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You are reading a contribution to the Disney ~*~ When You Wish Upon A Star Write-Off!

Emily Rose, the young daughter (15 months old) of fellow Epinion member,
ImAmes, is battling Retniblastoma (a form of cancer, which is found in the eye).

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When I received an invitation to participate in the Wish Upon a Star write-off I said yes because I could only imagine the sorrow, worry and pain that InAmes and her family must be enduring. Kathie and I have been lucky our five year old has been very healthy, but I can imagine the hardship of Emily’s family. As far as the topic wow! I didn’t want to do something traditional so I racked my brains and came up with the idea of reviewing one of my favorite Disney movies when I was a kid. No it’s not a cartoon it was one of their films with actual actors in it. The movie is The Apple Dumpling Gang.

I can remember going with my mom to see this in the movie theatre and I loved it I thought it was really funny back then and you know what I still get a kick out of it. This movie was released in the theatres back in 1975. So the cinematography isn’t exactly at the par it is in today’s films and the video is a little scratchy, but it is one funny movie that can be enjoyed by all. There is some violence in the film so some parents may choose not have young children watch it. I personally let five year-old watch the video with me. Of course, I explained that when they have the shoot out it was just pretend and that you should never use a gun to shoot another person.

All right let’s talk about the movie I guess I’ll start by introducing the cast and who the characters where they played in the movie.

Bill Bixby played Russel Donovan This is the main character or hero which all Disney flicks have, he started out as a shady gambler, but even from the beginning of the show you new he has a good heart. Bill Bixby does a wonderful job in this role I think Bill was one of the best actors in the father role who was on his own. I loved the show A courtship of Eddies Father which starred Bill also.

Susan Clark played Dusty the heroine of the film. I really don’t know much about her or what other movies or shows she appeared in, but she did a great job of pulling of the femine tom girl role in this movie.

Don Knotts played Theodore Don Knotts is truly one of the masters of the slapstick comedy, and his facial expressions just totally crack me up. He is one of the bumbling bad guys. Who again really aren’t bad they have good hearts, which they discover in this movie.

Tim Conway plays Amos The other bumbling crook who was a perfect match for Don he is another great master of slapstick. I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two have prat fall after prat fall in this movie. They had excellent chemistry together.

Clay O’brien played Bobby This was the oldest child of the three orphans that Donovan got saddled with. He really played the role well he tried to be the strong big brother, but also could see the mischievous child also.

Brad Savage plays Clovis This is the second child he is adorable and has some funny moments because he doesn’t like to be touched it can create some headaches for Donovan.

Stacy Mannins played the role of Celia The youngest child and the only girl. Oh man is she cute and plays it up throughout the movie.

Some of the other characters where Homer McCoy played by Harry Morgan he was the sheriff, judge, and barber. He also played a small role of matchmaker in the show. I feel he is another great actor in these types of roles. The leader of a town or military squadron he pulls off the strong no nonsense loving old cute very well. Slim Pickens played the real villain in this movie he wanted the gold of the children’s mine. Don Knight played John Wintle who was a minor player in the movie but an important role. He was the second cousin of the orphans I will explain his role a little bit further when I give a synopsis of the plot. The last actor I will mention is David Wayne who played Colonel T.R. Clydesdale the owner of the stagecoach company and the father of Dusty (Magnolia as he calls her.)

The Plot

The main plot of this movie is Donovan who got tricked into picking up these kids off the stagecoach by John Wintle. It seems John was the second cousin or something of these three kids whose parents died. I guess he was the only living relative. John came into the bar where Donovan was playing cards with the sheriff, mayor and a group of other men, and said he had some valuables to be picked up off the stagecoach in the morning, but he was leaving for San Francisco that evening. Donovan being the sly con man gambler that he is told John he would get the valuables for him. Well to his surprise it was the three children. The sheriff wouldn’t allow him to welch on his deal so he had to take the kid’s. For the rest of the film the main story was about him trying to find someone to take the kids off his hands so he could go onto New Orleans. The subplot was the two bumbling crooks Amos and Theodore trying to shanghai Donovan and rob him. The children inherited a gold mine which they are the only ones believed that their was actually gold in it. Well, of course, there was and when they found it everybody wanted the kids. I am going to stop here because I am getting too much into the storyline, which I will discuss next.

