Love this! I found a few new movies I want to see. I was glad to see Pollyanna on this list; she was my go-to movie as a child (we had limited screen time and strict standards too 😉)
🎶 HE KILLED HIM A BAR WHEN HE WAS ONLY THREE 🎶 (this is what happens when you grow up with a brother named David and I can't control it)
Seriously though, the 1957 Johnny Tremain adaptation was a favorite in our house, in addition to The Swiss Family Robinson, Pollyanna, and Old Yeller. I wonder how many of these films have overlapping producers/directors (and WHY didn't they adapt Gone-Away Lake, huge missed opportunity). Quintessential summer!
Same circumstances here! 😄 We used to sing the theme songs to that one and Old Yeller all the time.
I never warmed quite as much to Johnny Tremain simply because I'd read the book first, and the movie leaves *so* much out, but it is pretty good simply as a movie!
The book is so iconic. My brother and I read it all the time, and when we went to Boston on family vacation (when he was in college and I was in high school) all of us listened to the audiobook on the way. It was incredible because we visited all the (real) sites in the story!
I also grew up on So Dear to My Heart, Swiss Family Robinson, The Apple Dumpling Gang, and Davy Crockett and the River Pirates! 😄 I'm glad I didn't watch Old Yeller until I was a little older; I don't think extra-sensitive me could have appreciated how good it really was much younger. ❤️
I’ve watched all these movies in my childhood too, except So Dear To My Heart! I’ll have to look that one up. Our family just discovered another little-known old Disney movie called Follow Me, Boys. I don’t think it’s based on a book, but it’s a fun story about a 1930s Boy Scout master and his troupe, and it was surprisingly so touching!
I almost included an "honorable mentions" section, and Follow Me, Boys! would have been on that list! We also didn't discover that one till much later on.
So many good ones! I love So Dear to My Heart too though I only came to it as an adult. Love Burl Ives. I also love all Haley Mills films from that era. Pollyanna, Thomasina, The Moon-Spinners, Parent-Trap. We had a box Haley Mills VHS set as kids and watched them on repeat. These are all so charming.
Did you ever see Summer Magic, That Darn Cat, the Mandie Movies, or Angel in the House? (Angel in the House is also sometimes called 'Foster') Those are some of the movies i found out later she was in. She also guest starred on Murder She Wrote when she was older.
I've seen Summer Magic (love that one!) and That Darn Cat but not the Mandie Movies or Angel in the House. Thanks for bringing those to my attention :)
Yes, I remember that—he had a cameo as a golfer or golf caddy in the background of a scene, didn't he? He starred in Swiss Family Robinson for Disney the same year she was in Pollyanna.
🤦♀️ Yeah, the Swiss Family Robinson is what i meant to say. I actually didn't know that he was in the Parent Trap. Her sister, (who i think was named Juliet, not sure) anyway her sister guest starred on Murder She Wrote right before she did.
I never thought of that one as "classic Disney," whether because it came later or because as a kid I didn't realize it was produced by Disney, but that's a favorite too. (I originally saw a cut-down version on VHS, and was delighted to discover it with the "missing" scenes years later.)
It’s one of those movies, like Pollyanna, where it seems a lot longer than it actually is. Although, I think Heidi was really THAT long! lol
I miss movies that didn’t have to have fast cut scenes and action every two minutes for it to just be a really great film…I’m glad that I own them so I can put them on (and I do) whenever I need to just unwind from the fast-paced life of today.
No Deposit No Return was my personal childhood favourite (it also features Don Knotts like Apple Dumpling Gang). Now it feels a little simple, but as kids we found it hilarious!!! Also Bedknobs and Broomsticks is another classic.
Love this! I found a few new movies I want to see. I was glad to see Pollyanna on this list; she was my go-to movie as a child (we had limited screen time and strict standards too 😉)
🎶 HE KILLED HIM A BAR WHEN HE WAS ONLY THREE 🎶 (this is what happens when you grow up with a brother named David and I can't control it)
Seriously though, the 1957 Johnny Tremain adaptation was a favorite in our house, in addition to The Swiss Family Robinson, Pollyanna, and Old Yeller. I wonder how many of these films have overlapping producers/directors (and WHY didn't they adapt Gone-Away Lake, huge missed opportunity). Quintessential summer!
