17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie, October 31, 2001
This review is from: Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again [VHS] (VHS Tape)
One of our family's favorite movies. This is so full of cliches that it is a riot. Everything in it, the bad guys, the Indians, the "brave soldiers" are all a spoof on numerous other westerns. One of Conway's and Knott's best comedies. I hope that Disney re-releases this on DVD. We love to watch this over whenever life gets down and we need a laugh.
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
fun clean family film, but save your VHS copy, January 28, 2003
The web site does not let me change stars on my rating, the movie is 4 stars and the DVD is 1 star
DVD TREATMENT = 1 star but movie is 4 stars
First of all, it is only fair that I alert you to the fact that the DVD copy sold at the time of my review is not an improvement over the last VHS release. There was no effort to re-master the picture, sound, colors, or to use Widescreen, no extras. Save your video for now, or if you do not have one buy the VHS version, it is loads cheaper and it has nothing less in quality or features than the DVD. Maybe Disney will get the hint and come out with a better version.
MOVIE REVIEW = 4 stars
A slapstick sequel to "The Apple Dumpling Gang" from 1975, (Tim Conway and Don Knotts) as Amos and Theodore, the goodhearted bumbling western bandits now want to go straight. Most of the characters from the first movie are gone, most noticiblay the kids. Amos and Theodore arrive in a new town and somehow get accused of robbery when they go to the bank to open an account. In trying to get away from an angry lawman Marshall Hickock (Kenneth Mars), They hide in an army wagon which is heading to the fort so they are forced to join the army but succeed in burning down their own post, Fort Concho. Somebody has been stealing the valuable supplies the troops need. Turns out there is a smuggling ring that stages robberies right from their jail cells in a military prison. They befriend Private Reid (Tim Matheson). and Major Gaskill (Harry Morgan, strangely he is back in a completely different part than the first movie) who is being ruined by a crafty underhanded Lieutenant Ravencroft (Robert Pine). The lieutenant is engaged to the Majors daughter (Elyssa Davalos). A lot of funny character actors of the day appear in quick walk on scenes such as - Ruth Buzzi is hilarious as Tough Kate, and Jack Elam as Big Mac, Audrey Totter as Martha, the blind cabin woman. Look for the scene near the end when poor Amos and Theodore are dressed as women to hide in the wagon train, when it gets attacked by Indians. The movie starts a little slow, so give it a chance to get going. You need to take this movie for what it is, it never takes itself seriously and is basically an F-Troop type send-up spoof of other western movies and shows. It is all clean silly fun, suitable for the entire family.
TRIVIA & BEHIND THE SCENES: The movie poster promoting the film at the time had the tagline, "It took ten years to win the West... they lost it in a week!". Originally released to U.S. theaters on June 27, 1979 with a G rating. Directed by Vince McEveety, while the first movie was by Norm Tokar. Don Tait returned to write the screenplay, the first movie was based on a book by Jack Bickham. At the Disney Studios backlot, the crew used the old Cuartel sets from the old Zorro series as the "Bridger Military Prison". Location shooting was used extensively for the film, including scenes at Disney's own Golden Oak Ranch; at Sonora and Ranch Newhall in California. The unit also shot in Utah at Glen Canyon, Kanab Movie Fort and western town. It was aired only once on the "Wonderful World of Disney" television show as a 2 episode show on September 25 and October 2, 1982. A television remake movie was made by Disney, "Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang", and they crafted a short TV series called "Gun Shy" based on the original story as well. The movie was first released to video in 1981. Running time was 89 minutes. If you like trivia, in some foreign markets the movie was also known as "Trail's End".
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yet Another Underrated Disney Live Action Comedy, November 17, 2003
I thought this was an entertaining movie. It was not one of Disney's greatest, but it contained some truly amusing scenes. This is a far better film than many that Disney Studios was producing during the decade of the 70s. Some of the scenes were dumb, but lighten up, that's what makes it so enjoyable and funny. Tim Conway and Don Knotts are hilarious. Have a good laugh.
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