Rocce rosse

In the Mid-Fifties "The Wonderful World of Disney" Aired a Three-Part Mini-Series about Davy Crockett.

The Show was Broadcast on Sunday Nights, it was in Color (by '55 almost all had TV but few had color TVs).

Always the Visionary and Always the Empire Builder Concerned with the "Bottom-Line".

But He Never Skimped on Quality and Spent Enormous Amounts of Money Purchasing Talent to Insure Impeccable Productions.

At "Disney" Product was Sacred Territory.

Davy Crockett was one the Most Watched and Critically Acclaimed. Quality Television in the Early-Days of the "Idiot-Box".

This Movie is an Opposite.

Low-Production Values Throughout.

"Davy Crockett" the Titular Character...Wait for it...

Is not even the Backwoods Congressman, Friend of Common Folks and Indians, and Hero of the Alamo...

He is a Distant Cousin or Something.

Nuff-Said.

No Wait there's More...

Because the Aforementioned Disney Phenom, the People Behind this Abomination Re-Released this Turkey to Unsuspecting Kids...Have They No Shame?

Davy Crockett (not the famous Alamo hero, but his nephew) guides a wagon train through hostile territory and rescues the cavalry from ambushing Indian in this lively western that has some rousing actions scenes, especially at the climax. The build-up to the climax adds some suspense. The spy in the camp angle is well done, and it's really odd -and refreshing to see the sidekick get the girl. It's a likeable western designed to pass the time amiably, nothing more. George Montgomery is his usual stalwart self.

AH YES, HOW well we remember this movie! We always associate it with the Thanksgiving Holidsay; for It is a true Turkey if there ever was one!

NOW, IT'S NOT that it is not the Walt Disney version which it isn't. Or it has no Fess Parker, which it doesn't, no Georgie Russell, no Tennesee backwoods, no Chief Red Stick, Mike Fink, Riverboats, no "grinnin'down bears", no U.S. Comngress and not even a mention of the Alamo. These items are irritating, but only in a minor sense.

WHAT REALLY BOTHERS us is that it seems to be a sort of Western Movie anachronism. The period portrayed looks more like the post Civil War era than the 1820's and '30's; which would be about the right time-line. After all, Davy Crocket's life spanned 1786-1836.

WHEN WE SCREENED this movie, it was on the rebound. Originally released in 1950, it was hurried back into a re-release in 1955. It was a case of "making hay while the sun shines", for the Disney DAVY CROCKETT boom was in full flower. Why wouldn't the producers get out there again? The title would get the audience and the kids wouldn't know the difference; at least until It was too late.

THE LEAD WAS tall, athletic and handsome, George Montgomery. He was a former Heavyweight Prize Fighter, World War II Army Air Corps veteran and highly respected movie star. In addition to many other higher class Westerns, he had also portrayed Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe in THE BRASHER DOUBLOON (20th Century-Fox, 1947).

AMONG OTHER SHORTCOMINGS, it was in glorious Black & Wjhite, its costuming had the "Dime Store Cowboy" look, the exteriors looked a lot like the famous Ray Corrigan Ranch*,nobody sounded East Tenneesee and there was no attempt authentically recreate the real period.

WE SEEM TO recall some other rather glaring errors in this chronological thing. It seems that the "cowboys" used more modern weapons. Rather than black powder loading flintlocks, we recall six guns and carbines.

EVEN IN NAMING the characters there was no logic used. Noah Berry, Jr. was called "Tex"; which was a very unlikely moniker then. This was before the Alamo, right?

WE WENT TO see this movie as part of my birthday present. I could take a friend, so we asked neighbor kid, David Brommer, to accompany us. It was my choice to decide between which of the two local theatres to attend. This DAVY CROCKETT, Indian FIGHTER was at the Ogden, 63rd Street & Ashland. The Highway at 63rd & Western had ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE KEYSTONE KOPS. Although my pal, David, lobbied for ABBOTT & COSTELLO.

AGFTER ALL THESE years, I admit it. I was wrong. I'm sorry Sorry, David. Next time you choose, okay?

This run-of-the-mill western is mostly made up of stock footage from Edward Small's earlier frontier epic, "Kit Carson" (1940). They've dressed Montgomery in the same wardrobe as Jon Hall wore in the earlier film, so they even have used some of the non-action scenes stolen from "Carson".

If that wasn't bad enough, the plot is tired, the acting poor, and if their was any director on the set, he must've stepped out for a short beer during the shoot.

If you ever were expecting Disney's version of Crockett, or Fess Parker, forget it! They threw this mediocre little western BACK on the theatre screen in 1955, at the height of the Crockett hysteria, for a fast buck. Those of us that paid that buck, left the theater in tears! A worthwhile experience, though-it taught us not to trust Hollywood!

And Disney's outings are vastly superior, they might not be masterpieces but they are better made, looking like more effort was put into them, and more memorable. 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' is watchable for curiosity's sake but is the sort of one sees once and easily forgets about after.

There are a few good things about 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout'. The photography is quite nice, the black and white looks good and crisp and it is the only thing about the production values that looks like effort was put into it. George Montgomery has a ruggedly handsome charm and commands the screen admirably enough. The climactic Indian attack is very well done, with some rousing tension, as well as the build-up, the most exciting 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' ever comes close to getting.

However, the rest of the production values don't really impress. The costume and production design lack any kind of authenticity and instead look like cheap recycling. The edited stock footage from 'Kit Carson' is far from inspired and actually feels lazy. The music score rarely rises above okay and lacks the rousing or memorability factors.

Everything about 'Davy Crockett, Indian Scout' feels tired. The script is of the "just there at best" kind, with the worst parts clunking badly and any important information is treated in throwaway style. The story shines in the climactic moments but mostly limps along routinely (with the odd far-fetched moment), with most of the action being run-of-the-mill, the conflict being at best anaemic and the direction lacking any kind of distinction.

Montgomery aside, the acting is not much to write home about. A lot of people are going to feel cheated too, due to the title misleading those to think it's about the hero himself when it isn't but a relative with not as striking a personality.

In summary, watchable for curiosity's sake but pales hugely in comparison to the later Disney Davy Crockett films. 3/10 Bethany Cox