A boy-and-his-sheep story, set on a farm at the turn of the century, and a valentine to childhood. This family film from Walt Disney opens, literally, with help from a collection of animated greeting cards. It proceeds from there with bits of animation accentuating the story of a likable youngster entering his beloved pet sheep in a county fair contest. Attempt to recapture the uncanny mix of animation and live-action warmth and humor of "Song of the South" doesn't completely succeed because, although the same kids--Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten--are present, there's no Uncle Remus or any memorable songs beyond "Lavender Blue" (which, granted, is a dilly). Still, the film is meticulously produced and overwhelmingly heartfelt. A nice addition to the Disney catalogue, and rather touching in its old-fashioned way. *** from ****
23 Reviews
It's dear to my heart...
MovieAddict201612 February 2004
Enjoyable Disney romp about a young boy who dreams of aquiring his own lamb--and even draws cartoon images of one--and then finally gets one, only to find out that they're much harder to take care of than he had ever dreamed. Touching, sweet, sappy, corny, and more often than not quite likable, this Disney classic will entertain your entire family and leave you feeling happy. It ain't great but it's decent enough. (I've owned a copy for years, and that says something.)
****/*****
****/*****
To Get To The County Fair
bkoganbing15 July 2010
One of the most enduring products from the Magic Kingdom is So Dear To My Heart still retains its charm after 62 years. It's a very simple story about a young lad trying to earn enough money to get to the Pike County Fair at the turn of the last century. Young Bobby Driscoll aided and abetted by Luana Patten wants to get his lamb Danny to the County Fair and get awarded the first prize.
Young Danny came by his name because of a passing visit to their town of the Great Dan Patch legendary trotting horse champion from back in those days. He is literally the black sheep of the family with a fine coat of black wool. He also has no pedigree to speak of and that's important in these county fair events. Still Driscoll is full of hope.
He also has to convince is grandmother/guardian Beulah Bondi, a kindly and pious woman who's not really into wasting money on frivolities. For that the kids rely on Burl Ives, village blacksmith with a continual song for all occasions.
This film marked the farewell performance of Harry Carey who has a small role as the judge at the County Fair. So Dear To My Heart features a nice musical score by Elliot Daniel and Hy Morey which includes the Oscar nominated Lavendar Blue which Burl Ives delivers in a straightforward style. The song lost however to Baby It's Cold Outside from Neptune's Daughter.
The ensemble cast is great, especially the kids. Hard to believe what eventually happened with Bobby Driscoll, he looks so innocent here. Still that's the power of film, to freeze time and images that were more favorable.
After 62 years a great family film.
Young Danny came by his name because of a passing visit to their town of the Great Dan Patch legendary trotting horse champion from back in those days. He is literally the black sheep of the family with a fine coat of black wool. He also has no pedigree to speak of and that's important in these county fair events. Still Driscoll is full of hope.
He also has to convince is grandmother/guardian Beulah Bondi, a kindly and pious woman who's not really into wasting money on frivolities. For that the kids rely on Burl Ives, village blacksmith with a continual song for all occasions.
This film marked the farewell performance of Harry Carey who has a small role as the judge at the County Fair. So Dear To My Heart features a nice musical score by Elliot Daniel and Hy Morey which includes the Oscar nominated Lavendar Blue which Burl Ives delivers in a straightforward style. The song lost however to Baby It's Cold Outside from Neptune's Daughter.
The ensemble cast is great, especially the kids. Hard to believe what eventually happened with Bobby Driscoll, he looks so innocent here. Still that's the power of film, to freeze time and images that were more favorable.
After 62 years a great family film.
