Customer Reviews

The Apple Dumpling Gang [VHS]

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this movie out of a sense of nostalgia, being a child of the seventies. Watching this movie now, it didn't quite hold up as well as I remembered, but it is somewhat entertaining, and I would feel comfortable showing it to my nieces and nephews, given its' lack of anything that could be considered even remotely offensive.

The plot has Donovan (Bill Bixby), a bachelor and small time hustler of sorts, getting stuck with the care of three orphan children. As he tries to unburden himself of his three wards, he finds the townspeople to be less than receptive to the idea of taking in the children. These orphans hold the deed to a goldmine, thought by everyone to be dried up, but an earthquake turns up a huge gold nugget, and now the townspeople are falling over themselves to take custody. Donovan, actually concerned with the welfare of the children, works up a plan to marry Dusty (Susan Clark), and pass the children on to her care, as she seems truly interested in the welfare of the children, and not their money.

Don Knotts and Tim Conway play a pair of bungling thieves who scheme, among other things, to try and steal the huge gold nugget. The whole ladder theft from the firehouse scene was pretty funny.

Some other easily recognizable stars in this movie are Harry Morgan and Slim Pickens.

As I said before, while the movie didn't seem as humorous to me now as it did when I was a child, it was certainly entertaining. It's a fine wide screen presentation, but what I really enjoyed was the special features. The interactive menus are excellent and grant access to quite a lot of interesting information like lengthy biographies, interviews, history of the back lots at Disney studios, promotional stills and advertising material for the movie, a synopsis of what was going on at Walt Disney in 1975 (the year this movie was released), and so much more.

there isn't a star-studded soundtrack. there aren't guest appearances by every grown-up's favorite comedians. there is a noticeable lack of sarcasm. there aren't any kids saying grown-up "quasi curse phrases" like "that blows!" "he sucks" or any of that stuff.

in other words, it's vintage disney -- from that era when disney actually created movies for CHILDREN, instead of attempting to entertain "the entire family" by introducing borderline material that most kids under the age of 10 (like my 8- and 5-year-old) have no business hearing.

the "villains" are silly, hapless caricatures of "bad guys," and while they do carry and shoot guns, it's very stooges-y slapsticky types of "violence." somewhere along the line, "modern parents" and pop culture collectively decided that silly armed villains are a bigger menace to society than children who say mean, hurtful, sarcastic things to each other, their parents, teachers and all other adults/authority figures.

frankly, movies like THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG are more than funny and entertaining; they possess a charm and innocence that children aren't allowed to have anymore, because america wants their children to grow up as soon as possible. unfortunately, on a social level, "growing up" too often means being disrespectful, negative, cynical and sarcastic at far too early an age.

don't mean to be on the soapbox, don't mean to be too old-fashioned, but this wonderful movie is more than just a fun two hours for the family...it's a reminder that maybe it's not such a bad idea to make childhood last a little longer than it seems to now.

worth every penny...just like the benji and original herbie movies. my kids love it!

Seven ways to tell THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG is a Walt Disney movie.
1- The story is set in Quake City, California, and is a western. The story is about three orphans - nine-year-old Clovis (Brad Savage), thirteen-year-old Bobby (Clay O'Brien), and seven-year-old Celia (Stacy Manning) - who aren't as insufferably cute as you were worried they'd be.
2- The movie deals with a classic Disney theme - lost children in search of love and security. The movie throws the athletic Susan George and the charming Bill Bixby in their path. George plays a stagecoach driver and Bixby a roving gambler who becomes guardian of the children, and who, most of the time, forgets there's a pretty woman `neath George's cowboy clothes and trail dust. Bixby nearly burns down the cabin when he tries to fix the kids dinner. There's no way George and Bixby will ever get together, even though the kids need a stable family.
3- The scariest moment takes place in an abandoned gold mine. You know this is a Disney movie because the vermin scuttling about the dark mineshafts aren't bats and rats, but rather the less threatening owls and mice.
4- The scariest bad guy is played by Slim Pickens, who does put one of the kids in danger for a little while, but for the most part is an inept outlaw.
5- The other bad guys are played by Don Knotts and Tim Conway, dumb and dumber partners who can't seem to do much of anything right. How dumb are they? After casing a bank prior to robbing it, Don Knotts tells Tim Conway "It's a piece of cake!" to which an agitated Conway responds "You mean it ain't gold!?"
6- You know this is a Disney movie because the sets are richly detailed and look good and realistic.
7- Finally, you know this is a Disney movie because you laughed when you were supposed to, rooted for the kids, hoped Bixby and George would finally realize they were meant for each other. In other words you like the movie quite a bit, but this being a Disney and you being a hip adult you don't want to spread that uncool news too far.

