Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)

This is a vigorous handsome adventure about a determined and powerful figure in his days as an Indian fighter and his gallant stand in defense of the famous site , El Alamo , being packed with noisy action, thrills , colorful fun , and spectacular as well as tremendous battles .Another Disney splice of three episodes from the popular TV series chronicling the further adventures of our frontier man well played by Fess Paker who dons the regular coonskin cap as a virile Davy . Here Davy Crockett meets adventures along with George Russell, Buddy Ebsen , fighting Indians who are threatening the peace during the bloody Creek Indian War under command of General Andrew Jackson , subsequently US President . Later on , Davy is appointed to Nashville representative and then elected to Congress as a Congressman and he brings his rough-hewn manners to the house of representatives. Finally , Davy and George journey to Texas , Bejar , The Alamo where takes place the last stand , 1836, attacked by the Mexican General Santa Ana . There they encounter the place really besieged and the tough Col. William Travis , Don Megowan, and the ill Col. Jim Bowie , Kenneth Tobey, stricken by fevers .Here Fess Parker gives a fine acting who became a national figure incarnating the great frontiersman, an intrepid explorer with a welcome wry wit, including legends and myths . The action is swiftly presented , and in comic-book syle .It displays an attractive and sympathetic protagonist duo, Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen. Accompanied by a fine plethora of secondaries as Hans Conried , Kenneth Tobey ,Don Megowan , Nick Cravat and Basil Ruysdael as President Andrew Jackson . Paul Hogan would appear with Fess Parker in the TV series Daniel Boone in 1966 . The nimble and sharp episodes were spliced together, interlaced by wonderful songs and released as a profitable feauture film . Walt Disney shot in color even though few color TV's were being sold, yet . As a result , the 3 episodes could be turned into instant movie by stitching the chapters get together . As it was a compilation of 3 episodes : Crockett Indian fighter, Crockett goes to congress and Davy at the Alamo .This series aired on ABC television Disneyland 1954-55. It is followed by another compilation , a new blending that created the sequel " Davy Crocket and the river pirates" 1955 by Norman Foster with similar artistic and technical .And there is anotje cinematic rendition about this historical role " Davy Crockett Indian scout" 1950 by Lew Landers with George Montgomery , Ellen Drew , Noah Beery The film has a marvelous musical score by George Bruns , singer Bill Hayes had a top hit 1955 billboard with the song Ballad of Davy Crockett with music by Bruns and lyrics by Thomas Blackburn . And a brilliant and glimmer cinematography by Charles F Boyle .The movie was well directed by Norman Foster who made some good Westerns as TV as Cinema , such as " Crazy Horse and Custer the untold story , Tombstone territory , The legend of Custer , Bat Masterson , Navajo , Viva Cisco Kid , The sign of Zorro , Rachel and the stranger". Rating: 7. A catching and really enjoyable family adventure , essential and indispensable watching, the film helped spread Davymania among the kiddies of the fiftiies .

This was the classic Davy Crockett film by Walt Disney, an astonishing world success at the time, almost creating a cult lasting until the 60s, with an overwhelmingly realistic Alamo finale (end of siege today March 6th 1836 with all heroes fallen), inspired the mammoth "Alamo" film 5 years later with a bleak John Wayne in comparison with Fess Parker, while the great performance of that film was Richard Widmark as Colonel Jim Bowie. The Disney production was above all extremely well and carefully written originally for television, with such a success that is was turned into a major film, and Fess Parker's impersonation of the very simple and common but totally straight-forward frontier man is perfectly convincing, even and especially his appearances in congress. The film is wonderfully sincere in its simplicity, and you never forget the few but intimate family scenes. Buddy Ebsen as George Russell makes a perfect buddy all the way through, and Basil Ruysdael is a formidable Andy Jackson. There are also some great hard fighting fisticuff style, both with Indians and more blatant crooks, the Bigfoot scoundrel being perfect as a flamboyant villain. The music adds to the charm of the sincerity of the film, it's only one tune all along, with the exception of the more lyrical, intimate and unforgettable "Farewell to the Mountains" in the Alamo pause of fighting; but at one time the Davy Crockett song even masquerades in an arrangement for string quartet. In its simple adventure genre, it remains as a film a timeless classic, this is great film story telling, offering plenty of after-thought and all true, which it will always be a pleasure to return to in one decade after another...

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.

I was 7 years old when this movie came out. I had a coonskin cap and wore it until it cut off my circulation. I'm now 50+ and have seen exactly three professional basketball, one hockey, two baseball and no football games. I built and hunt with a 1775 flintlock, horn and bag. My focus these days is Lewis and Clark but it was Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen who captured my imagination and have kept me dreamin' for nearly half a century. Sure there were some Hollywood inaccuracies but the flavor, feeling and freedom of the eastern woodlands and the early frontiersmen were portrayed good enough to make me, and a lot of others, life-long Crockett admirers. "Be sure you are right then go ahead."