1 Good Film; Poor Full-Frame Presentation
Based on a Jules Verne story, "In Search of the Castaways" is fine Disney adventure which is suitable for the entire family. Overall, the film has a similar feel to "Swiss Family Robinson", only "Castaways" is more action-based.
The basic premise of the movie takes youngsters Hayley Mills and Keith Hamshere on a wild adventure through South America while searching for their missing father. Among the obstacles faced along the way are a perilous earthquake, a furious flood, wild animals and a thrilling ride down a mountainside --which is arguably the film's crowning moment.
As other reviewers have mentioned, some of the special effects seem a bit quaint by today's standards. Regardless, this 40-year-old movie still manages to be highly entertaining.
However, as a DVD, "Castaways" simply misses the mark. The picture presentation itself looks decent. However, there are apparent signs of the film's age and, overall, it's not as clean as recent Disney restorations such as "Mary Poppins" or "Swiss Family Robinson." The worst offense, undoubtedly, was Disney's decision to release this larger-than-life globe-trotting adventure in a chopped-up "full-frame" presentation. With 16x9 televisions steadily infiltrating the marketplace, pan & scan releases will soon be obsolete. Viewers deserve to see the entire film in it's original widescreen aspect ratio. Guess we'll have to wait.
2 You bet it's pan & scan !
I haven't watched this DVD, and I sure won't. To answer previous reviewers' questions and to make a long story short, if the film is shown in 1.33:1 fullscreen, it is P&S (like 'Blackbeard's Ghost', 'ThatDarn Cat!, and for that matter cartoons like 'Jungle Book' or 'Aristocats'). Ever since matted widescreen appeared in the mid-50's (1.85:1 in the US, 1.66 in France, and 1.75 in UK and Italy), and leaving aside the CinemaScope or Technirama features, Disney's movies were made, for some unclear reason, with an intended theatrical aspect ratio of 1.75 (they turned to 1.85 only recently).
Technically yes, these movies could be shown unmatted in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio, with useless empty space on top and bottom of the picture (for ex. Warner's releases of Kubrick's 'Full Metal Jacket' and 'Eyes Wide Shut'), but chances are this is not the case here, because it is unlikely that in the now-accepted widescreen era, they would make a brand new fullscreen transfer.
Nope, what we have here is clearly a new rehash of the same old same VHS pan & scan transfer.
Thanks for nothing once more, Disney.
3 Shocked at Disneys' glaring lapse of judgement!
Disney within a space of a few months has gone from one extreme to the other.
On the one hand they release a two disc version of one of their all time classics Mary Poppins,both sound and picture having been fully restored and cleaned close to perfection.A fitting compliment to both the film,its' stars and Disney itself.
Then comes the first time release onto DVD of this little Disney gem and it absolutely stuns you as you shake your head and check the box to make sure it really is a Disney product and not some kind of cruel joke.
Don't get me wrong the product(i.e.movie)is worth about a four star rating on its' own merits.It has a wonderful story line which takes our lead characters on an adventure in many far and distant lands and is a natural for older children to excite their imaginations.The special effects are pure Disney and of that era but were always done with great flare and still hold up fairly
well now.
Strangly enough the last review I wrote was about the abominable assassination of the Laurel and Hardy product being released by the "wonderful folks" at Hallmark.Never did I dream that I would run across another such product and especially a Disney one.But nevertheless here it is for all to see.
Bottomline is this.The aspect ratio is simply WRONG.It has been cleaned up yes through the usual digital means but it cannot hide the fact that this is the same cropped and pan and scan version we've seen on TV and on home video in years gone by.Everything from scenary,to animals to the actors themselves get cut off the screen.Furthermore,and I have felt this from the first time I saw it in such a state on TV and then later in its' video format that this movie was one of the worst victims of pan and scan that I'd ever seen.And viewing it once more in a clearer but absolute same state I'm convinced more than ever I was right all along.Also what "extras" there are,are for a release such as this pitifully few.It is a rip off,wrong and totally UNACCEPTABLE by any standards.
We as consumers must not just accept this sub standard product as the norm or let it go as is.I have said it before,I will say it again and keep saying it until every manufacturer and distributor of entertainment products in the audio and visual medium start treating consumers as something other than a cave dweller from the dark side of the moon.
