Napoleon and Samantha (1972)

"Napoleon and Samantha" is a kind of family movie that Disney company doesn't make any more - or any other movie studio, come to think about it. To a certain degree that is kind of a shame, because for the most part it doesn't have the strident and loud tone found in modern family day movies. Some of the low key scenes are nice and effective, like when Napoleon's sick grandfather has his last conversation with his grandson. But ultimately, the movie is a little TOO low key for its own good. For the most part, it chugs along not only at a very slow pace, but lacking bite; the movie could have used a bit more tension and conflict. Near the end, the tone really changes with the action-packed climax, but it seems to come from a different movie altogether. There is additionally some interest in seeing the pre-fame Michael Douglas (who is pretty good) and Jodie Foster (who is unexceptional, though this was her first movie). However, in the end the movie is pretty forgettable, being hard to differentiate from other cookie-cutter efforts from the Disney company during the 1970s.

Determined boy runs away from his rural community rather than risk being placed in an orphanage, taking along his pet lion and little girlfriend for a journey through rugged terrain. Family film from Disney with nature-adventure asides never really gets going--mostly due to that sleepy lion, ambling through the picture as if drugged. The kids (talented Johnny Whitaker from "Family Affair" and wise-talking Jodie Foster in her first film role) are both good, even though they occasionally struggle with their delivery. Michael Douglas has fine, if colorless, supporting role as a well-meaning hippie-type who comes to their rescue. Younger children might enjoy it. ** from ****

Michael is extraordinary in this film as he guides two children to coping with their grandad's death and teaches them the meaning of life. Too bad Kirk didn't play the grandpa, that would have been awesome. Look for Michael Clarke Duncan in his first starring role as the lion!

Disney family offering that was(if I am correct)Jodie Foster's first feature film appearance. Plot concerns Napoleon(Johnny Whittaker)who flees to the hills with his pet lion Major and friend Samantha(Foster)after his grandfather dies, assisted by college-dropout-turned-shepherd Michael Douglas. The drama comes from Napoleon and Samantha encountering various dangers in the hills of the Rockies, including the expected wild animals and a run-in with a dangerous pedophile(euphemistically referred to as a "psycho" in the film). A little unusual, for the film's dealings with death(the only human death I can recall in a Disney live-action film)and the above-mentioned child molestor, and not a little moving.