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DVD The Barefoot Executive
A young Kurt Russell stars in this good-natured comedy. Steve Stone is an ambitious mailroom clerk at a third-rate television network when he stumbles onto the fact that his girlfriend's pet chimpanzee, Raffles, can pick ratings winners. Suddenly he's well on his way up the corporate ladder and getting his network to No. 1. Keeping Raffles and his abilities a secret provide the perfect setting for wacky, wicked comedy. The truly funny cast of Joe Flynn, Harry Morgan, Wally Cox, John Ritter, and others make up the executives and their cohorts. Not wanting to be made fools of, the executives try to save their dignity as well as their jobs by relocating Raffles. There's lots of physical comedy and downright silliness. Talk about monkey business! Released in 1971, this film can appear dated at times, but the story still holds up today. A likable, fun movie that harks back to a time of innocent mischief. Refreshingly void of techno gadgets and helmet laws, this film is just good, clean, wholesome fun for the whole family. --Peggy Maltby-Etra
I am delighted to see that two of my favorite Disney films have been released on dvd, "Million Dollar Duck" and "The Barefoot Executive." Descriptions of the plots for these movies are already noted here, but I will say that both these films are very enjoyable family viewing. I can remember going to the theater as a child and watching these films, and I still enjoy them today. Nobody's claiming they're the best films ever, or even the best Disney films ever, just good, fun entertainment in the grand Disney tradition.Some have complained about these films not being released in their original aspect ratio's, or being remastered for dvd. Although I would have preferred them released letterboxed as well, neither film was released in a very wide aspect ratio, so they play fine on tv, and as for Disney using the same masters they used for the vhs releases and tv airings, if that's what they did, big deal. Those prints are fine. Sharp, clear pictures, with good color.Sure, it would have been nice to have remastered letterboxed versions on dvd, but be grateful we have them on dvd at all. They've both been a long time coming.
Five reasons to skip this one.
First of all, I must say "The Barefoot Executive", which was Kurt Russell's second starring role in his early Disney period, is a wonderful, comic farce. It has a terrific supporting cast, including the hilarious comedy team of Joe Flynn and Wally Cox, an early appearance by the late John Ritter, and a pleasing turn by Heather North as Russell's love interest. And then there's Russell's costar, a chimp who can predict hit TV shows, well-played by Bubbles. His "talent" comes in handy when ambitious mailboy Russell uses his predictions to get ahead at the television network he works at. In all, it's a funny farce that kids and their parents will enjoy.
Alas, I cannot recommend this film for purchase at this time. And here are five reasons why:
1. Disney DVD has once again made the head-scratching decision to release "Barefoot Executive" in a full-screen format, instead of widescreen. Why? Who knows. This is extremely annoying, especially since it was undoubtedly filmed in the family friendly 1:66:1 aspect ratio. Heck, my 3 year old niece has no problem with those black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Why should anyone else?
2. There is nothing to lead me to believe this film has been restored. Therefore, we're evidently getting the same tired print from the VHS version. Why replace something with something that is no better than what you already have?
3. There are absolutely no special features. None.
4. The retail price of $19.99 is ridiculously expensive for a bare-bones DVD. Most comparable DVDs are priced at $9.99 or less, so Disney should be ashamed of themselves for ripping the customer off.
5. As I said before, 1+2+3+4=ONE BIG RIPOFF.
So, my verdict, thumbs down to Disney and this package. I'd like to thank them, however, for saving me money. Not buying this, "Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.", and "Million Dollar Duck" will save me anywhere from $45-$60 that I can use to buy product from other DVD companies, like Anchor Bay, for instance, that values its customers enough to present us with topnotch, worthy product.
*** (out of *****)for the film; * for the DVD; ** overall
MORE FROM KURT'S EARLY DAYS
If it seems like Kurt Russell has been around forever it's because he HAS! He's been acting since 1957. He was 20 years old when he made this movie in 1951, but still was that fresh-faced kid we'd come to know in "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" done a few years before. Although it seems like it since once again Joe Flynn is a co-star, this was not a part of the Dexter Riley series of films. Other co-stars include Wally Cox, Harry Morgan, and an equally young John Ritter.
Russell plays Steven Post who works in the mail room of a big television network. Steven discovers that his girlfriend's pet chimp can pick TV ratings winners and soon as the network execs buzzing. Joe Flynn and Wally Cox play off each other hilariously in this film. Flynn was always so much fun to watch with that always perturbed look on his face and wondering "why me?". Ritter actually plays the snobby nephew to the head of the studio who gets his just desserts in the end.
