When New York accountant Johnny Baxter (Dean Jones) learns he has inherited a Colorado hotel, he promptly quits his thankless job, packs up his dubious family, and heads west. Since this is a Disney comedy, the inn's only customers turn out to be nonpaying raccoons and its decorating motif is strictly cobweb. To make matters worse, the local banker not only refuses Baxter a loan, but tries to buy out the desperate newcomer with a lowball figure. But with the help of an eccentric squatter (
M*A*S*H's Harry Morgan), a local snowmobile dude, and an avalanche, the city slickers eventually prevail. Jones' slapstick style is showcased in ski and snowmobile scenes featuring vintage 1972 special effects that are nevertheless hysterical to kids. With a G rating, this is safe, relatively entertaining family fare. (Ages 5 and older)
--Kimberly Heinrichs
1 Standroules Plumbarmacy?
This is Disney at it's best. However, it isn't a recent film. It is one that is over 30 years old. It took then dipping into their regular actor pool to get Dean Jones, Harry Morgan, Johny Whitaker etc to make this classic. The movie and efects may seem old hat today but it has an ingrident that most of todays films don't. IT IS FUNNY. It is impossible to point out which scene is the funniest as they all are. Each sets you up for the next funny scene so well that I would wind up telling you the story and then you wouldn't buy the video. DIsney should make more films like this today and get Dean Jones and the others. If not as the stars then in smaller roles just to say thanks for making movies like this. Buy this film your kids and you will enjoy this G rated fun.
2 He's Related to Crazy Jake
With Dean, Jones, Keenan Wynn, Michael McGreevey,Harry Morgan, Nancy Olsen and Johnny Whittaker you can't go wrong with these incredible character actors. This is when Disney was great! As far as i'm concerned Disney died after The Rescuers (1978,1979).
John Sylvester Baxter inherits The Grand Imperial Hotel in Silver Hill, Colorado (not in Wyoming) from his crazy Uncle and tries to stop the foreclosure by Martin Ridgeway (Wynn)the town Scrooge.
Ties with The Shaggy D.A. in my top four Disney favorites
3 DISNEY DOESN'T GET IT!!!!
No wonder the company is about to be taken over and broken up -- DVD was introduced to be an alternative to video, to offer more than video: better picture, more extras, and most importantly, more picture. Letterboxing. Widescreen. The complete image. So what does Disney do? They take some of their most beloved live-action films such as this one, and dump it on DVD in full-frame editions. What is the point of that? Who isn't used to widescreen DVDs yet? Why should I waste my money replacing my old Disney videos with the same crappy full screen image as before? Disney just doesn't get it, and their sales show it.
4 Fun Disney movie -- poor DVD release.
This was one of my favorite movies as a kid -- the DVD release is a major disappointment. While I didn't expect that this film would receive the "Vault Disney" or "Special Edition" treatment, it would have be nice if it would been released in its original theatrical ratios (widescreen). Please, Disney, give collectors the option; put pan-and-scan as well as widescreen versions on the same disc!!!
5 A Fun Disney Film
John Baxter, an accountant from New York, inherits a Colorado hotel from a great Uncle. Tired of the rat race, John packs up his family and moves to Colorado, imainging a new life as the owner of a prosperous hotel. Unfortunately, all is not as he had hoped: the hotel is way, way, way out of town and is in desparate need of repair. Baxter tries to get a loan from local banker, Martin Ridgeway, who has his own ideas about sneaking the hotel away from Baxter.
This is a great movie for anyone between the ages of 5 and 13, who will probalby like all the slapstick humor and silly situations in which Baxter finds himself as he tries to get the money to keep his hotel from foreclosure. ( I remember really enjoying this movie as a kid. Now, the film seems a bit out-dated, the humor somewhat forced.) The acting is good, with many well-known stars: Harry Morgan, Dean Jones, Keenen Wynne, and Mary Wickes.
The DVD has no extras. It's a fun Disney film that kids are sure to enjoy.
6 Wacky Movie in Disney's Classic Family Style
This movie is a fun family movie in the Disney style we remember so well. Nearly cartoonish and typically contrived, the movie remains a delight more than 30 years after it was first released.
Johnny Baxter (Dean Jones) is a faceless white collar worker in New York City. A barely remembered uncle leaves him a hotel with a fancy-sounding name in Colorado and Johnny packs up the family to run the hotel. Alas, the hotel's name is far fancier than the hotel itself, inhabited by raccoons and a codger (Harry Morgan of "Dragnet" and "M*A*S*H"). Johnny, his wife Sue (Nancy Olson), son Richard (Johnny Whitaker), and daughter Chris (Kathleen Cody) decide to make a go of the hotel, partially because Johnny has burned a bridge at his old job and partially because of his pride.
Johnny tries to obtain a loan and quickly runs afoul of perennial Disney bad-guy Keenan Wynn, playing ruthless banker Martin Ridgeway. Johnny is able to borrow money from Ridgeway and fix the hotel to begin taking in paying customers, but as tends to happen in Disney comedies, Johnny tends to be prone to accidents. In this case the most serious accident comes in the form of a runaway steam engine.
