1 Underrated Disney Classic
The Adventures Of Ichabod and Mr. Toad falls in the line of quality animation by Disney through the 1940s, even though the budgets were considerably smaller than the big ones such as Bambi. Containing an adaptation of The Wind in the Willows and a retelling of the Sleepy Hollow story, this feature is one of my favorite Disney features and is a definite around Halloween. For all that is worth, this still remains one of the most underrated and obscure of Disney's animated classics. This is evident because it did not receive the DVD treatment like some of Disney's more popular titles, but fortunately Disney has given a fairly nice release with this version.
First is the story of J. Thaddeus Toad, of Toad Hall. Mr. Toad develops a mania for motor cars, much to the dismay of his friends Moley, Mr. Rat and MacBadger. Toad is framed for stealing a motor car, so it is up to the 4 to clear Toad's good name. Though more overlooked than Ichabod, it is a fun adventure. Featuring good animation and the Disney magic we recognize, this excerpt from The Wind in the Willows is brought to life in memorable fashion.
Next is the retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Schoolmaster Ichabod Crane is new to Sleepy Hollow, and instantly becomes a popular fellow to the envy of Brom Bones. The two vie for the lovely Katrina, the governor's daughter, with Ichabod upstaging Brom in every way. After hearing the tale of the Headless Horseman, Ichabod embarks on a spooky journey home, constantly looking over his shoulder for the Horseman himself. This one is a must for Halloween. Most adults will probably find this still charming, while it isn't too scary for the children. Overall it is an excellent 1/2 to the feature that I highly recommend.
The extras on this disk are scarce, but that is to be expected with a hidden gem among other hugely popular movies. There is a DVD storybook, Singalong song and the classic short "Lonesome Ghosts" featuring Mickey Donald and Goofy as ghost-busters from the Ajax company sent to a haunted house to get rid of ghosts. There is also a game, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Here is another treat that may not be obvious. Play the game and get all the answers right to unlock the classic short "Susie the Little Blue Coupe", a fitting extra to go along with Toad's Wild Ride.
The sound and picture quality are pretty good, though not to a restored state like say "The Lion King" or "Beauty and the Beast". A charming feature with a few nice extras make this a nice DVD to own for any Disney or animation enthusiast.
2 One of Disney's Most Unsung Works of Art!
I had never seen these two shorts in their entirety before, since they were only available seperately on VHS when I was little. I remember loving them both, so I went out in search of this DVD. Well, it was quite a long search (this thing is impossible to find in stores!), but let me tell you, it was more than a worthwhile journey.
In fact, I'd go so far as saying that THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD & MR. TOAD is one of the very best animated films Disney has ever done! It's certainly on my top five.
I mean, this movie is the very best example of why exactly Disney was the K-I-N-G back in the day. It has everything that ever made Disney so masterful! But rather than continue to pile on the vague praise, I'm gonna tell you just why this movie is so great.
The thing that struck me most about this movie after not seeing either segment for years and years, is the quality of the characters and the humor. By this, I especially mean the subtlety of it all. There are things in here that only teens and adults could truly appreciate, like the animation. The movements/facial expressions solidify Disney in their prime, and the song lyrics are witty and clever. As for the humor, well, I was on the verge of rolling on the floor. Take for instance, the courtroom scene in the "Mr. Toad" segment. The lawyer who questions Ratty, Moley, Badger etc. is a glorious character, despite him being on screen for all of three minutes. His exclamations of ". . . then HOW DID HE GET THE MOTOR CAR?!" and "THAT IS ALL, THANK YOU!!" are hysterical.
Moving on to the second segment, the "Disneyfication" of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I first of all must comment on the late great Bing Crosby's charming narration/singing. This film, believe it or not, was actually my first introducion to how great Bing really was, and got me interested in his work. Anyway, I must say that though Ichabod Crane is the intended protagonist, Brom Bones is DEFINITELY the hero of the story. He is so awesome!!! Buying beer for all the guys, and trying to court the fair Katrina. . . . . he's just a great guy! In fact, Ichabod comes of as a bit of a jerk, but by that I don't mean that his character is any less enjoyable. This short has classic Disney humor, as well. For perhaps the greatest example of Disney slapstick ever captured on film, check out the scene where Brom and Ichabod are competing over Katrina's affection whilst carrying groceries for her to her house. One of the flat-out finnuest scenes I've ever witnessed!