The storyline

I am going to talk a little about the storyline but am not going into much depth because if you are one of the few individuals who never saw The Apple Dumpling Gang I don’t want to ruin it for you.

As I mentioned in the plot Donovan comes to Quake City Amos and Theodore notice him and pick him out as a good target. Of course, these two couldn’t catch a fish even if it jumped in their net on it’s own. Donovan is a gambler and a bit of a swindler, but as I mentioned before he has a good heart down deep. The move begins with him riding in to town and the two bumblers trying to way lay him.

Next we find Donovan involved in a poker game and this is when he gets roped into taking the children unknowingly.

At this point you see the stagecoach making many stops because Celia has to go a lot. This is a cute intro. To the movie. Once the stagecoach arrives in town and Donovan finds out the valuables are three children he tries to get out of taking them, but the town doesn’t let him. Fast forward a little and you find Donovan and the kids in a beaten down shack that John Wintle lived in it’s pouring down rain both outside of the cabin and inside. Donovan is trying to cook dinner which he sets fire to and in enters Dusty with some stew. The dinner scene is where we first get a glimpse of why the movie is called the Apple Dumpling Gang the children ask Donovan to make apple dumplings because they love apple dumplings and throughout the movie they either are eating or ask for apple dumplings. Once the children are asleep Donovan tries to convince Dusty she would make a wonderful mother. She isn’t buying though. When Dusty leaves Celia wakes up because it’s dripping on her again. She climbs up on Donovan’s lap this is a very charming scene she makes Donovan put out his cigar by waving her hand in front of her nose. He puts out the cigar and Celia falls asleep in his lap.

The next morning Donovan set’s out to find a family to take the children off his hands. For various reason’s people don’t take the children. One scene has a fellow looking at the kids and he tries feeling the boys muscles well when he touches Clovis the boy kicks the man. Remember he doesn’t like to be touched. When they arrive in town Donovan goes to gamble and tells the children not to get in trouble. Yeah right! They go through town being shooed away at various spots when they discover a gold mine. They investigate and climb into a mining car, which starts to move and runs wild throughout the town causing much damage. My son thought this part was hilarious. The town takes chase and finds Donovan leaving the bar with a wad of cash, which they take off his hands.

The next morning the children go to the gold mine they inherited and when a quake hits they discover gold. Well, now the whole town wants to take the children in, but Donovan isn’t really sure about any of them. The sheriff suggests Donovan marry Dusty. Well, these two decide she would be the best person to take care of the kids so they do get married. Now while this is going on Theodore and Amos are fixing to rob the bank where the kid’s gold is. There are some great slapstick routines here.

Fast forward to the days of the court hearing, the children try to get Theodore and Amos to rob the bank again so Donovan won’t leave town. Once he and Dusty are awarded the kids he was leaving for New Orleans. Well little did they know the Stillwell gang also was going to rob the bank. Of course the town discovers the robberies in progress and this is where the shoot out takes place. The Stillwell gang kidnaps Celia and Donovan and Dusty take chase to save her. Plenty of action and some more slapstick comedy at it’s finest.

Fast forward again to the end they rescued Celia and Donovan received a substantial amount of cash for capturing Stillwell. You then see him buying a mansion and the family Donovan, the children, Dusty and her father riding off to the mansion. Oh and along they way they pick up two bumbling ex-crooks.

Thoughts and some other notes

I really think this is a gem of a movie, which can be enjoyed by the whole family. As I did note though they have a shoot out so if you are against allowing your youngster to watch these types of scenes in the movie you won’t want to get this one. It isn’t anything like the violence in the movies today though. Sometimes I am amazed at what seems like a small amount of time a lot of the innocence it the world is gone. I guess this is another reason I love this movie so much it allows me to remember a time when we didn’t have terrorists bombing our country, yes we had wars but it didn’t seem so close to home. Plus, I was only around 8 and things in life still where pretty simple.

I noticed you could pick up the clamshell video for $17.99 at Amazon.com however, the store did note that availability is limited. So if you would like to add this vintage Disney comedy to your VCR collection you may have to shop around.

Thank you for reading my review and I hope you found it informative. I would like to let Emily and her family know my prayers are with them for strength in combating this ugly disease. Also the funds for this review will go to the Emily’s family.

Please check out these other participants’ entries for some other wonderful Disney products and also to show your support for Emily let’s all wish upon a star for her recovery:

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8