Another Disney live-action/animation winner!
moviebuff-23 September 2001
"So Dear to My Heart" is yet another great Disney live-action/animation film. Kind of a follow-up to "Song of the South", but equally good. Burl Ives and his songs make the film worth seeing alone. A surprise song in the movie is "Billy Boy", sung in a duet between Beulah Bondi and Burl Ives. Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten are just as fresh and appealing here as they were in "Song of the South". During the scene with the song "Billy Boy", watching them smile just fills me with joy. Equally joyous is seeing them dance with Bondi and Ives later in the same scene. If only they lived longer in real life, then I'd probably meet and work with them. This movie is not as well-known as other Disney films, probably because of its simple story, but don't miss it. With a lot of pros I've mentioned above, it doesn't seem dated. I love it as much as "Song of the South" and rate it **** out of ****.
Not far off being a good film, in my opinion.
r96sk15 May 2021
Not far off being a good film, in my opinion.
'So Dear to My Heart' does do bits well, there are a few amusing moments and some sweet ones. The cast are pleasant enough, if nothing standout. A couple of parts are a little slow, while it has the usual animal questionability to it that a lot of films tend to have from this era.
All in all, an alright watch but one that's just short of being something I'd recommend. It's nothing bad, I will say that.
/copied directly from my Letterboxd review\
'So Dear to My Heart' does do bits well, there are a few amusing moments and some sweet ones. The cast are pleasant enough, if nothing standout. A couple of parts are a little slow, while it has the usual animal questionability to it that a lot of films tend to have from this era.
All in all, an alright watch but one that's just short of being something I'd recommend. It's nothing bad, I will say that.
/copied directly from my Letterboxd review\
I really hate how underrated this film is, because I adore it!
TheLittleSongbird24 August 2009
So Dear To My Heart is an immensely charming live-action Dsiney film, but sadly it is overlooked. Same with Song of the South, and that was great too. I will say that asides from seeing it twice when I was 10, I didn't see this wonderful film til recently, and boy I am glad I did. It has a lot of charm, that makes it a genuine joy to watch. Considering that it was made in 1949, it looks beautiful, and I loved the animated sequences, especially with the scholarly owl. The songs are beautiful, from the stunning title song So Dear To My Heart, the charming Lavender Blue, the rousing Oodalay to the triumphant historical song with figures such as Christopher Colombus. The performances were great, with Bobby Driscoll very convincing as Jeremiah, and Beulah Bondi superb as his grandmother and Burl Ives appealing as Uncle Hiram. Danny, the neglected lamb was absolutely adorable, and Jeremiah was very loving towards him. The dialogue wasn't so bad either. So Dear to My Heart shouldn't be overlooked as a bittersweet kids film, instead it should be recognised as a charming film for the whole family, for that is exactly what it is. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Exceptionally well made schmaltzy Americana.
planktonrules9 September 2013
"So Dear to My Heart" is the sort of unabashed bit of schmaltz that Disney did very well and which you would never see today. It's pure Americana--the sort of perfectly groomed and manicured America that Walt Disney himself wanted to promote--and which he later promoted with Disneyland and Disneyworld. It represents a look at a time and place that isn't realistic--it's more hyper-idealized and sweet--and it's pure nostalgia. Some might balk at this sort of thing--I felt like it was an incredibly sweet film.
The story is about a boy (Bobby Discoll) and his pet lamb. It's also a parable about hard work, determination and good old fashioned values. And, it culminates with the lamb going to the county fair.
When the film was tested, audiences didn't like that there was no animation as they expected animation in a Disney film. I really do NOT think it was needed and the animated sequences are completely unnecessary for the film, though they have a certain charm. I think they weren't needed because the film had so much going for it already--great acting by Driscoll (a very talented child actor), Beulah Bondi and Burl Ives, some AMAZING cinematography (with amazing shots of forests and meadows) and a nice but very simple script. It's a great film for kids--especially because of its healthy messages and an unusually strong religious message for a Disney film. Well worth seeing for all ages.
The story is about a boy (Bobby Discoll) and his pet lamb. It's also a parable about hard work, determination and good old fashioned values. And, it culminates with the lamb going to the county fair.
