Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus (1960)

I knew absolutely nothing about this movie when I picked it up off the library shelf. I thought my daughter might watch a few scenes just because she likes the boy from Old Yeller and Swiss Family Robinson. She put it on, and we watched from start to finish, and we've re-watched several times since. It is pure fun, just an enjoyable family film that has somehow been forgotten.Part of what children will like is the animals, especially the chimp Mr. Stubbs. They got some great moments out of him. As an adult, I enjoy it as a period piece. There were some scenes that took place on the Main Street of an early 1900s small town that looked great. The circus workers were colorful characters and very likable. Kevin Corchoran does an amazing job as a kid who runs away to join the circus and has his ups and downs along the way. The story takes place in a more innocent time, and there was a charm in seeing how people might have dealt with these situations in a more innocent time. For example, the nastiest thing the villain does is hide the boy's mail from him. Most of the traveling workers are honest, hard working people, and the movie presents a fairly chaste image of this life. However, there are some moments that some parents may object to, particularly those who are sensitive to images of firearms in family films. Other than one or two non-pc spots, this is a harmless movie that is totally free from irony or the snide, wisecracking characters that fill family movies today.

I loved "Toby Tyler"!!! I can remember it being my brother's birthday treat movie and mine was "Pollyanna". My memories of seeing "Toby Tyler" at the local cinema are vivid. We drove across Taren Point Bridge to the Oakley Picture Theatre on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Having a Golden Book and also a Whitman comic helped keep Toby Tyler in my mind . Also when it was shown on Disneyland but I had not heard of it for about 40 years. Then a cable station we had called the Disney Channel showed it and I was able to view it. The bright vivid colours of those Disney films bought memories flooding back.Kevin Cochran came from a family of actors - his sister Donna had had minor success in films and Noreen was in the TV series "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe. May be that explains why such an irritating child actor could be such a success.When the circus comes to town Toby Tyler (Kevin Cochran) has stars in his eyes. He runs away to join the circus after his Uncle tells him he is "no kin to us - nothing but a millstone 'round our necks". He is taken on by Harry Tupper, who runs the refreshment stand, and gives Toby the princely sum of 50 cents a week. Harry Tupper has the reputation of treating his helpers mean so Ben, the strong man, keeps a look out for him. Toby meets a clown with a family of dogs and a lovely bareback rider, Jeanette and her uppity partner Ajax.Mr. Stubbs, the chimp, raids Toby's refreshment box and gets sick. Against orders Ben lets Mr. Stubbs ride atop the wagon when the parade goes into town. When there is an accident Ben is sacked and Toby rescues Mr. Stubbs - he is in the sheriff's office shooting up the town. After disarming him Toby is given full responsibility for the chimp.When Ajax is showing off (riding without his safety harness) he falls off and Toby, who has bragged that he has ridden horses on the farm is ordered to take his place. After some funny rehearsal scenes he goes on at the next town and is a big hit. He also finds out that Mr. Tupper has been hiding letters that his Aunt Emma has written. His uncle is sick and the farm is too much for them - they want him back. Toby runs away from the circus and Mr. Stubbs follows him. When Toby thinks a passing hunter (James Drury) has killed Mr. Stubbs he is taken back to the circus where he is reunited with a much nicer Uncle Daniel and also his Aunt Emma.It was a very entertaining film and in those times there were no forgettable songs to slow down the action.

"Toby Tyler" (1960) is one of my earliest movie memories. In combination with the film Whitman Publishing released a book of the screenplay, which differed considerably from the source novel, managing to lighten up the story.Most boys (at least in my class) were at first reluctant to see the film because it's star, Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran, had pretty much ruined the "Spin and Marty" serial when he was added to the cast after the first season. We also had suffered through his "too cute" acting in "Old Yeller". Rare is the child actor who was more irritating to his contemporaries. But "Moochie" was just a hammy kid who did what the director wanted; and fortunately the director of "Toby Tyler" dialed down the standard "Moochie" cuteness for his first staring role. The film was the perfect escape for boys. Running away with the circus was almost as good as getting to spend the whole summer riding horses on the Triple "R" Ranch. Plus Toby's protector was Ben Cotter, our old friend Sgt. Garcia from "Zorro". Mr. Stubbs the chimp is given the "too cute" supporting role that "Moochie" normally played, which was most likely an attempt to expand the target audience to include pre-teen girls. It worked as the film entertained the entire family. The story involves Toby's efforts to move from peanut vendor to circus performer. He eventually replaces a snotty boy in a bareback riding act. His partner is Mademoiselle Jeanette (Barbara Beaird), my first crush and most likely the reason that I remember the film so fondly. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

I've mentioned elsewhere that Disney's adaptations of famous works sometimes avoid the dark and dreary messages of the original works.He wished,it seems,to provide wholesome family entertainment.IN this regard,he succeeded.But,after seeing this film,as I did when it first came out,I was horrified when I got around to reading Kahler's book.Let's see the differences.1.)Toby,in the story,is a sly,fat, lazy glutton,who leaves a brutal orphan's home in order to avoid doing his chores,and being punished for dishonesty.He joins the circus,and wages an undercover war against the evil management.2.)The circus is a dreary,run down dump,managed by vicious alcoholics who beat and cripple children.Toby,consequently,starts a guerrilla war against them.3.)The people who work in the circus,when they aren't brutal bullies,are among the most grotesque characters in Victorian American fiction.4.)Toby DOESN'T become a star on horses.Mr.Stubbs isn't a cute chimp,but a mangy,pathetic,morose old monkey.And the hunter does kill him.5.)The story ends with the manager of the orphanage taking Toby back.And you get the feeling that all will not be well.So,while the film adaptation sticks to some of the facts,the underlying message has been avoided.