Johnny is placed in a position of having no paying customers and no money, and his next loan payment to Ridgeway is coming due. Johnny enters a snowmobile race with the help of a local "expert" who isn't, and with co-rider Harry Morgan. Some of the funniest and most unbelievable moments of the movie occur during the snowmobile race.
The ending of the movie unfolds not quite as you might expect, so I'll leave the remainder of the movie for the viewer to discover.
The special effects were good for the early 70s, but now appear substantially dated, with a few exceptions, such as the runaway steam engine. Children and those of us that saw the movie when it first came out will still find it enjoyable and very solid, safe family fare.
7 Snowball Express-a Disney Favorite
This movie is one of the best Disney movies ever made. Though some of the things that happened in it were kind of un-realistic, the movie is really just one big laugh the whole way through.
Having just been handed a beautiful, $14,000-a-month-income hotel, Jonny Baxter (Dean Jones) loads up his family, quits his job and heads for the beautilul state of Colorado. No one is very pleased when they find the condition of the hotel (especially when Sue Baxter (Nancy Olsen) finds a racoon family living in the oven ).So through many money problems, they are able to get the hotel rolling.....untill trouble strikes again and Jonny Baxter enters a snow-mobil race!!
One of the best movies made; make sure that you get one today!
8 Another Great "Old Disney" movie
Dean Jones is his usual lovable, not quite in control self in this Disney movie. He plays Richard, who inherits a Colorado Hotel from a great-uncle, packs his family up and moves there without seeing it first. It needs a lot of work (his wife calls it a clapboard igloo) but he and his wife, plus their daughter, son, large cowardly dog and assorted oddballs are equal to the task. Richard's ski trip backwards down the mountain and his snowski race (with Harry Morgan on behind) will have you rolling in the floor. It's a great movie; don't miss it!
9 AWESOME
This DVD is very good, in fact I think its awesome.
You will laugh as this family has some pretty goofy moments in the snowy mountains of colorado.
10 Finally a Disney Favorite on DVD!!!
I am so happy that Disney has finally released Snowball Express on DVD! This is a great family movie that I've adored my entire life. The story is about a family man, John Baxter (played by Dean Jones), who inherits a hotel from an uncle. He quits his job and moves his family to the snow covered hills of Colorado where The Grand Imperial Hotel is located. However, the Grand Imperial isn't as "grand" as he had imagined, and Baxter decides that with a bank loan, he'll change the hotel into a ski lodge. The ruthless bank manager wants the hotel for his own greedy purposes, and this leaves Baxter to struggle to make his ski lodge dreams a reality. This movie is full of laughs thanks to the whit of Jones, Harry Morgan, Nancy Olsen, Johnny Whitaker, and an adorable St. Bernard dog that will have you re-winding the DVD to see those precious expressions over and over.
Now, why just 4 stars out of a possible 5? They DVD is greatly appreciated, but the quality is a bit lacking. Once again, like Disney's DVD release of Blackbeard's Ghost, Snowball Express is full-screen format. Also, it appears the the picture quality isn't as crisp as most DVD releases. It looks as if the DVD was directly copied from an original film reel. As you watch the opening credits, you'll see the specks of dust and scratches that are common when watching movies in theaters, but not on DVD. Also, there aren't any Bonus Features!! Boooooo!!!
Other than those little flaws, the DVD would make a great addition to a Disney DVD collection.
11 What a blast from the past!
This is good, clean family fun that takes you back. At least it took me back, because I was around when it was made. If you weren't and you're looking for classic Disney, then look no further. There are great little jokes, family feel, and loads of community togetherness. Couldn't we all use a little less of the violent, antagonistic fare available today? Thank you Disney for having the gumption to rerelease your greatest movies.
12 Great Movie!
I remember seeing this film when I was a Kid and I have rented it
every year around Christmas and watch it with my family. Glad its out on DVD. Good to see them re-releasing some of the good
older wholesome films ? You will laugh until you cry as the movie goes on.
Thanks BB
13 Pure Disney Digital Magic????? NOT!
As usual Disney is releasing a true 5-star Vault-Disney style family movie and releasing a poorly transfered, VHS rental quality, full screen format DVD. If you must have this movie, please save your money and buy the VHS version. Disney does not give a "you-know-what" about what the consumer wants. AVOID THIS DVD if you can. Apparently the [dullards] in the Disney marketing department represent Disney's greedy corporate policy of [cheat] the consumer.
14 Wonderful Winter Family Film
This film holds a special place in my heart. As a little boy, my brothers and I loved it so much, we would rent it from the library every chance we got. In fact, growing up in Seattle, this film was the first memory we have of ever seeing snow! It is a great, happy Disney family film - filled with laughs and slapstick humor - Dean Jones is especially entertaining as he learns to ski. Luckily, I will be able to share this film with my children as Disney has decided to release it on DVD! Recommended for the whole family, especially the younger ones - curl up together with a cup of hot chocolate and put in this classic family film.
