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DVD The Boatniks
"Man the Laffboats" reads the original 1970 cover of Disney’s classic whodunnit film comedy, a seaside shenanigan starring an accident-prone ensign and a trio of bumbling jewel thieves. Robert Morse (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) plays Coast Guard Ensign Thomas Garland, an earnest public servant trying to live under the towering shadow of his late father while convinced he’s jinxed since he can barely control the chaotic waters of Newport harbor. In the middle of the nautical madness come Harry (Phil Silvers), Max (Norman Fell), and Charlie (Mickey Shaughnessy), low-grade criminals trying to recover a picnic basket of stolen jewels that was accidentally dropped into the bay. Canoes, catamarans, and submarines cavort within the simple storyline, which allows ample opportunity for the talented supporting cast to set sail into the spotlight including Stefanie Powers (playing smart, sincere Kate Fairchild), and Don Ameche (Commander Taylor). Plenty of sea-faring slapstick will keep all ages suitably entertained and even when the gags occasionally run aground, Disney stays the course with a predictably happy ending awash in wedding bells. (G-rated) --Lynn Gibson
A seasoned Coast Guard Lt. Jordan (Joey Forman) is transferring out of one of the craziest, most crowded recreational harbors in the US coastlines, Newport Beach Harbor, California. Robert Morse stars his bumbling new replacement, Coast Guard Ensign Thomas Garland. This wacky movie is about the trials and tribulations faced by those rescuers at sea that must save the amateur weekend boaters (beatniks) from themselves. The great Don Ameche stars as the tough area Commander who served with Garland's father, a famous Admiral, so he has high expectations of Garland Jr. On the other hand Garland feels that he is jinxed to live in his father's shadow, contributing to his bad luck. Kate (Stefanie Powers) runs a local boat rental and sailing school. After rescuing him from his own wreck, she gets romantically involved with the Ensign as they must join forces to catch some jewel thieves. Phil Silvers, Mickey Shaugnessy, and Norman Fellstar as the 3 bumbling jewel thieves on the run from the police. This movie is simply loaded with visual sight gags and slapstick comedy. During the opening credits alone there are 4 funny mishaps and rescues. Bob Haskins as Chief Walsh. Chiyoko Kuni as the Japanese geisha, Joe Flynn, Wally Cox, Tom Lowell, Vito Scotti, Sammy Jackson, Joe Ross, Judy Jordan, Al Lewis. Kelly Thordson is the police officer on a motorcycle, a role he played in 5 Disney films. Many of the actors appeared in other Disney comedies of the period.
The movie promotional poster at the time said, "Here comes those marina madcaps who go down to the sea every weekend ...down, and down, and down, and down, and down". Directed by Norman Tokar, who directed 15 films and TV movies for Disney Studios, from 1961 until his untimely death in 1979. His titles include "The Cat from Outer Space", "The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit", "The Ugly Dachshund", "Rascal", and "The Apple Dumpling Gang". Screenplay by Arthur Julian and Marty Roth. The studio filmed extensively on location at Newport Beach and the marina, in addition to shooting scenes at the studio lot and in a water tank to simulate the sea. Many stuntmen were used in the multiple scenes of boats that capsized.
First released to theatres on July 1, 1970, and it was well received by the drive-in movie crowd. Even dads who sometimes shunned family movies wanted to see the boating hi-jinks, as boating was a big fad at the time. It didn't hurt that the movie was loaded with bikinis either. Disney studio composer Robert Brunner worked with Bruce Belland to co-write the title song. 100 minutes in length. Aired on the "Wonderful World of Disney" TV show in a 2 hour special format on November 12, 1978 and again on June 2, 1991. Released to video for the first time in 1984.
Rated "G" for Good clean fun for the whole family.
Not 5, not 1 - good movie, bad tranfer.
