SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

utgard14 I'm far too young to have experienced the Davy Crockett craze that kids in the '50s got to experience. However, I did first see this movie (which is compiled from three episodes of the TV series "Disneyland") as a boy. In the small town where I grew up, teachers would often show movies to us kids whenever it was raining outside and we couldn't go out for recess or if there was a substitute teacher or maybe if the regular teacher just didn't bother with a lesson plan that day. Whatever the reason, they would show us movies and cartoons from time to time. Usually these were Disney movies and among the ones I have the most distinct and pleasant memories of is Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. As I said, the movie is compiled of three episodes from TV so it's broken into three parts. The first part deals with Crockett the Indian fighter. The second part is about Crockett the politician. The third part is about Crockett at The Alamo. Not surprisingly, this final part is the best and most exciting of the three. The first part is fun, too, if you're not an easily offended type. The second part is a little dull but amusing at times. Fess Parker is great in the role of his career. Buddy Ebsen is fun as his comic relief sidekick. Hans Conried, Kenneth Tobey, Mike Mazurki, and Don Megowan are all part of the good cast. It's a beautiful-looking movie, filmed on location with that wonderful Disney polish. Love the timeless theme song, too. It's a little corny and aimed at kids but lots of fun if you're in the right frame of mind for it. Those with sanctimonious attitudes towards historical figures will hate it.

fomlife777 I would rather be beaten and be a man than to be elected and be a little puppy dog. I have always supported measures and principles and not men. I have acted fearless and independent and I never will regret my course. I would rather be politically buried than to be hypocritically immortalized. In a letter following his defeat in the 1830 elections, as quoted in David Crockett: The Man and the Legend (1994) by James Atkins Shackford, p. 133 Made in the Studios at Disney, Wowed the Audience in the 50's. Showed in the Cinemas, Showed on TV It's just as fun watching it on DVD Davy, Davy Crockett, Having fun on the clean frontier.In watching 'The Far Pavilions' ( a film chronicling the journey of Lewis and Clark with the Absent Minded Professor and Moses )with my mother , she noted that everything looked so clean. The pioneers were clean, the Indians were clean and even the trees were clean. Film makers of the 50's researched and portrayed very accurately how clean the frontier really was. There was some supper strength cleaner they brought with them that eliminated all dirt and grim. I believe it was called a production assistant.The same research was used and portrayed in Davy Crocket. At some point in my life I saw 'Davy Crocket: King of the Wild Fronteer'. The only scene I remembered was Davy letting his best buddy George Russel kiss his beautiful wife, just because he saved his life. I don't know any friend of mine who would let me kiss their beautiful wife. The film may not be historically accurate or maybe it is. It is however a film full of fun and high adventure. Davy is a likable fella. Someone you would have a beer with if he drank beer. He is funny, smart, adventures, humble; bear wrestler, has a cool coon cap, a good congressman (seriously) and a good Christian. The film is a tad bit choppy in parts due to the film being put together from 3 episodes of the Disney TV series. The action is very Disney Esq, for the audience of the time period but still dishes that adventure out rousingly. The other cool thing is that instead of straight narration, a group of singers sings the glories of Davy Crockett as a map is shown of his travels. Indiana Jones may have a cool orchestra theme, but doesn't have a Ballad about his exploits with his name. Take that Dr. Jones. Davy Crockett deserves a place among the other movies in your book shelf. It's fun and gives you a brief glimpse into an American legend. It also reminds you how dirty the world has gotten since the 1800's.Pop, pop, pop! Bom, bom, bom! throughout the day. No time for memorandums now. Go ahead! Liberty and Independence forever. Last entry in his diary, (5 March 1836)

ccthemovieman-1 Wow, was this big stuff back in the mid '50s. I remember my little brother walking around with his coonskin cap on all day. This was exciting material back then, and when we were young boys. When we first saw this, it wasn't one film but three episodes on the weekly "Disneyland" TV program.Looking at it 50 years later was a bit disappointing, but I should have expected that. It looks so dated and the story ends so abruptly. However, it was still fun to watch, not just a piece of nostalgia.It's almost refreshing to see such a likable, old-fashioned, God-honoring hero on screen again. You certainly don't see a lot of that today.The grammar is so bad in here with Davy (Fess Parker) and his buddy "George" (Buddy Ebsen) and the expressions so country-corn pone that you can't believe some of the things you hear!The best part for us old codgers might be that Davy Crockett theme song. Tough to get that out of your head, once it's in there.

bkoganbing It took almost 50 years for films to get Davy Crockett right, when the latest Alamo film came out, Billy Bob Thornton came the closest to capturing the real Crockett. It's not Fess Parker by any means.But you ask any kid who was a baby boomer what his conception of Davy Crockett was you will inevitably find some 6 to 10 year old who back in the day insisted his parents get him a coonskin cap like Fess Parker wore on the Wonderful World of Disney. For better or worse its Fess Parker who is the image of the frontier scout who fought in the Creek War, went to Congress, and then died at the Alamo.Crockett's name is inevitably linked with the other legends of Texas who died in that mission in March of 1836. Of the group of them he was probably the best of the lot. He wasn't a compulsive womanizer like Travis, nor a land swindler/slave trader like Bowie.Davy Crockett was an ordinary fellow, Mr. Average Man, on the frontier who had a good record in the volunteer militia. Liked by his neighbors he got himself elected to local office and then, running as a supporter of Andrew Jackson, ran and won for Congress in 1826. Jackson himself, was the titular head of the Democratic political machine in Tennessee and at that time he had a lot of followers who competed for his favor. Crockett whatever else he was, never really learned the political game. He got outmaneuvered in the Jackson camp and eventually broke with Jackson when Jackson became president in 1828.Before he lost his seat in Congress for good in the 1834 off year elections, Crockett had drifted into the nascent Whig Party and was anti-Jackson. One issue that drove them apart was the Jacksonian Indian policy. Crockett fought the Indians, but felt we ought to respect treaty rights. Not a popular position to take on the frontier. He was an honest man.He drifted to Texas looking to pick up the pieces of his life after his political career ended in Tennessee. The part of the film devoted to that aspect was somewhat real, though Fess Parker was way to kind to Jackson here. In real life Crockett said some really nasty things about his former commander.Davy Crockett made Fess Parker although he could never escape the type casting. Eventually he gave in and became another coonskin hero Daniel Boone in a long running television series. The film also marked something of a comeback for Buddy Ebsen. Playing Georgie Russell, Crockett's sidekick, revived Ebsen's career. Ebsen eventually got two long running television series himself, The Beverly Hillbillies and Barnaby Jones.Walt Disney couldn't let the Crockett mania go even with Davy getting killed at the Alamo so he produced Davy Crockett and the River Pirates the following year. By that time the Crockett mania died down and Disney and Parker went their separate ways. Don't look at this film and think you're seeing the real Davy Crockett. But for the kid in all of us who once pestered their parents for a coonskin cap, it sure takes you back.