Today I present a movie full of geese, geese and more geese. Okay, there’s not that many geese (there probably is though, I didn’t count) but this is the next new-to-me live action Disney film to be watched. For this project, I’m focusing on the story itself, including dialogue, character development, any subplots, how a story presents itself, the speed at which it moves, if it slows down unnecessarily, etc.
A Brief Summary
(Taken from D23)
New England trapper Cam Calloway, a poor provider for his wife and son, dreams of the day he can build a sanctuary for migrating geese. Using the money his son earned as a fur trapper, Calloway buys a lake and plants it with corn to attract the migrating birds. Learning that two rascally operators want the lake as a resort site, Calloway sets his corn afire, and then is shot by one of the operators. Later, with the area declared a sanctuary by officials, Calloway is able to see his dream realized when the geese come to the lake.
What works
- Not much info at the very beginning until after the fight between Bucky and Whit/Ollie.
- This actually works for me. It has more of a natural feel than if there was a text blurb at the beginning. And, especially after watching this movie, a text blurb would have taken
- The movie uses Dell Fraser as a narration tool, a stand-in for the audience to get background info across without coming off stiff. I support this.
- Alf is a champ. Ed (Ed Wynn) is a champ. I don’t really need to say more. They are the gems and treasures of this movie, Alf more so than Ed if only because Alf had more screentime.
- I like that it’s an older kind of town, as far as the people go. Kind of refreshing after a few of the last Disney movies that I’ve watched that were more kid-age-focused.
- The dynamics between family members are good and clear, and it focused the drama elsewhere in the movie rather than both in the home and outside of it.
- A slow-burn plotline which for this movie isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The slowness of the plot fits the vibe
- once it’s autumn again, the plot speeds up
- Bucky’s fur trapping scenes remind me a little of Nikki the Wild Dog and the White Wilderness true-life movie.
- Geez, that Fraser is a snake.
- Fraser’s giddy face, as he passes loaded guns to the men in the duck blind, is priceless. Perfection. He does a pretty solid job as an antagonist.
- When the neighbors come to help build the new house, it was just so sweet and a deserved heartwarming moment in the movie.
- I said it earlier but I will say it again. Alf is the real treasure of this movie.
What may or may not work
- So far, jokes I’m barely into the movie at this point, I like Alf and I like Ed. I don’t care for Bridie or Bucky or the Calloways.
- I do like their motivation though: the sanctuary for wild geese. It’s clear-cut and stays the same throughout the movie.
- The movie felt very meh to me the first time I watched it. The second time, I’m enjoying it a little bit more. It still (35 minutes in) doesn’t seem like one I would watch a lot, but I’m not disliking myself for watching it again.
- And so far the best scenes are Fraser trying to win over the town ‘elders’ to his new wild geese scheme. They’re not really having any of it, but they’re humoring him and putting him off in such a great, lighthearted way.
- The way Whit was dancing with Bridie (cheek to cheek, holding her tight), you could without a doubt replace Bridie with a mannequin and it would look the exact same. So stiff and awkward, I cringed but loved it at the same time.
Honorable Mentions
- “These geese could give this town a real face-liftin'” -Dell Fraser
- “Uh, son? We like this town’s face. It’s been like that for 182 years and we don’t see no wrinkles yet.” – Alf
- “This is no time for female back talk, Liddy.” (Doane Shattuck)
- “Doane, if you’re figuring on going out of here standing up, you’re gonna apologize to Mrs. Calloway. Now.” -Cam
- “Maybe it reminds him of someone” -Lidia Calloway
- Cam does the finger snap/point which is my favorite kind of response. They’re subtly/not subtly talking about Bridie now that Bucky’s actually realizing she’s a woman and not just the girl he grew up with.
- When picking where to go fur trapping:
- Go to virgin territory or stay away from a bad luck place (aka the virgin territory). The struggle which cracks me up a bit.
Side Questions
- There are only 2 town bullies? Whit and his crony, Ollie. I’m in no way supporting bullies, but seriously. Only 2? That’s it? And the rest of the town ‘youth’ just stand there. What the heck.
- It’s ‘cool’ seeing Bucky practicing boxing so that he can defend himself, character growth and all. But I have to ask (within the story obvi) why did he wait until now? I can’t imagine that that was really the first time Bucky had lost a fight. Whit had too much attitude about it for that to have been the first fight between them.
Would I watch this movie again?
- After having finished it a second time, it does drag a little. Only upon reaching near the ending does it pick up, a pattern not dissimilar to earlier Disney live-action films and Alf is the best character/gem of the movie. So would I watch this again? It certainly wouldn’t be my first choice for a movie night, but it wasn’t terrible, and to be perfectly honest, I would only really be watching for the actors (Vera Miles, Brian Keith, Ed Wynn, and Walter Brennan) and not for the story itself.
If you’ve seen Those Calloways, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!
Rewind to the beginning of the Disney Film Project
Skip back to the previous film with Emil and the Detectives
Fast Forward to the next film with The Monkey’s Uncle
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