When the film was tested, audiences didn't like that there was no animation as they expected animation in a Disney film. I really do NOT think it was needed and the animated sequences are completely unnecessary for the film, though they have a certain charm. I think they weren't needed because the film had so much going for it already--great acting by Driscoll (a very talented child actor), Beulah Bondi and Burl Ives, some AMAZING cinematography (with amazing shots of forests and meadows) and a nice but very simple script. It's a great film for kids--especially because of its healthy messages and an unusually strong religious message for a Disney film. Well worth seeing for all ages.
It lacks charm
atleverton15 April 2023
Walt Disney said that this was his favorite movie that he made, because it is the most like his childhood. Unfortunately, it is a really hard movie to find. I think that's because it hasn't really stayed in the collective imagination. I think the reason for it is that the story doesn't really distinguish itself from other similar stories a person has to overcome misfortunes to learn valuable life lessons. Another part of the film that does not make a lot of sense is the combination of animation and live action. Disney originally wanted this to be his first all live action film, but he was pressured into adding animated scenes because people expected animation from a Walt Disney film. The animation is a little bit confusing, it's not like the combination of live-action an animation in his previous films. It just interrupts the flow of the movie. So should your kids watch it? I think it's not worth the effort it's going to take you to find it to watch it.
A wonderful Disney film! Song of the South-like
songofthesouth6 March 2001
Being a huge fan of Song of the South, this movie was also a delight. Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten ("The Sweetheart Team"), are great as usual just like in all the classic Disney productions of this decade. And Burl Ives (voice of the eagle in Disneyland's old attraction America Sings) and his song Lavender Blue bring back memories! Quite honestly, I'm surprised the "offend no-one" attitude of Disney today hasn't got to the religious content of this film, which is refreshing and makes me thankful that they at least hold SOME things sacred (unlike digitally removing Pecos Bill's cigarette or editing out the Hatfields and McCoys scene from Make Mine Music). I love this film.
Farm life in the early 20th century
helpless_dancer22 February 2001
A small boy becomes emotionally attached to a new born black lamb and decides to enter it in the county fair. Living with his stern Granny on a farm means there is little money for frivolities, so the youngster goes out and gets the needed funds the old fashioned way...he earned them. Many things conspire to halt the trip to the fair: most brought on by the critter itself, but, of course, the lad and his pet enter the competition. There are lots of songs and animation in this dated but still enjoyable film, which also carries a simple but solid message about dealing with life's good and bad times.
Beautiful ! The way things were.
xyscaling29 November 2005
So Dear To My Heart is such a wonderful movie. Full of hope and faith with a little fantasy and imagination mixed in. I love the simple loving family atmosphere shown in the movie. This was a time when friends and neighbors truly knew and loved each other and helped each other.
As we see so often today, those viewers under 40 years of age will probably not understand and might even be critical of the beliefs and priorities shown in the film. Those of us old enough to remember seeing it in the theater will love the feeling of being taken back to a time when simple things were the important things in life. I hope you enjoy it as much as our family.
Like Song of the South, it is not currently out on DVD in the United States, but fortunately I bought a laser-disc copy of the film several years ago.
As we see so often today, those viewers under 40 years of age will probably not understand and might even be critical of the beliefs and priorities shown in the film. Those of us old enough to remember seeing it in the theater will love the feeling of being taken back to a time when simple things were the important things in life. I hope you enjoy it as much as our family.
Like Song of the South, it is not currently out on DVD in the United States, but fortunately I bought a laser-disc copy of the film several years ago.
A great teaching in a simple story
vanearth1318 June 2006
Like other Disney's films, simplicity is the support of an intense message about life.I think this old movie would be seen by today's children, considering the actual tendency to loose essential valors and go on the fantastic ways, putting wonder-workers and extraordinary actions on service of something in the antipodes of the day by day. This movie is today more important than it was in 1948. Then it was a poetic image of real life and real valors. Today it proposes the recuperation of a lost paradise. But the real paradise built by man's inside.Yonder postures and feelings, the music represents, per sea,the right sonorous image of life equilibrium:support,tenderness and peace. Remains of a lost paradise is, today and by me, the true sense of this great Walt Disney's film.
