Post by joplin4 on Nov 5, 2009 23:21:43 GMT -5
Plot: The last of the wartime "package features", Disney's final film of the fabulous forties featured two fabulous characters. In fact, that was the working title of the film, "Two Fabulous Characters". In the first segment, Basil Rathbone (famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes) introduces us to his pick of the greatest character in British literature. This character is J. Thaddeus Toad from "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame. Toad develops manias for the next new fad. When he sees a motorcar, he becomes obsessed. He ends up accused of theft and is sentenced to many years in prison. He escapes, and with the help of his friends, tries to recover Toad Hall, which he traded for the motorcar.
In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", inspired by Washington Irving's story, Bing Crosby tells the story of the schoolmaster that came to Sleepy Hollow. When he crosses paths with Katrina, daughter of the wealthy Baltus Van Tassel, he begins to woo her. However, this places him in opposition with Brom Bones. Brom hopes to drive the schoolmaster away by telling him the story of the Headless Horseman of the Hollow, who rides every Halloween night, searching for a head. That evening, as Ichabod is riding home from the Van Tassel party, he encounters the Horseman. The last time we see Ichabod, a flaming Jack O' Lantern is flying toward his head. The story leaves the audience to make up their own minds about Ichabod's fate.
Release Date: October 5, 1949
Songs: "Merrily on Our Way" by Frank Churchill, Charles Wolcott, Larry Morey, and Ray Gilbert; "Ichabod", "Katrina", and "The Headless Horseman" by Don Raye and Gene DePaul
Cast: Narrator (Mr. Toad): Basil Rathbone
Mr. Toad: Eric Blore
Cyril Proudbottom: Pat O' Malley
Rat: Claud Allister
Prosecutor: John Ployardt
Mole: Collin Campbell
Angus MacBadger: Campbell Grant
Winky: Ollie Wallace
Narrator (Ichabod): Bing Crosby
The voice of Winky was also the film's song conductor. He is best known for composing "Crazy Over Daisy".
In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", inspired by Washington Irving's story, Bing Crosby tells the story of the schoolmaster that came to Sleepy Hollow. When he crosses paths with Katrina, daughter of the wealthy Baltus Van Tassel, he begins to woo her. However, this places him in opposition with Brom Bones. Brom hopes to drive the schoolmaster away by telling him the story of the Headless Horseman of the Hollow, who rides every Halloween night, searching for a head. That evening, as Ichabod is riding home from the Van Tassel party, he encounters the Horseman. The last time we see Ichabod, a flaming Jack O' Lantern is flying toward his head. The story leaves the audience to make up their own minds about Ichabod's fate.
Release Date: October 5, 1949
Songs: "Merrily on Our Way" by Frank Churchill, Charles Wolcott, Larry Morey, and Ray Gilbert; "Ichabod", "Katrina", and "The Headless Horseman" by Don Raye and Gene DePaul
Cast: Narrator (Mr. Toad): Basil Rathbone
Mr. Toad: Eric Blore
Cyril Proudbottom: Pat O' Malley
Rat: Claud Allister
Prosecutor: John Ployardt
Mole: Collin Campbell
Angus MacBadger: Campbell Grant
Winky: Ollie Wallace
Narrator (Ichabod): Bing Crosby
The voice of Winky was also the film's song conductor. He is best known for composing "Crazy Over Daisy".