Your credo's should be that ANY product that you release is done so with full knowledge(on both sides)that it was made with the utmost care and attention and all source elements used to create said products were of the highest quality available anywhere.And if any defects are found by the consumer then an exchange or refund to said consumer should be forthcoming immediately no questions asked.
Now THAT is the kind of relationship/understanding we as consumers should have had with the audio/visual industry since the beginning and we would have if the industry as a whole worked together and had any kind of confidence in their products.
In conclusion DO NOT BUY this product.It is an obvious cheap(for Disney) re-release of a film that deserves a far better fate than the one they have relegated to it.Let's see if we can get this abomination recalled and/or re-released in its' proper theatrical widescreen format so we can see it as it should be seen.
4 In Search of Box Office Validation
Hayley Mills made this picture after starring in the weird psychodrama WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND for director Bryan Forbes and before beginning work on one of her most well-loved features, playing Nancy in SUIMMER MAGIC. Compared to those two films, IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS is no classic, but what it has in spades is large lashings of adventure and action.
Maurice Chevalier had been graylisted for many years due to suspicions that he had collaborated with the Nazis during the Vichy regime of World War II. Nothing was ever proven one way or the other, but it took the combined push of Billy Wilder, Vincente Minnelli, and Jean Neguelsco to rehabilitate Chevalier in the late 1950s, in a 1-2-3 punch (respectively, LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON, GIGI, and COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, each of which managed to feature Chevalier opposite a Hollywood leading lady (Hepburn, Caron, Kerr) in order to assure success. After that, directors continued to employ Maurice Chevalier and he made nearly as many films in the last 15 years of his life than he had in the prime of his box office appeal (1930s). He was often asked to step in and lend Gallic charm to many an international souffle, and if pressed he would sing, dance, and wave around his famous hat a little. In SEARCH he has what might be the largest of all his post-GIGI roles, and surprise, he's quite believable in the part. Maybe they should have used him as an action star more often. I can almost picture him playing Robert Shaw's part in JAWS!
SEARCH also has a youngster playing the part of Hayley Mills brother, the actor Keith Hamshire, who was not used to Disney filmmaking and indeed never made another movie of any kind again, despite rumors for years that he later played in one of the early blockbuster porn films by Gerald Damiano.
All in all, this is a pleasant film with two wonderful performances and a rollicking scenario from the brain of Jules Verne.
5 Great film but UK dvd is wrong OAR
In Search of the Castaways was one of my favourate films as a child and I still enjoy it now 40 years later... Its one of the Disney films that seem to stand up well even with the dated special effects and hopelessly oldfashion English manners
Unfortunately, in spite of what Disney might claim, the picture on the British DVD is definately cropped on either side... Faces and objects are sometimes half off screen and it is blatantly obvious that the picture has been cropped... It isn't that cropped ... It was probably originally something like 1.66.1 or 1.78.1 ... Though it could have been 1.85.1 ... It was so long ago I can't remember in the cinema
Lets hope the american dvd sorts this problem out... I may even order a new copy after I see some reviews
6 Fun Family Adventure
In the early 1960s Hayley Mills starred in six Disney movies, "Pollyanna" in 1960, "The Parent Trap" in 1961, this movie in 1962, "Summer Magic" in 1963, "The Moon-Spinners" in 1964, and "That Darn Cat" in 1965. While all six of the movies are enjoyable family fare, this movie has a depth and complexity approached only in "Summer Magic." All six of the movies are enjoyable family fare, but the two action-adventure movies, "In Search of the Castaways" and "The Moon-Spinners," are a bit campy and suffer from dated special effects. Also, the recent DVD release appears to be in 1.33:1 or full screen format, maintaining the clipped appearance of the VHS movie. Unfortunate, because there are portions of the movie where wide screen would enhance the adventure.