Hidden piece of watchmaker's shop
Atreyu_II31 January 2011
I'm sure that everyone who loves this film agrees that its title is exactly how they feel about it. And so do I. It really becomes very dear to the heart. Unfortunately it is very injusticed for being extremely difficult to find, even almost impossible. An insane amount of luck is necessary to find this movie and apparently it is ridiculously expensive, which only will scare off potential buyers. Consider yourself lucky if you find a copy of this for a good price.
'So Dear To My Heart' follows the basic formula of 'Song of the South': live-action and animation combined, the similar scenario and environment, the same two charming children (Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten). By taking inspiration on 'Song of the South', they made a better 'Song of the South' out of it.
This film is gold! It's so sweet, endearing, innocent, immensely enchanting and oh so beautiful! It's made with dedication and values. It's perfect in every way. The whole thing is adorable. It doesn't have too much songs, which is a good thing. The few songs it has are very simple and may not be the most memorable Disney songs, but they eventually grown on us.
The 2 kids were and will always be 2 of the most charismatic Disney child stars ever. They always had a perfect chemistry in everything they did together and they had a gift for acting. They bring such joy and tenderness to the movie, a real feeling of the age of innocence to it. The adults (Beulah Bondi and Burl Ives) are excellent.
The movie has lots of fun and classic humor and at the same time it teaches good values which sadly seem to mean nothing anymore for this generation and society without values, without color, without soul...
Disney's films in general of nowadays pale behind treasures like this. Whatever happened to good old Disney? This is from a time when Disney was really Disney. Nowadays's Disney is not worthy of the prestigious Disney name. Not by shadows! I don't think anybody who was involved in this film is alive, but wherever they are they must be ashamed of what Disney has become and at the same time proud of having been part of something really good as this.
This should definitely be on Top 250.
'So Dear To My Heart' follows the basic formula of 'Song of the South': live-action and animation combined, the similar scenario and environment, the same two charming children (Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten). By taking inspiration on 'Song of the South', they made a better 'Song of the South' out of it.
This film is gold! It's so sweet, endearing, innocent, immensely enchanting and oh so beautiful! It's made with dedication and values. It's perfect in every way. The whole thing is adorable. It doesn't have too much songs, which is a good thing. The few songs it has are very simple and may not be the most memorable Disney songs, but they eventually grown on us.
The 2 kids were and will always be 2 of the most charismatic Disney child stars ever. They always had a perfect chemistry in everything they did together and they had a gift for acting. They bring such joy and tenderness to the movie, a real feeling of the age of innocence to it. The adults (Beulah Bondi and Burl Ives) are excellent.
The movie has lots of fun and classic humor and at the same time it teaches good values which sadly seem to mean nothing anymore for this generation and society without values, without color, without soul...
Disney's films in general of nowadays pale behind treasures like this. Whatever happened to good old Disney? This is from a time when Disney was really Disney. Nowadays's Disney is not worthy of the prestigious Disney name. Not by shadows! I don't think anybody who was involved in this film is alive, but wherever they are they must be ashamed of what Disney has become and at the same time proud of having been part of something really good as this.
This should definitely be on Top 250.
Old Disney is old Disney
iguth27 April 2019
I'll keep it short. The movie makes sense, it has an easy to follow plot, a good lesson, and is nearly the same as other live action Disney films made at the time. It's well done but it really isn't my cup of tea nor is it anything necessarily special.
Question: Could this wonderful little movie be made now ?.
todemar8 December 2005
Straight answer: Estimate, just how popular is Harry Potter.
A very significant data-point on how darkly coarse public taste has turned in the intervening decades. Need one say more ?.
As a seven-year old, I fell in love with this gem in the 1950 first release. All Disney releases were top-of-the-mark at the Italian box-office then. SDTMH was wildly popular, held-over for weeks.
Personal note: I just _knew in my bones_ it said something breathtaking about America. That's how kids thought in those days. In a way, it spurred my desire to directly experience American culture someday. Just one kid's fervent dream in bleak, war-devastated Europe. It became a 32-year-long reality in 1969. For which I am duty bound to thank The One God referred to in the movie.