I'm a Boater and this film goes over the top and makes me laugh out load (LOL). But 5 stars as the greatest movie of all time? Sorry, LOL. I agree about the Disney rip off. They really should put out a quality product. I've got a whole wish list on Amazon as # 5 - don't buy for me, waiting for a better transfer to happen before I buy them. Mostly from Disney! Disney, if your listening, don't worry about the next generation of this sale being widescreen. The next generation will be HD and then it will be HD on 3", etc. So Disney, you have lot of future releases available too make your money. If you still have customers! Until then, I guess I watch my VHS one more time.
Another Disney DVD ripoff
Today I had the chance to buy two DVDs at the same price. One was of the restored version of "The High and the Mighty", with two discs--one containing a beautiful widescreen transfer of the film with accompanying audio commentary anchored by Leonard Maltin; the other stuffed with special features on the making of and restoration of the film. The other was a full-screen version of "The Boatniks" from Disney DVD, with an outtakes reel and nothing else. Both items were offered at $14.99. So, which do you think was the better deal?
The difference between these two packages pretty much sums up everything wrong with Disney DVD's latest botched release. "The Boatniks" is a zippy, funny farce from 1970, which is eons better than some of the Disney films that followed it. Robert Morse, Stefanie Powers and Don Ameche anchor the fine cast, and there are hysterical performances by Phil Silvers and Mickey Schaunessy leading a gang of diamond thieves as they try to smuggle their catch out of Long Beach harbor without getting caught. The film is a riot. Too bad I can't recommend such a cheap, cheesy packaging of this fine film, especially since for the same price I can support the film restoration efforts of John Wayne's Batjac company, who, through Paramount Home Video, has rescued a long-lost film and given it a second life on home video at a reasonable price considering the content. Disney DVD, however, couldn't care less about restoration and giving its consumers a good deal on its ridiculously overpriced product. So no matter how much I'd like the film, no sale on this one.
Just think about it. My senior citizen parents just bought a widescreen TV. Now Mom won't buy a DVD unless its in widescreen format so it will look good on her TV. These TVs are becoming more and more affordable. Before long, most homes will have them. Next thing you know, Disney will be rereleasing all these films in "special edition widescreen" formats and will expect everyone who bought fullscreen versions to repurchase (at an even more ridiculous price) these special editions that they should have offered in the first place.
So, there you have it. The reasoning behind the ripoff. Don't be fooled into buying substandard product. This version of "The Boatniks" just doesn't cut it.
* (out of *****) for the presentation of this classic film.
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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Straight from the vault of Disney’s bygone classics comes this 1960 family film about a boy who joins the circus, based on the book of the same name by James Otis Kaler. Kevin Corcoran (Old Yeller, Swiss Family Robinson) is unsurpassed as the earnest and endearing Toby Tyler, an orphan who lives with his poverty-stricken aunt and uncle until the day he is told he’s a "millstone around their necks." When the circus comes to town, Toby runs away to join the vagabond life of the big top. Although his concessionaire boss is a con man, Toby makes fast friends with Ben Cotter (Henry Calvin) and Sam Treat (Gene Sheldon) who protect him and, in the end, receive much more from Toby than they give. The movie’s best moments center on Toby’s camaraderie with a... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Kevin Corcoran - Henry Calvin Director(s): Charles Barton DVD Release Date: Released the 02 August 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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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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This enjoyable comedy is one of the last Disney live-action films that feels akin to their earlier, innocent films. Jan-Michael Vincent plays the title character Nanu, a parentless child brought up in Africa with unbelievable physical skills (check out his introduction, running faster than a cheetah, played in front of pure-'70s rear-screen projection). John Amos and Tim Conway play a hapless college coaching duo whose fortunes change once they spot Nanu. After a run-in with a smart witch doctor (Roscoe Lee Browne), the two bring Nanu--and his pet tiger--to America, where Nanu finds Jane (Dayle Haddon) and starts to rewrite the record book. The film doesn't age that well, but the little ones will laugh at the shenanigans, especially when Conway is miniaturized by the doctor. Several... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jan-Michael Vincent - John Amos Director(s): Robert Scheerer DVD Release Date: Released the 02 August 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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