Determined boy runs away from his rural community rather than risk being placed in an orphanage, taking along his pet lion and little girlfriend for a journey through rugged terrain. Family film from Disney with nature-adventure asides never really gets going--mostly due to that sleepy lion, ambling through the picture as if drugged. The kids (talented Johnny Whitaker from "Family Affair" and wise-talking Jodie Foster in her first film role) are both good, even though they occasionally struggle with their delivery. Michael Douglas has fine, if colorless, supporting role as a well-meaning hippie-type who comes to their rescue. Younger children might enjoy it. ** from ****
8 Reviews
Disney adventure
SnoopyStyle17 March 2017
Napoleon gets into mischief with his friend Samantha (Jodie Foster). They steal empty bottles and resell them to the store owner for candy. He lives with his grandpa. Her parents are away and she lives with Gertrude. Napoleon and grandpa encounter Dimetri the Clown with Major the Lion. Dimetri is going home to Europe and has to leave Major behind. The lion is old with bad teeth and can only drink milk. Napoleon and grandpa adopt Major putting him in with the chickens. Grandpa passes away. Danny (Michael Douglas) is a student traveling through the area looking for work. Napoleon hires him to bury grandpa. Napoleon claims to be waiting for his uncle while Danny sets off for a goat herding job. Fearing the orphanage, Napoleon sets off with Major to find and stay with Danny. Samantha joins him with her prized rooster. When the kids get there, Danny goes back to tell Gertrude and she promptly has him arrested. At the police station, he sees that he left the kids with Mark Pierson who is actually a wanted criminal.
I checked this out for Jodie Foster and Michael Douglas. Damn, Jodie was just a kid and it's sad to read that she was mauled by one of the lions. The kids are cute and charming. There are a lot of darker elements in this kids movie. The locals are a little too much of bumpkins. The most compelling aspect is the two kids on the journey with the lion. That's a small part of the movie. It's an odd little Disney adventure.
I checked this out for Jodie Foster and Michael Douglas. Damn, Jodie was just a kid and it's sad to read that she was mauled by one of the lions. The kids are cute and charming. There are a lot of darker elements in this kids movie. The locals are a little too much of bumpkins. The most compelling aspect is the two kids on the journey with the lion. That's a small part of the movie. It's an odd little Disney adventure.
A cool and intriguing concept, just not fulfilled one bit
r96sk6 August 2020
A waste.
I appreciate the darker story tone that 'Napoleon and Samantha' attempts to provide, sadly none of it really sticks and it comes out as a slow paced, dull would-be adventure.
The cast features two very familiar names - Michael Douglas and Jodie Foster. The latter doesn't have much to do, while Douglas plays an oddly written character. Johnny Whitaker, fresh off the lovely 'The Biscuit Eater', is alright. Will Geer's role has a lot of heart, if not much else.
They try to cram so many different elements into this, to the point it feels overcrowded and unrefined. There's a lion in the film, for practically no reason whatsoever. As well as unexplored plot lines and characters. Without wanting to give anything away, it's all very uneven.
A cool and intriguing concept, just not fulfilled one bit. Disappointing.
I appreciate the darker story tone that 'Napoleon and Samantha' attempts to provide, sadly none of it really sticks and it comes out as a slow paced, dull would-be adventure.
The cast features two very familiar names - Michael Douglas and Jodie Foster. The latter doesn't have much to do, while Douglas plays an oddly written character. Johnny Whitaker, fresh off the lovely 'The Biscuit Eater', is alright. Will Geer's role has a lot of heart, if not much else.
They try to cram so many different elements into this, to the point it feels overcrowded and unrefined. There's a lion in the film, for practically no reason whatsoever. As well as unexplored plot lines and characters. Without wanting to give anything away, it's all very uneven.
A cool and intriguing concept, just not fulfilled one bit. Disappointing.
Warm, Endearing, Children's Film Classic
johnstonjames1 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This was always one of my favorite family/Disney films when I was growing up. Now that I'm older(much older)I like It even more. It's a much better film then you would expect it to be and a much better film then it is given credit.
Michael Douglas is just great, as are Johnny Whitaker and Jodie Foster in the title roles. Not only are Whitaker and Foster appealing but their acting is really very good. Michael Douglas(in one of his first roles ever)makes a tough, energetic debut as a young free spirited college student who befriends the children. In a exciting motorcycle chase toward the end, Douglas can be seen doing some of his own stunts.
