Davy Crockett and the River Pirates

'Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier' may not be a masterpiece, and there are better Disney live-action films and Disney films overall. It is a however impossible to dislike film and it was easy to see why anything to do with Davy Crockett was such a phenomenon in the 50s.

The same goes for its sequel 'Davy Crockett and the River Pirates'. Sequels don't always match their predecessors and even more rarely even better, with numerous examples of vastly inferior (polar opposite in quality) ones. 'Davy Crockett and the River Pirates' is every bit as good, with two improvements over its predecessors, it is not quite as episodic (while still feeling like a film of two halves) and it flows a little.

It is not perfect. The dialogue is even sillier and more childish in places than in 'Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier', and a couple of the action sequences in the second half are still exaggerated and more cartoonish than epic.

As hoped though, 'Davy Crockett and the River Pirates' has a lot to like and is very difficult to hate. It is a good-looking film, with gorgeously epic scenery and evocative production design that looks like a lot of care and homework went into it, all handsomely filmed. The music is rousing, especially the timeless theme song that is one of Disney's and childhood's best and most memorable theme songs.

There is some endearingly-good natured dialogue, and as said the story is eventful and often exciting. A lot happens, especially in the first half, and never does it lull. The characters are a lot of fun, with a charismatic and likable hero in Davy Crockett, and direction is breezy and bright.

Fess Parker is jovial, charismatic and immensely likable in the title role and Buddy Ebsen counteracts with him very nicely. The acting may not be "great" but hardly bad, more than competent. A splendidly hammy Jeff York stands out in support.

Overall, a very enjoyable sequel with a huge amount of appeal. 8/10 Bethany Cox