The movie opens with Mary Grant, played by Hayley Mills when she was about sixteen years old, and her brother Robert, played by Keith Hamshire, trying to meet with Lord Glenarvon, played by veteran actor Wilfred Hyde-White. Jacques Paganel, played by Maurice Chevalier, accompanies the children. Jacques found a bottle with a message in it, apparently from the children's father Captain Grant (Jack Gwillim), who was supposedly lost at sea. After some funny shenanigans to get aboard Lord Glenarvon's ship, and apparently being taken back to their home in Portsmouth, the children are aided by Lord Glenarvon's son John in convincing the Lord that the note is genuine and that they should seek Captain Grant. Michael Anderson Jr., who was in "The Sundowners" with Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr, and in "The Sons of Katie Elder" with John Wayne and Dean Martin, as well as numerous other movies, plays John Glenarvon.
The rescuers are off to South America and the Andes, where they encounter an earthquake that sends them on a wonderfully campy and humorous ride down the side of the mountains. They then travel across the Pampas, where they encounter a tremendous flash flood and a jaguar. The rescuers discover that Captain Grant was not in South America, but may be in Australia, which turns out to be another wild goose chase.
In Australia the rescuers encounter Thomas Ayerton, played by another veteran actor, George Sanders. The children all recognize Ayerton as being somewhat unsavory, though Lord Glenarvon seems to think he will be helpful as he promises he knows exactly where Captain Grant's ship went down. It turns out that Ayerton does know where Captain Grant's ship went down, but the reason why is chilling. Unfortunately for the children and Lord Glenarvon, the realization that Ayerton has malice in his heart comes too late, and Ayerton turns the rescuers over Maori's in New Zealand.
In New Zealand the captured rescuers find Bill Gaye (Wilfrid Brambell, who later made an appearance in another Disney movie, "The Three Lives of Thomasina), a mate from Captain Grant's ship who is now somewhat crazy. The rescuers are able to use Robert Grant's size as an aid to escape from a precarious prison, and then use a taboo volcano to clinch their escape. The movie climaxes as we see whether the children will find their father and whether they will escape from New Zealand.
This movie was loosely based on a Jules Verne adventure. As with other Disney adventures of the 50s and 60s, there are a lot of tongue-in-cheek and larger-than-life scenes. As implausible as the movie is, it is still a lot of fun and one of my favorite Disney movies, along with other movies in the same style, such as "Swiss Family Robinson."
There are a few scenes in the movie that even in the 1960s were weak, such as when the lava chases the Maoris. The images of the Maoris running in place against a screen projection look fake. Another of the beyond incredible scenes is when the rescuers take a ride down the side of a mountain in the Andes on a huge rock bowl. As unrealistic as the scene is, it is cute and clever and one of my favorite scenes from the movie.
I call this type of movie a family popcorn muncher, because it is suitable for nearly all members of the family, and even many teenagers jaded by excessive special effects and video games find this movie to be fun. At least everyone will get chance to laugh at the campy special effects and the unbelievable scenes. Even with its flaws this movie is wonderful to own and to watch again and again (I'll admit to having seen it several times). I look forward to a DVD release in wide screen, when I will likely replace my VHS version.
7 A Safety Patrol Treat
When I was in Sixth grade and on the Safety Patrol, they took us to see this movie as a treat. A treat it was then in 1962, and even now. In this day when the "Family" movies are few and far between, it is good to see that Disney has the sense to release their old classics on DVD. As mentioned by others let's hope it is a clean copy. My copy of "The Journey of Natty Gann" was anything but a good copy.
Disney needs to monitor the quality control on these old classics carefully, it will we well worth it to them to make sure they are clean and have several extras. This particular movie may seem tame by todays special effects, action powerhouses, but it makes up for it in story and acting. I will be truly surprised if children and adults don't find this fun to watch.
8 Good, clean, campy fun!
This Disney adventure, based on the story by Jules Verne, is wonderfully typical of both early 1960's special effects efforts and the studio's films of the time. Featuring Disney favorites Hayley Mills and Maurice Chevalier, the movie follows the adventures of two children looking for their father, a ship's captain who has been lost at sea and is presumed dead. The children team up with an eccentric professor (Chevalier), their father's aristocratic boss (Wilfrid Hyde-White) and his son as they criss-cross the globe, encountering avalanches, floods, giant Argentinian condors, and angry Maori tribesmen. By modern standards, the special effects are laughable (think "Journey to the Center of the Earth"), but the likeable characters, clever dialogue and catchy songs add up to a fun family film.