As for the reviewer who claimed the lion looked drugged up during this film, that's dumb and ridiculous. Major the lion was very old when this was filmed. Major hardly seems drugged since they have him chasing mountain lions and fighting bears and running and jumping. Major wasn't drugged he was just old.
This is an outstanding film and more of a Disney classic then people want to give it credit for.
Michael Douglas is just great, as are Johnny Whitaker and Jodie Foster in the title roles. Not only are Whitaker and Foster appealing but their acting is really very good. Michael Douglas(in one of his first roles ever)makes a tough, energetic debut as a young free spirited college student who befriends the children. In a exciting motorcycle chase toward the end, Douglas can be seen doing some of his own stunts.
As for the reviewer who claimed the lion looked drugged up during this film, that's dumb and ridiculous. Major the lion was very old when this was filmed. Major hardly seems drugged since they have him chasing mountain lions and fighting bears and running and jumping. Major wasn't drugged he was just old.
This is an outstanding film and more of a Disney classic then people want to give it credit for.
Nice little "G" movie, young Jodie Foster and young Michael Douglas star.
TxMike14 July 2000
This 1972 movie, "Napoleon and Samantha" is about a couple of orphaned kids who have a pet chicken and a pet lion from the circus. They meet up with Danny (Michael Douglas) who helps them out.
The acting and filming are OK, it's just a good little G-rated movie with no sex, cursing, or violence. What I found most interesting are seeing Michael Douglas in his 20s and Jodie Foster about 8 or 9 when the filming was done, and mentally comparing that to their mega-star status today.
The acting and filming are OK, it's just a good little G-rated movie with no sex, cursing, or violence. What I found most interesting are seeing Michael Douglas in his 20s and Jodie Foster about 8 or 9 when the filming was done, and mentally comparing that to their mega-star status today.
Reboot
iamnater23 January 2023
This movie could use a reboot and a sequel more or less. Because it sometimes make me sad to see Napoleon's grandfather passed away during the movie, just wish there could have been a new love interest for Danny though.
And I love the way Major the Lion was very tameful and gentle as a house cat, it got me thinking about what would happen if there is going to be a reboot and a sequel included just to honor that movie. Because of Disney, I always wondered what it would be like to make good people's dream come true and do things differently for the sake of Walt Disney Animation Studios someday.
And I love the way Major the Lion was very tameful and gentle as a house cat, it got me thinking about what would happen if there is going to be a reboot and a sequel included just to honor that movie. Because of Disney, I always wondered what it would be like to make good people's dream come true and do things differently for the sake of Walt Disney Animation Studios someday.
moving Disney offering
thomandybish26 May 2001
Disney family offering that was(if I am correct)Jodie Foster's first feature film appearance. Plot concerns Napoleon(Johnny Whittaker)who flees to the hills with his pet lion Major and friend Samantha(Foster)after his grandfather dies, assisted by college-dropout-turned-shepherd Michael Douglas. The drama comes from Napoleon and Samantha encountering various dangers in the hills of the Rockies, including the expected wild animals and a run-in with a dangerous pedophile(euphemistically referred to as a "psycho" in the film). A little unusual, for the film's dealings with death(the only human death I can recall in a Disney live-action film)and the above-mentioned child molestor, and not a little moving.
Kind of dated Disney film
Wizard-88 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Napoleon and Samantha" is a kind of family movie that Disney company doesn't make any more - or any other movie studio, come to think about it. To a certain degree that is kind of a shame, because for the most part it doesn't have the strident and loud tone found in modern family day movies. Some of the low key scenes are nice and effective, like when Napoleon's sick grandfather has his last conversation with his grandson. But ultimately, the movie is a little TOO low key for its own good. For the most part, it chugs along not only at a very slow pace, but lacking bite; the movie could have used a bit more tension and conflict. Near the end, the tone really changes with the action-packed climax, but it seems to come from a different movie altogether. There is additionally some interest in seeing the pre-fame Michael Douglas (who is pretty good) and Jodie Foster (who is unexceptional, though this was her first movie). However, in the end the movie is pretty forgettable, being hard to differentiate from other cookie-cutter efforts from the Disney company during the 1970s.
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