Same circumstances here! 😄 We used to sing the theme songs to that one and Old Yeller all the time.
I never warmed quite as much to Johnny Tremain simply because I'd read the book first, and the movie leaves *so* much out, but it is pretty good simply as a movie!
The book is so iconic. My brother and I read it all the time, and when we went to Boston on family vacation (when he was in college and I was in high school) all of us listened to the audiobook on the way. It was incredible because we visited all the (real) sites in the story!
I also grew up on So Dear to My Heart, Swiss Family Robinson, The Apple Dumpling Gang, and Davy Crockett and the River Pirates! 😄 I'm glad I didn't watch Old Yeller until I was a little older; I don't think extra-sensitive me could have appreciated how good it really was much younger. ❤️
All the old favorites! Yes, I can easily see Old Yeller being something different people might appreciate better at different ages.
"So Dear to My Heart" was one of my childhood favorites too! I haven't thought about it in years 🤯
Someone else who *does* know it, yay!
I’ve watched all these movies in my childhood too, except So Dear To My Heart! I’ll have to look that one up. Our family just discovered another little-known old Disney movie called Follow Me, Boys. I don’t think it’s based on a book, but it’s a fun story about a 1930s Boy Scout master and his troupe, and it was surprisingly so touching!
I almost included an "honorable mentions" section, and Follow Me, Boys! would have been on that list! We also didn't discover that one till much later on.
Oh, Follow Me, Boys was a family staple for us! 🥰
So many good ones! I love So Dear to My Heart too though I only came to it as an adult. Love Burl Ives. I also love all Haley Mills films from that era. Pollyanna, Thomasina, The Moon-Spinners, Parent-Trap. We had a box Haley Mills VHS set as kids and watched them on repeat. These are all so charming.
Did you ever see Summer Magic, That Darn Cat, the Mandie Movies, or Angel in the House? (Angel in the House is also sometimes called 'Foster') Those are some of the movies i found out later she was in. She also guest starred on Murder She Wrote when she was older.
I've seen Summer Magic (love that one!) and That Darn Cat but not the Mandie Movies or Angel in the House. Thanks for bringing those to my attention :)
Yeah, she's just a side character in those, but its still fun to see her. And she's an adult.
Fun fact, did you know that Hailey Mills father was in a version of the Parent Trap?
Also, i didn't get to watch Davy Crockett cuz i was at work the day my mom put it on. I was so mad i missed it lol.
Yes, I remember that—he had a cameo as a golfer or golf caddy in the background of a scene, didn't he? He starred in Swiss Family Robinson for Disney the same year she was in Pollyanna.
🤦♀️ Yeah, the Swiss Family Robinson is what i meant to say. I actually didn't know that he was in the Parent Trap. Her sister, (who i think was named Juliet, not sure) anyway her sister guest starred on Murder She Wrote right before she did.
The Biscuit Eater was always a favorite of mine. About a little boy who tries to teach his mutt dog named “Moreover” to hunt in a competition.
Now that's one I missed! I looked it up and it sounds cute.
Apple Dumpling and Davy Crockett--great ones! I used to dress up as Davy Crockett as a kid. Even had the Racoon cap to go with it!
So did my brother!
Heidi from 1993 would be up there for me. Long, but worth every minute.
I never thought of that one as "classic Disney," whether because it came later or because as a kid I didn't realize it was produced by Disney, but that's a favorite too. (I originally saw a cut-down version on VHS, and was delighted to discover it with the "missing" scenes years later.)
It’s one of those movies, like Pollyanna, where it seems a lot longer than it actually is. Although, I think Heidi was really THAT long! lol
I miss movies that didn’t have to have fast cut scenes and action every two minutes for it to just be a really great film…I’m glad that I own them so I can put them on (and I do) whenever I need to just unwind from the fast-paced life of today.
I would add Charlie the Cougar also.
That's another one I never heard of till now! I think it's neat that everybody seems to have a favorite that's unknown to most.
The Flubber movies with Fred McMurray were also sources of great entertainment.
No Deposit No Return was my personal childhood favourite (it also features Don Knotts like Apple Dumpling Gang). Now it feels a little simple, but as kids we found it hilarious!!! Also Bedknobs and Broomsticks is another classic.
In Search of the Castaways was another smash hit at our house.