15 Baxter, you're skiing backwards!
While "Snowball Express" is no classic, I have really fond memories of this film. It falls into that category of mid-budget live action Disney films from the early 1970's. Most of them are forgettable although they were fun at the time. I like to think that "Snowball Express" is a little big funnier than the standard fare. There are some clever jokes, and some truly funny slapstick here, all with a nice Winter theme.
Disney stand-by Dean Jones does his usual work here, as a city man who inherits a big bunch of mountain, and decides to move his family and open a ski lodge. Harry Morgan (Col. Potter from M.A.S.H.) adds a bit more fun as Jesse McCord the two-bit mountain man leading him a hand.
There are the usual hijinks; someone wants to buy the property, there is a snowmobile race, some backwards skiing. All in all this is an easy, fun movie to watch around Christmas time.
16 Simply a Classic
When I was young and HBO first came on the air, I'd watch this movie evrytime I knew it was going to be on. I never got tired of it. Now it's over twenty years later and I want the DVD. It belongs in every Family Films collection.
17 A Great Family Movie
About a year ago I started looking to see if Blackbeard's Ghost or Snowball Express, two of my all-time favorite Disney films, had been released on DVD. Recently I was so pleased to see that Blackbeard's Ghost was released. I'm so glad that Disney is re-releasing the old favorites. Snowball Express is so old it's difficult to get even on VHS and I have always wanted to own a copy. I watched that movie as a kid and loved it. Even though it's getting old, my children now love that movie. I hope Disney will release this one sometime soon! It's hard to find a good, decent movie these days that the whole family can enjoy.
18 Where Is Snowball Express???
Slowly but surely, Disney is finally rereleasing their classics, their best work by far. This film is no exception.
Dean Jones is just a normal hard working man when he receives a visit from a lawyer telling him he has inherited a hotel out in the middle of nowhere from a relative he'd basically enver heard of. When he gets this news he quits his job, and in a unique way at that!
He breaks the news to his wife (Nancy Olsen), daughter, son, and dog, who think he's lost his mind. So the family sets off for Silver Hills, Colorado to take over as managers of their new inheritance. When they arrive, the hotel is FAR from running. It's been run down for years, so with no job, it's up to the family to fix it up and get it running again as fast as they can. Dean then discovers that he has more land than he thought, and decides to change it into a ski lodge. This decision will forever change their lives!
Snowball Express is filled with fun and comedy as Dean continues to steal the show with Disney. If you like The Ugly Dachshund and Blackbeard's Ghost you will enjoy this!
I hope that when and if Snowball Express is released again and on DVD for the first time, Disney will give it some respect and make it worth OUR while!
19 Snowball Express is a Wacky Comedy
A zany story of Dean Jones leaving New York City to run a ski lodge he has inherited. Some of the best ski stunts on film.
20 one of my top 10
I have loved this movie since I first saw it in the theater when I was a young. I hope to be able to find a copy to share with my 2 little boys. There's just something about this movie that makes me smile.
21 Snowball express
THis movie is such a good and funny wholesome film. I would hope that this is produced again and please advice me if it is. We used to live in Colorado so it means a lot and I understand it ws filmed in Crested Butte, CO and we have been there.
22 Family Fun at its Finest!
I have such fond memories of watching this movie with my parents and my sister. We watched this movie every time we went on a skiing vacation or whenever we needed a good laugh. I am disappointed that the film is not released at this time. I hope that Disney will release it again soon so that I can share this film with my family again and, eventually, with my own children!
23 Hilarious, typical Disney 1970s fluff.
Released by Disney in the 1970s, it is typical Disney 70's style. This time Dean Jones plays an accountant fleeing the rat race of city life,via the inheritance of a delapadated ski resort. Complete with Keenan Wynn, once again, playing the villian (remember, The Absent Minded Professor and Herbie Rides Again).
24 A Great and "Funny Family Film"! Harry Morgan is priceless.
Harry Morgan (Col. Potter in Mash) Dean Jones (Herbie Movies) Keenan Winn and Nancy Olson (Pollyanna and the Absent Minded Professor) and more all work together so very well. It is a movie you will want to watch over and over again! It is one of our family's favorites!!!
25 Great family film!
This is a great family movie that my family and I watch every chance we get on the Disney channel. Dean Jones and his brood move from the city to the snowy slopes of Colorado to run a ski resort in dire need of repair. Do they get the repairs done? Do they raise enough money to keep the resort going? Do they have a lot of fun? (Hint: it's a Disney movie - what kind of ending can there be?) Plenty of humor also.
26 It was good over all, Dean Jones is a great actor!!!!!!!!!!!
The movie was good over all. They need to make more family movies like this.
27 Family fun in Colorado mountains
Dean Jones moves family from the city to Colorado mountains when he inherits a hotel -- only his hotel needs a little work!