A very significant data-point on how darkly coarse public taste has turned in the intervening decades. Need one say more ?.
As a seven-year old, I fell in love with this gem in the 1950 first release. All Disney releases were top-of-the-mark at the Italian box-office then. SDTMH was wildly popular, held-over for weeks.
Personal note: I just _knew in my bones_ it said something breathtaking about America. That's how kids thought in those days. In a way, it spurred my desire to directly experience American culture someday. Just one kid's fervent dream in bleak, war-devastated Europe. It became a 32-year-long reality in 1969. For which I am duty bound to thank The One God referred to in the movie.
Too innocent for contemporary audiences, but taken in the context of when it was made this is still enjoyable.
barnabyrudge26 October 2003
So Dear To My Heart is a more-or-less forgotten Disney movie made in 1949. It feels like an attempt to repeat the success of the studio's 1946 classic Song of the South, but the innocent, twee approach is likely to be met with derision by many of today's street-wise youngsters. That's not to say the film is bad. In fact, if you can put it into the context of when it was made and try to enjoy it for its merits, this film is actually a lovely slice of entertainment.
The simple story tells of a young boy called Jeremiah Kincaid (Bobby Driscoll) who lives on a farm in 1903, helping his granny (Beulah Bondi) with the up-keep of the place. He comes to own a young black lamb named Danny, and dreams of taking the lamb to the County Fair - though granny advises him not to bother, since there's no call for black wool. Young Jeremiah is visited by some animated creatures who convince him to follow his heart.... if he thinks the lamb has a chance of winning, what the hell! Why not go for it?
Driscoll was one of the finest child actors ever and here he is excellent as the young boy with a far-fetched dream. Bondi as granny is stern but lovable, and Burl Ives is good too as the boy's optimistic uncle. The animation is quite good, but the live action takes up most of the screen time. There are some memorable songs, although the Oscar nominated tune "Lavender Blue" is actually rather disappointing.
So Dear To My Heart is worth watching, just so long as you remember that it was made in a time when the world was more innocent.
The simple story tells of a young boy called Jeremiah Kincaid (Bobby Driscoll) who lives on a farm in 1903, helping his granny (Beulah Bondi) with the up-keep of the place. He comes to own a young black lamb named Danny, and dreams of taking the lamb to the County Fair - though granny advises him not to bother, since there's no call for black wool. Young Jeremiah is visited by some animated creatures who convince him to follow his heart.... if he thinks the lamb has a chance of winning, what the hell! Why not go for it?
Driscoll was one of the finest child actors ever and here he is excellent as the young boy with a far-fetched dream. Bondi as granny is stern but lovable, and Burl Ives is good too as the boy's optimistic uncle. The animation is quite good, but the live action takes up most of the screen time. There are some memorable songs, although the Oscar nominated tune "Lavender Blue" is actually rather disappointing.
So Dear To My Heart is worth watching, just so long as you remember that it was made in a time when the world was more innocent.
One of my favorite movies of all time!
Jonrein-227 February 1999
This is one of the best Disney movies ever made. It is a story of a boy and his black lamb. But it teaches you a lot about life. Academy Award winning song Lavender Blue is sung by Burl Ives. Mostly live acting with tastefully done animation.
Farm boy tries to turn black lamb into a champion.
dougbrode14 March 2006
Perhaps the least known of all Disney films, this forgotten classic is nonetheless one of the best, and was by the the most personal and revealing movie that Uncle Walt ever made. Americana is the correct term to describe this relaxed moral fable about a little boy (Bobby Driscoll) who longs to own a great race horse like Dan Patch but settles instead for a forlorn little lamb. The plot may sound like The Yearling, but nobody shoots the pet at the end, even if 'Danny' does do just as much damage to the farm. Beulah Bondi (John Ford's original choice for Maw in The Grapes of Wrath) is exquisite as Grandma (the boy is an orphan) and another Ford vet, Harry Carey, Sr., makes one of his final appearances as the judge of an animal show at the big fair. The movie, based on a Sterling North story, is anything but escapism. Underneath the 'ah shucks' atmosphere is a profound tale of growing up the hard way, and an attempt to maintain innocence when the world seems bent on destroying it. Terrific support from Burl Ives as a local folksinger. Several animated sequences introduce Professor Owl, a cartoon wise bird who would fitfully appear in Disney entertainment until replaced by Prof. Duck, Donald's uncle, in 1961. A heartwarming treat that inspired the Main Street, USA attraction in Disney parks.
