Customer Reviews

Treasure of Matecumbe [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

STORY: Action, comedy, adventure, romance, nostalgia, this movie had a bit of something for everyone. Immediately after the American Civil War in Kentucky, two young boys one white named David, one black named Thad, begin the adventure of their lives. They live on Grassy, the family plantation, with David's aunts but it is depleted of all its money and they could lose it soon. Someone shows up late at night near death with a secret to a map hidden in the attic by Davids father before he died. But the same night a murderous criminal gang led by Spnagler (Vic Morrow) arrives in the night, breaking into the family plantation in order to steal a map to a treasure. The boys run away with the map, and start traveling to the Florida swampland. They know they can trust no one with their secret. Along the way they meet up with many friends and enemies, while still being pursued by the original crooks. A conniving southern belle Lauriette (Joan Hackett), a jolly medicine show doctor (Peter Ustinov), and a roaming adventurer (Robert Foxworth) alternatley help and slow the boys at times, but eventually they all join up together. It's a treasure hunt and a journey story story rolled into one. A good adventure movie, might be watched split over two nights if you have smaller kids since it is a bit long and slows down in parts. The movie's running time is a bit long at 116 minutes when the average movie is 90 minutes. But don't get me wrong, it's really fun.

BEHIND THE SCENES: The remarkable Peter Ustinov who also starred in "Blackbeards Ghost" stars as Dr. Snodgrass, a quack medicines show doctor. Dick Van Patten and Jane Wyatt also star. Released as a theatrical movie on July 9, 1976 the movie was directed by Vincent McEveety. He directed mostly comedies at Disney like "Gus", "Million Dollar Duck", The Strongest Man in the World" and the hilarious "Superdad". He is also known for his earlier job as a Disney writer, responsible for most of the wacky college films like "Now You See Him, Now You Don't", and "The Barefoot Executive". The title song was written by Shane Tatum and Richard McKinley. The film required extensive location shooting, beginning in Danville Kentucky, including an early 1800's plantation, with over 200 acres. They also shot on the Sacrament River, standing in as the mighty Mississippi. They used the real Everglades in an area not far from Walt Disney World. The hurricane was filmed in Seminole country and was created in a similar method to one Disney used in the movie "The Wild Country". The studio brought in giant wind machines and airplane engines, this time adding water to the wind. In the film, there is a scene where Ustinov appears to fall and be washed away in the hurricane, surely to die. What viewers did not know at the time was that this was more than good acting, the fall was real, and he was hospitalized from the damage to his left ankle. Some final scene beach scenes, post hurricane, were actually filmed at Disney's man-made lagoons inside Walt Disney World. The screenplay was adapted from the book "A Journey to Matecumbe", by Robert Lewis Taylor. It was a project that Walt Disney had green-lighted when he was alive, but it took awhile for the studio to get to filming it. The movie later aired on "The Wonderful World of Disney" television show on October 2, 1977 as a two hour format. They did some extensive editing to make it fit in the time slot for that night, and maybe that was a good thing. The movie comes in a bit long and does drag a little at times, but we still enjoyed it. By the way, this is not the edited copy, but the full length version. And it was released on video in 1986 for the first time. It was released on DVD in 2009.

If you're looking to relive fond memories of sitting in front of the TV Sunday afternoons watching The Wonderful World of Disney, this will fit the bill nicely.

Treasure of Matecumbe has everything you'd expect from the generally mediocre live-action output Disney was known for in the 1970s: Bad rear-projection shots when people are outdoors? Check. Grainy, mismatched inserts of wildlife borrowed from True-Life Adventures episodes shot 25 years earlier? Check. Half-hearted attempt at a contemporary-sounding theme song (wholly inappropriate for the post-Civil War setting of this film)? Check.

Sort of a hybrid of Huckleberry Finn and the Apple-Dumpling Gang, Treasure of Matecumbe (presented full-screen pan-and-scan, subtitled, no extras) follows the river-borne trek of two boys in pursuit of buried treasure. Along the way they pick up a southern belle and a crooked medicine man, face thuggish river folk, alligators, mosquitoes, a hurricane, masked Indian tribesman, and... the KKK?

Yes--in what must be a Disney first, we actually see a white-hooded mob set a cross on fire at would-be lynching (here, to punish a white Yankee "traitor"). The lynching is disrupted when the boys attack with MOLOTOV COCKTAILS!

In a later scene, male prisoners of the Matecumbe tribesman are referred to repeatedly as "squaws" (which, per the film, apparently translates to "slaves").

While I admit I was initially somewhat shocked by these scenes only because they were so unexpected, this feeling was quickly supplanted by immense gratitude that I was not forced to endure a 10 minute lecture from Leonard Maltin explaining the historical context or apologizing for this now politically incorrect content.

Does this mark the end of Disney's kowtowing to the easily offended? Will Disney begin releasing vintage content without apology and without censorship? Let's hope!

I cant believe this film is out of print. If anyone can find a copy floating around a video store - BUY IT! This is a perfect example of a great live disney film. The cast as an ensemble is even better. And the late Joan Hackett is outstanding, warm, and very funny as Lauriette.