Hey, these things were not classics but they were good and fun family movies the type of which you don't see anymore. Disney did so well at these types of things in the 60's and early 1970's Nice to see they are releasing them on DVD as well.
Disney’s classic 1971 comedy about the goose that lay the golden eggs returns in digital format, retaining its old-style family-friendliness, slapstick silliness, and good-natured predictability. Dean Jones plays professor Albert Dooley, a lab worker down on his luck, who lives in suburbia with his earnest yet scatterbrained wife Katie (played deliciously by Sandy Duncan). When an under-performing lab duck’s life is in jeopardy, Dooley rescues him to become a family pet and soon discovers that some earlier exposure to radiation has turned the duck’s eggs into gold. The Dooley’s newfound wealth brings its share of pandemonium as they try to keep their proverbial "nest egg" under wraps, especially from nosy neighbor Finley Hooper (Joe Flynn), a government Treasury man.... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Dean Jones - Sandy Duncan - Joe Flynn Director(s): Vincent McEveety DVD Release Date: Released the 12 April 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Shortly after Dick Van Dyke played Bert in Mary Poppins, he starred as Lt. Robin Crusoe in this lesser known 1966 comedy, splendidly showcasing his myriad comedic talents in a South seas setting. Families who remember Van Dyke’s riotous romp as Navy-pilot-turned-island-native will appreciate this digital release of the original film. The laughs begin from the moment Crusoe is marooned at sea on a military-issue rubber raft and fights off a shark while reading a step-by-step survival guide. By the time he washes ashore on the island, discovers the wonders of bamboo, and stumbles upon a poker-playing astro-Chimp, audiences are given over to the gigglefest. Nancy Kwan, as Wednesday, adds to the merriment as the island’s other castaway who plays a humorous game of charades... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Dick Van Dyke - Nancy Kwan Director(s): Byron Paul DVD Release Date: Released the 12 April 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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When a slightly cross-eyed Siamese cat named D.C. (Darn Cat) turns up with a wristwatch around his neck instead of a collar, it could be just the clue the FBI needs to crack a series of bank robberies in this lightweight comedy from Disney. The watch belongs to a bank teller who has been taken hostage. Dean Jones stars as the good-hearted FBI agent assigned to the case. Unfortunately, he is highly allergic to, you guessed it, cats. Hayley Mills is D.C.'s doting owner who hatches a hair-brained scheme to follow D.C.'s every move until he returns to the crooks' hideout where he got the wristwatch. After a lot of sneezing, slapstick, and comedic intrigue, the bank robbers are foiled, the hostage is safe, and everyone is happy. An impressive supporting cast of Frank Gorshin,... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Hayley Mills - Dean Jones Director(s): Robert Stevenson DVD Release Date: Released the 03 May 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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In Search of the Castaways was Hayley Mills's third feature for Disney, an agreeable adventure--loosely based on a Jules Verne story--with enough derring-do to make kids happy and with the right touch of self-conscious silliness to keep adults smiling. Mills plays Mary Grant, a missing freighter captain's daughter convinced her father is still alive somewhere in Earth's southern hemisphere. With the help of her brother (Keith Hamshire) and a veteran seaman (an extremely unlikely if charming Maurice Chevalier), Mary convinces a shipping magnate, Lord Glenarvan (Wilfrid Hyde-White), to set sail and find the missing Captain Grant. The team survives freezing weather, avalanches, a menacing condor, an active volcano, Maori captors, and a plot by a slick George Sanders to steal a ship.... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Maurice Chevalier - Hayley Mills - George Sanders Director(s): Robert Stevenson DVD Release Date: Released the 03 May 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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THE ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN, a western comedy-rouser from Disney, gets it's long awaited DVD debut. Roddy McDowall, Suzanne Pleshette and Karl Malden (all veterans of Disney live action films) lead the impressive cast.
McDowall plays a meek butler from Boston, suddenly landed in the wild wild west, in the thick of the gold rush. Romance, adventure and comedy abound with Suzanne Pleshette an eyeful as saloon cutie Arabella Flagg. The cast also includes Harry Guardino, Richard Haydn, Hermione Baddeley, Cecil Kellaway and Joby Baker.
Disney has released THE ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN in pleasing 16:9 anamorphic. With the company in the bad habit of releasing most of their back-catalogue titles in fullscreen, this is rather a surprise. Sadly no... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Roddy McDowall - Suzanne Pleshette - Karl Malden Director(s): James Neilson DVD Release Date: Released the 12 April 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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