The Title is Just How I Feel
jperin17 July 2007
The title of this motion picture is just how I feel about it. It is "So Dear To My Heart". This film is easily my most-favorite motion picture. Some may feel the theme of "It's What You Do With What You Got" is out-dated or otherwise not applicable to current times. To me, nothing is further from the truth. The dream of a young man to achieve with what he is given, no matter the odds or the obstacles, is as current now as when this film was made or even from the year it is supposed to be from (1903). With the animated portions showing life's simple truths and how others in history have overcome long odds, the viewer can find room for its use in his/her own life. I feel that will always be true.
Even minor Disney movies from the lare40's- early 50's were exquisite 50's
Braves2168825 March 2007
This film was another opportunity to see the talented Bobby Driscoll(possibly the best child actor of all time) and Luana Patten(the epitome of feminine demureness and modesty in a child actress). Although not as good overall as The Song of the South, which featured Driscoll and Patten at a younger age, this film celebrates the anglo-protestant core of America, and the honesty and religious values of America's past before Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson launched us on the road to empire-a road Americans never wanted to travel. The animated beginning is poignant, and the Christian faith that unselfconciously permeates the film portray America's rural past as an idyll, The cast is superb-Harry Carey captures perfectly the kindly rectitude of an older generation of Americans as the chief livestock judge at the county fair-he has the air of a stern but insightful church deacon, touched by and concerned with rewarding the virtues he sees in the emerging generation of his day. Beulah Bondi is superb as the stern but wise and loving grandmother. Each of the adults, even Uncle Hiram(Burl Ives) show a commendable concern for the children, providing not only for their safety but protecting their souls as well. What a wonderful world we once had!
Poignant Americana. One Of Hollywood's Best Pieces Of Filmmaking
johnstonjames20 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
'So Dear To My Heart' was one of Walt Disney's personal favorites and it happens to be one of my favorite Disney classics as well as one of my favorite films in cinema in general. as far as Hollywood filmmaking goes in particular, it's one of the very best products they have ever manufactured. it has a heartfelt sincerity and genuineness that is exceptionally rare. even in this kind of sentimentalized nostalgia, sentiment can often end up as a maudlin mix of syrupy, overwrought contrivance and recollections that are overly idealized. not here. everything is fashioned to matter of fact perfection without dismissing the power of feeling or emotional responses.
this is a example of superior craftsmanship. not only in it's beautiful Technicolor photography and rural panorama, it has set direction that details authenticity and features some of Disney's best and most attractive animation from the 1940's. the old steam trains and general stores, the horses and cows grazing in meadows, the nostalgia of the old time state fairs and of it's accurate depiction of American rural farm life, all of it depicted with such warmth and loving perfection that has few equals. even in a time period where there were so many films that attempted to do this kind of thing. but few with such real success as this film.
the performances are charming and cosy, as is the case with the honest, unaffectedness of Burl Ives singing, and the children (Disney child stars Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten) are believable rather than molded facsimiles of a idealized childhood. but for me, the core performance here is the eternal sagacity of Beulah Bondi's grandmother. she is essence itself. essence of life, love, and femininity that evokes not only motherliness and age, but also a girlishness when being flirtatious with a much younger Ives when they dance to "krick-it-on-da-fryun pan ya'll'. Beulah Bondi's spirituality, as she interprets through rural American Christianity, is often really more pragmatic than anything too ethereal. often what she interprets as the ways of the Lord are simply common sense observations. Bondi's granny character often gets taxed or irritably preachy when pushed, but she never seems cruel or arrogant. Bondi's performance is one of my very favorite Hollywood film performances and something the Academy Awards neglectfully overlooked.