9 grand, rollicking Disney adventure with Hayley Mills
IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS is a grand, rollicking adventure from Walt Disney, starring Hayley Mills as well as Maurice Chevalier and Wilfred Hyde-White. It's loosely based on the little-known Jules Verne novel "Captain Grant's Children".
Mary Grant (Hayley Mills) and her younger brother Robert (Keith Hamshere), with Professor Paganel (Maurice Chevalier) discover a note in a bottle that has been written by Mary's father, a ship's Captain who has been lost at sea. They seek out Captain Grant's employer Lord Glenarvon (Wilfred Hyde-White) in hopes of setting out on a mission to rescue him.
Their search takes them on many thrilling, death-defying adventures, culminating in a hair-raising encounter with maoris in New Zealand. The movie also features three catchy Sherman Brothers tunes ("Enjoy It!", "Let's Climb" and "Castaway, Castaway").
Keith Hamshere originated the title role in the 1960 London premiere of OLIVER!. Hayley Mills is lovely as the spunky and forthright Mary Grant. Co-starring Michael Anderson Jr, George Sanders and Jack Gwillim.
10 Great film!
While this movie is a bit hokey when compared with modern technology, It is a fun movie to watch with the whole family. I remember seeing it in the theater with my mother when I was young. It was so exciting, especially the night spent in the tree, and the journey through the ice caves, (I don't want to give to much away if you haven't watched it yet). It has something for everyone, action, adventure, suspense, romance, and music. Although a bit hokey, I would highly recommend it, just make sure you leave your expectations for high quality special effects at the door (remember, it was filmed in 1962). Lighten up, sit back and enjoy!
11 A Walt Disney/Jules Verne Story Worthy of any Collection
I concur that this account is based on the Jules Verne story titled "CAPTAIN GRANT'S CHILDREN". It is a beautiful mix of suspense, fantasy and charm that only Walt Disney himself could bring to the big screen. With majestic and divine photography, we can only hope that Disney Studios will not "Black Beard" the release and produce a cleaned and digitally restored DVD with the Original Aspect Ratio preserved.
UPDATE!
A reviewer from Amazon.com UK reports that this film IS being presented in it's original aspect ratio at 1.33:1. This film was MADE in fullscreen and theatrical widescreen prints were made by cropping the picture as was done with Darby O'Gill. So in actual fact it is the widescreen version that is missing part of the picture and NOT the fullscreen version. This film is too new for Disney to try to pull this kind of stunt. Still another says not only is the framing much too close to allow this, but even a couple of the opening credits disappear off the sides of the screen. The film should be in 1.75:1 ratio, instead of the 1.33:1 full screen version here.
Is Disney just unable to tell us media savy buyers the technical details on these beloved films? I guess this DVD is a keeper but if anyone can validate these facts , I'd love to know.
12 A Must-have Disney Adventure
For Disney Adventure, Jules Verne, and Hayley Mills collectors and completists, this one even qualifies as a disaster movie! It probably helped to inspire Spielberg & Lucas for the Indiana Jones movies! Although not a perfect film, Disney collectors must have this gem! Enjoy!!
13 Unforgettable imagery and ambience.
This movie made a powerful impression on me and my sister as children. For years we kept asking our mother, "What was the name of that movie where they were sliding down a mountain through ice caves?" The whole ambience of snow-covered mountains of pine forests (think Matterhorn Bobsleds and Christmas trees), sleeping in the branches of a huge tree (think Swiss Family Treehouse), alligators lurking underneath (think Jungle Cruise and every kid's fear of alligators underneath the bed), being chased by angry natives, reuniting with a long-lost father (think "The Little Princess"), and escaping from a jail with a rope of human hair that took years to make is classic material consisting of powerful imagery that sticks in kids' minds. Although the story is thin and the coincidence of still meeting their father after going to the wrong country is outrageously implausible, the visual and emotional impact of the film is enormous, and helped coalesce some of my earliest tastes in nature and sense of atmosphere. Years later I read that there is indeed a large tree called an ombu' that grows in South America, but what the film didn't mention is that at night that species emits a horrible stench as a defense mechanism against insects. Imagine spending the night in such a tree! Anyway, this is a video that you'll want to watch repeatedly. I can't part with my copy, despite trying to thin out my video collection.