This film is not for those who crave Disney's light-hearted family comedies. This is for those who love adventure, and spine tingling suspense. I mean there were some rather intense moments in this film; especialally the musical piece that I can only say is "Spangler's Theme". This story looks like it was set back in the 1860's just a little after the Civil War. It's about 2 boys who recieve a treasure map from a runaway slave where there's a buried treasure in Florida on the Florida Key known as Matecumbe. They get chased by a man named Spangler who was played rather well by the late Vic Morrow. The 2 boys whose names are Davey and Thad are trying to find Davey's uncle, and pick up some interesting characters along the was in the names of I want to make sure this is right Lilienne played by Joan Hackett, and Dr. Snodgrass played by the late Peter Ustinov. They not only have to endure Spangler and his men chasing them, but also a KKK lynching, mosquitoes, a hurricane, and a hostile Indian tribe all so they could get the treasure. Unfortunately, this movie was overlooked when it came out in 1976. There were 2 other movies that came out that same year in the theaters. "No Deposit No Return" which is a rather good comedy I must confess, and the Oscar-winning flick called "Gus". I am glad that Disney finally put this out on dvd considering that the Disney channel no longer runs the overnight tribute to the old Disney programs known as Vault Disney. It's a juicy movie with alot of meat on the bones for the eating.

This is a great example of The Wonderful World of Disney. Peter Ustinov in a Disney Movie is always a great thing and I love him in this.
The story follows the journey of a young boy who inherits a map and decides to follow it. He and his friend travel through the south just after the Civil War, braving the rapids, wild, and despicable bad guys (who killed his father) to find his inheritance. Will it be everything he (and those in his company) hope for?
A good and safe movie for families of all ages.. A credit to the memory of W. E. Disney..

In the post-Civil War South, a young boy named Davie and his best-friend Thad find themselves on a big river adventure heading towards Florida with treasure map in hand. Along the way, they team up with a sly, adventurous southern lady, a kind-hearted snake-oil salesman, and Davie's own heroic uncle Jim, but they also must steer clear of pursuing river pirates, a tribe of dangerous Indians, gators, a hurricane, and even the Ku Klux Klan!

"Treasure of Matecumbe" is the perfect Disney adventure for the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn fan who is looking for something new. Unquestionably a product of '70's Disney with a then-modern, folk-style opening theme song, '70's Disney production qualities and styles, and favorite actors of the time (Peter Ustinov is enjoyable as ever as medicine-show man Doctor Snodgrass), "Treasure of Matecumbe" has its flaws, but it holds up well as a fun, family adventure viewers of any age will enjoy. While it isn't the most realistic film at times, it has a lot of clever moments and plenty of Disney charm, and it comes off as one of the finer of Disney's lesser-known 1970's offerings.

The DVD is now available in wide release, previously only available to members of the Disney Movie Club. It is a barebones release in fullscreen format, but the picture and sound quality are good (at least to this layman's eyes and ears). Speaking as both a Disney fanatic and someone who loves Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn-based films, rediscovering this Disney treasure that is very similar in theme has been a real treat! As another reviewer stated so well, it very much feels like "Huckleberry Finn" meets "The Apple Dumpling Gang", so if you know those stories, you'll know exactly what to expect. For those who buy this film and enjoy it, I highly recommend not only those films (for Huck Finn, my favorite is the Disney/Elijah Wood version, though the Patrick Day one is the best for matching the book), but also "Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" and other films about Twain's two classic rapscallions, not to mention other Disney films from the 1970's. It's most regularly considered the worst time at the Walt Disney studios, but some of us enjoy the films of that era as well. Each decade from the Disney Studios has its own special qualities that can be viewed as charming or otherwise. "Treasure of Matecumbe" is no exception, but regardless, it is a fine family adventure in its own right and should be a welcome addition to any home video library.

Barely, barely worth watching. Only watched it to see if Vic Morrow was good in it. Even Vic Morrow couldn't save this movie. Disappointed he wasn't given a better part, because he was such a fine actor. Likely won't watch again.

This was a movie I had never heard of but being Disney we always enjoy. This movie was o.k. but not the excitement or intrigue we were expecting. It isn't one we will watch again, probably give it away.

This movie is a great family adventure. With a ton of adventure, and also the usual crooks. A sweet little boy who lives with his 2 aunts wants to save their estate Grassy. But they are flat broke and need money. Then he finds a Treasure Map his father did before he died, and dit has a Treasure mark on the Island of MateCumbe.But un-beknownst to them a group of crooks called Spanglers men.Want this fortune and will do anything to get it including murdering. This movie has a funny cast including the Late Joan Hackett, and Peter Ustinov. This is a great movie, sure to be enjoyed by the whole family.

In this film, we have a good family movie, I liked how the director used the slow elements of the plot to build up the suspence for the action elements. The plot was very much a teenager level, but was still strong enough to entertain an adult of any age. There were some times that I thought I was watching Huckleberry Finn, But that is were the fun was in watching these two boys outwitting the grownups came in. Don't watch this show alone,see it with friends or family. Patrick of So. Kingstown, RI