The Gnome-Mobile (1967)

One of the most charming fantasies that Walt Disney ever produced was The Gnomemobile. Even seeing it at the age 20 I was rather pleased with this wonderful kid's film. And if you've imbibed in any spirits while viewing it, The Gnomemobile can be quite a trip if you get my drift.The creators of Mary Poppins almost duplicated their success with The Gnomemobile. Walter Brennan gets to play a dual role, a reprise of the business tycoon from his series, The Tycoon and a mini me version of himself as a leader of a tribe of gnomes.These little folks live deep in the forest that Brennan's lumber company keeps chopping down and depriving them of a home. I imagine if this had an Irish locale, the wee ones would speak with a brogue and be called leprechauns. Anyway Brennan the tycoon has a couple of more little ones now, his grandchildren played by Matthew Garber and Karen Dotrice the kids from Mary Poppins. They work on grandpa and he takes an interest in the plight of the gnomes. But to help them grandpa faces some considerable opposition, not the least of which that folks just don't believe in the wee folk.The Gnomemobile marks the farewell performance of Ed Wynn who was a delightful performer who had been in show business for over 60 years when he passed away. Wynn plays one of the gnomes and a rival of sorts to Brennan's mini me.The Shermans, Robert M. and Richard B. wrote the musical score for The Gnomemobile and while it doesn't provide any lasting songs like Mary Poppins, the score is serviceable enough for the film.It's as charming as it ever was, but what a gas it is if you're indulging.

A good many of Walt Disney Productions' live-action movies would regularly turn up on Italian TV as I grew up, including this one – which I missed. That said, while it's well enough liked by authoritative sources such as the late Leslie Halliwell and Leonard Maltin, the film is only average in my view; maybe I'd have enjoyed it more had I caught it during my childhood.The plot (from an Upton Sinclair book) is simply too juvenile for one to be engrossed in it – with perhaps the corniest element of all being the belated introduction of romance among the gnomes. Even so, it's all reasonably pleasant and colorful – though the special effects haven't worn the passage of time all that well.Veteran character actor Walter Brennan appears in a dual role – a lumber tycoon (who ends up in a lunatic asylum when he sets detectives on the trail of missing gnomes) and one of the latter, an elderly curmudgeon; Ed Wynn is the head of another of the species' communities; Sean McClory, then, is the villainous owner of a freak-show (who kidnaps a couple of the little people for his act).In the long run, Disney fared much better with this particular kind of whimsy in DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE (1959) – which, incidentally had the same director…and it's doubly disappointing given that Stevenson, Wynn, the two child actors (Matthew Garber and Karen Dotrice) and the songwriters (the title tune by the Sherman brothers ain't no classic) had all previously worked on MARY POPPINS (1964)!

when this movie came out in 1967 i was only six. but when it was shown over the years on the disney channel and i got to see the movie for the first time i cried with laughter. the late but not forgotten walter brennan was as funny as funny could be. he was the perfect choice to do both roles. i take my hat off to walt disney for putting this movie together. this is a movie the whole family can enjoy. thank you...

If I had to define heaven in one phrase, i only have three words: The Gnome Mobile. This movie is sheer elegance of this movie arose all my emotion in one single moment. From the time D.J. Mulrooney sees his grandkids the first time to the time Grandpappy gnome flies through the air in delight upon discovering there are more gnoes, pleasure runs through my veins. Im not a hedonist by any means, but this movie sure makes me want to become one. William Brennan showed absolute mastery of his craft, worthy of an Oscar nomination for his roles as the fierce yet kind and successful DJ Mulrooney and the tiny little man of Grandpappy Gnome. But the surprise performance had to be the Oscar worthy supporting role of Ed Wynne as the pimp gnome. He gives new meaning to the term "Pimps up and Ho's down" The defining moment was in the form of the little gnome people. There joy and magic gave the movie new meaning and life to the constant negative depiction of midgets in our daily life. They are not midgets or the vertically challenged, they are simply gnomes. Tears came to my eyes in the final sequence of all the gnomes and humans singin together in unison "The Gnome Mobile Anthem". This stratification of human unity from all walks of life is definitely something to be proud of. After all, it is a good sign when the audience stands up and cheers, right?