I am so glad there are still some good clean movies out there.
This one is real funny and you will enjoy it.

This film brings back memories of the old Disney shows that would come on the TV and of us going to the movies to see it. My daughter saw this movie and I think it was her first Disney Movie. This is a great kids movie, and a good family movie if you just want to get back to the roots of what makes a group of people a family...LOVE.

Fun for the kids, and mom & dad too!

Tim Conway & Don Knots - with those two - you KNOW you are in for a FUN time!!! The funniest pair of crazy fun-lovin guys around! This movie is heartwarming, sweet, funny, and wonderful for the family. How nice to not have anything bad in a movie? No swearing or anything! Yipee!

When our kids were little, they'd put this movie on and sit and watch, over and over. Good for mom to be able to make dinner or do some sewing, and know that the kidlets are in good hands.

Some slap-stick humor, and the duo getting into trouble, but there is a good story too. The three little kids are adorable, and you'll be rooting for them by the end.

Wonderful clean fun. buy it!

One of the best live-action Disney movies. A sweet story about misplaced children, an unwilling but good-intentioned gambler as a foster parent and two bumbling crooks as the comic foil. Bill Bixby, of "My Favorite Martian" and "The Hulk" fame, plays Russell Donovan, the roaming gambler who is unwittingly stuck with some "valuables." Tim Conway and Don Knotts, a little past their prime, play the hapless crooks known as the "Hash Knife Outfit." Susan Clark plays the tomboy stage coach driver who fills in as the kids mother. Beautiful scenery, lots of action, comedy, and a fabulous saloon brawl that is the highlight of the film.

I used to watch this movie as a child everytime it was on the wonderful world of disney back in the 70s and early 80s and it always cracked me up. I must say I think Don Knotts is an absolute genius and Tim Conway is also.The way their characters interact with each other is absolutely classic and is a tribute to the legacy of great Disney Slapstick.So what if the movie isn't what the so-called sophisticates call great art.It is still great fun for the kid in you. That is if you will aqllow it to be. I sure do!

The Apple Dumpling Gang is a movie Disney made when for whatever reason they were straying temporarily away from animation and making more live action movies. And truthfully a lot of good(not great, but good)live action family films came out of the 1970's.

While they play only supporting characters, Tim Conway and Don Knotts steal the show as funny but not so successful outlaws. The two parts they play Theodore and Amos it seems were specifically created for Knotts and Conway. In some parts I felt like I was watching Barney Fife's great great grandfather way out west.

The other castmembers are well portrayed, I especially liked Harry Morgan and the kids. Clovis was my favorite child of the three (clovis don't like to be touched).

Overall the story is humerous and enjoyable for all ages. In a time when the live action family film has just about disappeared it's nice to see Disney releasing these movies again.

If you liked this movie go ahead and pick up the sequel, it follows the antics of Conway and Knotts again, and while the story is not as good as the original, it is a lot funnier.

Once again Disney released a classic in it's fading days of "G" rated gems. The loose knit comedy team of Don Knotts and Tim Conway is always a hit in any situation. This is one is a bit plot heavy for them and Disney but it still makes you laugh. Bill Bixby is their straight man who carries most of the plot. At first they try to rob him but by the end they help him, his kids and his girlfriend defeat the bad guys and save the town. This is a very good movie and the sequel is even funnier.