Fess Parker plays Davy Crockett in this feature film made by combining three episodes of the Disneyland TV series that aired on ABC.
First, Davy and sidekick George Russel scout for Gen. Andrew Jackson, who’s trying to quell an uprising by the Creek Indians and Chief Red Stick.
Naturally, Davy proves much more adept at fighting Indians than the regulars under Jackson’s command, including Maj. Tobias Norton (William Bakewell).
Once peace is restored, Davy and George wander to Tennessee. Once there, Davy faces down the local bully, becomes magistrate, then a state representative.
Ultimately, Jackson, now president, recruits him to run for Congress. Davy finds his backwoods politics plays well, even in Eastern cities. He also discovers that more seasoned politicians are eager to take advantage of his naiveté.
Done with politics, Davy and George head to Texas. Why? Because American homesteaders who have settled there are fighting for their liberty.
They wind up at the Alamo, where Col. Jim Bowie (Kenneth Tobey) immediately shares the truth with Crockett, but not the rest of the men: Their situation is desperate. And the likelihood of reinforcements remote.
Review:
The film became a smash hit for Disney, the Davy Crockett role made a star of Fess Parker and coonskin caps became a craze, all the result of a TV show designed to promote the Frontierland portion of Walt Disney’s Florida theme park.
Given Parker’s easy-going charm in the lead role – at one point, he tries to smile down a bear – it’s easy to see why this would be popular with kids and as family friendly viewing.
But it’s too cliché-ridden to be taken very seriously as adult entertainment. For instance, in part one, of course Davy winds up challenging the Indian chief to hand-to-hand combat. Which comes after Davy and George have taken turns saving one another’s lives.
The theme song became a hit too. In fact, at one point, three different versions of “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” were in the Billboard Top 10, one by Tennessee Ernie Ford, one by Fess Parker and one by Bill Hayes. The Hayes version made it to number one.
Though Davy dies at the Alamo, Disney came back with a prequel, “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates” the following year.
Directed by:
Norman Foster
Cast:
Fess Parker … Davy Crockett
Buddy Ebsen … George Russel
Basil Ruysdael … Andrew Jackson
Hans Conried .. Thimblerig
William Bakewell.. Maj. Tobias Norton
Kenneth Tobey … Col. Jim Bowie
Pat Hogan … Chief Red Stick
Helene Stanley … Polly Crockett
Nick Cravat … Busted Luck
Don Megowan …Col. William Travis
Mike Mazurki … Bigfoot Mason
Jeff Thompson … Charlie Two Shirts
Henry Joyner … Swaney
Campbell Brown … Bruno
Runtime: 93 min.
Title tune: “The Ballad of Davy Crockett”
Memorable lines:
George Russel, as Davy gets up after being clubbed in the head by the Indian chief: “I reckon Redstick’s tomahawk’s got an awful nick in it.”
Davy Crockett: “Much obliged for saving my scalp. Caculatin’ Mrs. Crockett might have a kiss for you when we get home.”
Chief Red Stick: “Promises no good. White government lie.”
Davy: “Davy Crockett don’t lie. Here’s my hand on it.”
Davy, on his introductory speech to Congress: “I’m David Crockett, fresh from the backwoods. I’m half horse, half alligator and a little touched with snapping turtle. I got the fastest horse, the prettiest sister, the surest rifle and the ugliest dog in Tennessee.”
Davy Crockett, upon arriving at the Alamo: “Two hundred stubborn men can do a tolerable amount of fightin’.”
George Russel, offering to leave the Alamo to go for reinforcements: “I been in and out of bear traps all my life and I ain’t lost no toes yet.”
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