Ellis Kadison Movies
- 1967
A manipulative self-serving promoter attempts to exploit a yokel trio comprised of a singing minister and his musical brothers in this tuneful drama. The fast-talking, charming promoter manages to romance a wealthy woman into providing financial backing for the group. But eventually she learns the truth about the slickster and he gets his just desert. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disney's first all-out fantasy since Mary Poppins. Walter Brennan stars in a dual role, as kindly lumber tycoon D. J. Mulrooney and the irascible (and much tinier) 943-year-old gnome Knobby. Mulrooney likes Knobby and his fellow gnomes, but the feeling isn't reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoon's vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss' claims that he's been consorting with gnomes, decides that the old guy is insane and has him committed. Rescued by his grandchildren Rodney (Matthew Garber) and Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice), D.J. seeks out Knobby and Knobby's own grandson Jasper (Tom Lowell), who are hiding somewhere in the woods with gnome-king Rufus (Ed Wynn, in his final film role). There follows an amusing rite of passage wherein Jasper becomes engaged to gnomette Shy Violet (Cami Sebring), leading to a happy ending for all concerned. The film's title refers to D. J. Mulroney's precious 1930 Rolls Royce, which is "adopted" by the gnome population. Gnome-Mobile is a virtual inventory of Disney's most beloved trademarks, ranging from excellent miniature and special-effects work (including the producer's newest innovation, audio-animatronics) to a zany slapstick car chase. Walt Disney did receive a producer credit on this film, which was actually made in 1966 - the year of his death - and released nationally in 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Brennan, Tom Lowell, (more)
Parisian murders centered around a theater seem to have a vampiric theme as police try to figure out who is behind them. Christopher Lee stars in this horror-mystery as the director of the playhouse--and the prime suspect. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Toby Dwayne Redlin is an 8-year-old boy whose parents don't believe him when he says he has seen a wildcat. Punished for his overactive imagination, the boy takes off with the animal who is being cared for by the lovable oldster Bill Krim George "Shug" Fisher. Toby sees a rustler kill a ranger, and the boy and the cat are tracked for two days by the murderer before the big cat pounces on the killer to save his young friend in this low-budget adventure aimed at the moppet audience. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Perry, Peggy Ann Garner, (more)
- 1965
Git! tries very hard within its low-budget limits to offer Disney-style family entertainment. Jack Chaplain plays 17-year-old Deke, who rescues a woebegone Irish setter from a sorry demise. Teaming up with Elaine (Heather North), the daughter of widowed dog-breeder Andrew Garrett (Richard Webb), Deke tries to transform the pooch into a first-class hunting dog. Not that there aren't any setbacks: in fact, the film is virtually nothing but setbacks for the people the audience cares about. During its 92-minute running time, Git! manages to accommodate three songs, none of them as interesting as the dogs paraded before the camera. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Don't Give Up the Ship stars Jerry Lewis as a navy officer who is whisked away from his honeymoon by a senate investigating committee. The committee would like to know what happened to the U.S.S. Kornblatt, the battleship Lewis had commandeered during the War; the crew arrived home safely, but the battleship completely disappeared! Jerry suffers from a mental block concerning the Kornblatt, so the navy assigns a beautiful psychiatrist (Dina Merrill) to probe his subconscious. With the help of an ex-sailor from the Kornblatt (Mickey Shaughnessy), Jerry locates the wreckage of the ship, tracing the responsibility of its disappearance to the investigating committee chairman (Gale Gordon). Based on a true incident (!), Don't Give Up the Ship stands up today as one of Jerry Lewis' best films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Lewis, Dina Merrill, (more)