14 All Family's Entertainment
A great adventure movie for those who appreciated Walt Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". The film is full of action and adventure and without any doubt, it was the adventure teen movie of the sixties. Unfortunately, it did not have a sequence, although it deserved. Let's expect for the release on DVD format with "making of","interviews",etc..., I hope.
15 Time and a Note in a Bottle
A note in a bottle from a good Captain presumed lost at sea is found in the belly of a shark by French fisherman Jacques Paganel (Chevalier.) Paganel and the good Captain's children (Hayley Mills in her heyday and Keith Hampshire) enlist the aid of the Ship Line's owner and son in 1858 Glascow and we are off Around the World. Part of the note has been destroyed in its journey, resulting in garbled clues for our friends to follow. It is a most excellent excursion, with Disney Studios providing ahead-of-its-time special effects: marooned in an Ombu tree, earthquakes, iceflow, floods and fire.
16 perfect adventure for children
Growing up in the 60's and early 70's my Father took me to see this movie at a Drive In Theater. Even though it lacks the "High Tech" effects of today, it is as enjoyable now as it was then. My children enjoy watching it as I still do, and I'm sure they will enjoy it with their children.
17 "Hayley Mills Is Great With Maurice Chevalier"
Hayley Mills in her best Disney movie ever. "In Search Of The Castaways" tells a great story of Mary Grant,her brother Robert, and a French professor (Chevalier) trying to find their father. They face one dangerous obstacle after another trying to find him.
Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman does a few songs on this one: "Castaway" sung by Hayley Mills,and "Enjoy It" sung by Hayley Mills and Maurice Chevalier. This movie is fun for the whole family!
18 Wonderful adventure, obscure Jules Verne
The action set-pieces in this are nothing short of visually spectacular, as Disney was always on the cutting-edge, years ahead any other studio. One sequence in particular, when the characters cling for their lives to a piece of ice SLIDING down a mountainside following a landslide, I believe inspired a similar (if not as logical) scene in INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (Spielberg has long been a huge Disney fan!). On the other hand, like some Roger Moore 007 films, the plot is strung along so thinly between action scenes at times it's hard to recall how and why the characters got where they are! I'm not entirely sure, but based on a footnote in the Verne novel THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, I believe the book this is based on is actually titled "CAPTAIN GRANT'S CHILDREN". (Anyone who knows better, please let me know!)
19 Wonderful adventure, obscure Jules Verne
When this first came out I was around 3 years old! My memories were hazy but fortunately I was able to catch in on a reissue around 20 years later. The action set-pieces are nothing short of visually spectacular, as Disney was always on the cutting-edge, years ahead any other studio. One sequence in particular, when the characters cling for their lives to a piece of ice SLIDING down a mountainside following a landslide, I believe inspired a similar (if not as logical) scene in INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (Spielberg has long been a huge Disney fan!). My 2nd viewing revealed that, like some Roger Moore 007 films, the plot is strung along so thinly between action scenes at times it's hard to recall how and why the characters got where they are! And I'm not entirely sure, but based on a footnote in the Verne novel THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, I believe the book this is based on is actually titled "CAPTAIN GRANT'S CHILDREN". (Anyone who knows better, please let me know!)
20 A Delightful adventure.
Haley Mills plays a young girl who is searching the world for her father who was lost on an expedition. Along with her brother and an old Frenchman (Maurice Chavalier), they sneak aboard a freighter to start an adventure that leads them to wonderful far off places and sights. Clean, wholesome entertainment for the entire family.
21 A TIMELESS ADVENTURE!
Hayley Mills is just as charming as ever in this timeless adventure that charms with its lack of technological drama and simple, yet heartwarming plot.
22 Wonderfully Exciting!!!
I love Hayley Mills and any movie that I can find with her has got to be a good one. This one is great. Some of the parts are just hilarious and will have you laughing for days. Others are just sweet and beautiful. I would recommend this movie to anyone.
23 Wonderful classic children's adventure
A young girl searches for her father based on clues found in a bottle. She and a crew of interesting companions encounter floods, tornadoes, live in a tree, among others. There is no violence but excitement for all.