what i like so much about this dear little film, is that it's cosy sweetness is for real and not something that the viewer is manipulated, sold or forced into. in troubled times it's often hard to believe that anyone in America ever lived or thought like this, but believe it or not it's very true and accurate. there are such a thing as simpler times. many of us are never born into them but they do exist. any real study of American history will verify that statement and the accuracy of this film's assertions.
for me personally, cinema is rarely finer than this. and it's the genuine article. it's a film not about magical or super power humans, but real life people coping with everyday understandings we often all share together. it's also about our dreams that occur in the earthy, everyday reality and how they manifest realistically and practically, with advice, a little "stick-to-it-ivity" and a humble understanding of what you've got. God Bless. may you find peace with the Lord.
this is a example of superior craftsmanship. not only in it's beautiful Technicolor photography and rural panorama, it has set direction that details authenticity and features some of Disney's best and most attractive animation from the 1940's. the old steam trains and general stores, the horses and cows grazing in meadows, the nostalgia of the old time state fairs and of it's accurate depiction of American rural farm life, all of it depicted with such warmth and loving perfection that has few equals. even in a time period where there were so many films that attempted to do this kind of thing. but few with such real success as this film.
the performances are charming and cosy, as is the case with the honest, unaffectedness of Burl Ives singing, and the children (Disney child stars Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten) are believable rather than molded facsimiles of a idealized childhood. but for me, the core performance here is the eternal sagacity of Beulah Bondi's grandmother. she is essence itself. essence of life, love, and femininity that evokes not only motherliness and age, but also a girlishness when being flirtatious with a much younger Ives when they dance to "krick-it-on-da-fryun pan ya'll'. Beulah Bondi's spirituality, as she interprets through rural American Christianity, is often really more pragmatic than anything too ethereal. often what she interprets as the ways of the Lord are simply common sense observations. Bondi's granny character often gets taxed or irritably preachy when pushed, but she never seems cruel or arrogant. Bondi's performance is one of my very favorite Hollywood film performances and something the Academy Awards neglectfully overlooked.
what i like so much about this dear little film, is that it's cosy sweetness is for real and not something that the viewer is manipulated, sold or forced into. in troubled times it's often hard to believe that anyone in America ever lived or thought like this, but believe it or not it's very true and accurate. there are such a thing as simpler times. many of us are never born into them but they do exist. any real study of American history will verify that statement and the accuracy of this film's assertions.
for me personally, cinema is rarely finer than this. and it's the genuine article. it's a film not about magical or super power humans, but real life people coping with everyday understandings we often all share together. it's also about our dreams that occur in the earthy, everyday reality and how they manifest realistically and practically, with advice, a little "stick-to-it-ivity" and a humble understanding of what you've got. God Bless. may you find peace with the Lord.
10/10
drewberiou3 August 2023
A mostly live action movie about a boy who raises a lamb who was rejected by its mother. I did enjoy the depiction of small town and farm life around the turn of the 20th century. Assuming that it was fairly accurate since that was the environment Walt Disney grew up in at about the same age as the boy in the movie. There are some animation sequences added to the live action setting, mostly trying to show the young boy's thought process about raising the lamb and getting him ready to show at the county fair. The movie does drag in parts and the animation really doesn't add anything to the narrative and I feel it was added more as an experiment to see if they could do it. Check it out if you're curious.
A good story like this one is rare today.
Grundhoffe31 July 2000
With all of the stories within this story you really have to look at this film several times to get all the messages that are in it. Themes that were so real-to-life's lessons, and filled with teaching values like Stick-to-it-isty, I recommend it as a film that today's kids and parents should view together and re-examine with discussions. It was Disney story telling at his best. I especially enjoyed the Columbus Stick-to-it-isty piece.
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