short story for his collection of stories Guys and Dolls. Several of the stories in the book went on to be adapted into films including Little Miss Marker, which has been re-made into four different films over the years. The first Little Miss Marker however was one of the very best as it was Shirley Temple’s first starring role in a film.

Little Shirley Temple’s path to stardom wasn’t always easy and she was actually turned down the first time she auditioned for the role of Little Miss Marker- “Markie” for short. Temple will always be the cutest child star there ever was and she was just adorable in the film. She did steal the show a bit from her co-stars but I couldn’t help but be impressed with “Sir Sorrow” aka Sorrowful Jones played by Adolphe Menjou and Bangles Carson who is played by Dorothy Dell. She had a wonderful voice and Temple remembers her fondly in her autobiography. She had such talent (she sings one of my favorite pieces in the picture “I'm a Black Sheep Who's Blue“) that it was nothing short of heartbreaking when a car accident cut short her life and career soon after this film was made.

It was a little funny watching a film from so long ago and trying to put out of your mind the present during the film. You see certain things in the film that your brain automatically thinks, “Like that would happen,” and I sincerely doubt there would be any kind of happy ending nowadays but it works for the time. One thing that I did find fascinating was a hospital scene because it’s so different from what I’ve always known hospitals to be.

The fact that a tiny little girl was put up as a “marker” (hence the name) by her father and then kills himself when he couldn’t pay the debt, leaving his daughter orphaned and in the care of some shady individuals- mostly men really bothered me. Yet, somehow, the film comes off as charming though when she and “Lady Guinevere” (the club singer Bangles- or Gold-digger as Sorrowful calls her) help turn the gamblers into men with hearts of gold.

Links: Imdb.com, Film Wikipedia, Author Wikipedia