On a final note, yet another thing I love about this film is how it's a perfect example of how Disney wasn't all "edited for children" back then. Modern Disney is for the most part purely kiddie fare, which will make anyone over the age of 8 groan in agony. I mean, in ICHABOD & MR. TOAD, you see people smoking, drinking, and almost getting their heads cut off with a huge axe!! Thus, this movie (as well as all of Disney's best work ever) works as an actual MOVIE, which is in itself a major case of superiority over modern Disney animated films.
I'm surprised at how the majority of the reviewers here prefer the latter part of the movie. However, for my favorite I'd have to go with "Mr. Toad," just because I love all its subteties that "Ichabod" lacks slightly. But both are bonafide classics, and make THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD & MR. TOAD a must-have on anyone's DVD shelf.
3 Brom Bone's Uncanny Resemblance
A great video... Brom Bones has an uncanny resmblance to Shrek in Shrek2, when he was turned into a human...
Albert.
PS I'm hoping the audio quality is better on the DVD than it was on the VHS release...
4 ONE OF THE BETTER DISNEY GOLD RELEASES
My main complaint with all the Disney Gold selections is that the $19.99 price point is too high and should be more like $14.99 or 12.99. The content on these is just not enough to justify $20.
That said this is one of the better ones. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has always been one of my favorites.
Legend of Sleepy Hollow is narrated by Bing Crosby. Bing Crosby's singing narration and the top-notch animation tell a tale of humor and genuine fright. Ichabod Crane, the pedantic pedagogue, is a triumph of the animators' art, while the film's climax - the ride through the Hollow & the appearance of the hideous Hessian - is a celebration of pacing and stylistic understatement. Based on material much shorter than Grahame's, the plot fits into the half hour time slot more easily and still has the luxury of introducing a wholly original & hilarious minor character in the chubby little Tilda, who completely steals the dancing sequence. It is the Horseman, however, who should remain the longest in the viewer's uneasy dreams - the embodiment of every Halloween nightmare.
Wind in the Willows provides a shortened take on Kenneth Grahames book. The story is narrated by Basil Rathbone and tells the story of a fun-loving rich Toad who is framed for stealing a car and his friends have to crack the case in order to prove his innocence.
Both features are good but "Legend" is the gem here.
5 A great movie
This is one of the best halloween movies I've seen when it comes to "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and Ichabod Crane. I've also liked "The Wind and the Willows", and I'm glad that Disney put the two stories together into one movie, this one. This is one of the best Disney movies I've seen.
6 Great Cartoons!
I love this DVD, in fact it is probably my favorite in my whole collection. I watch it all the time and it never fails to entertain me and leave me with a wistful yet happy feeling. This DVD has great picture, good sound, and excellent extra features. I also find if you mute it and watch it with Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother is quite an experience. Anyways if you love cartoons(especially old ones)than this is a must own. The Sleepy Hollow toon is great for Halloween!
7 A Wacky Thrill Ride.
In this two part Disney movie, Disney brings you two of the more iconic Disney characters. The wild Mr. Toad, and Ichabod Crane. In the first you are inside a great whimsical story inspired by the Wind in the Willows. You meet Mr. Toad, the rat and mole and along the way encounter a group of finicky weasels. In the second half you meet Ichabod, and encounter the legendary Headless Horseman. They are both good fun. I highly reccomend them.
8 Where Are The Scenes Of Mr. Toad...Driving??
Though I've enjoyed the Mr. Toad characters for many years, not a little because of the Disney ride, I finally settled down recently to enjoy the DVD and see the actual film for the first time. After having the image emblazened in my head of Mr. Toad grasping his steering wheel and blowing in the wind as his motorcar careens here or there (thanks to the ride and a lot of Disney merchandising art and collectibles), I was stunned and very disappointed to see...no scenes of Toad in his car!! I couldn't help but feel a letdown, but the story is still fun and the Ichabod story remains a favorite. I also highly recommend the new-to-DVD Terry Jones version.
9 Good!
I like these movies and I too have fond memories of watching them as a child and I have fond memories of a teacher bringing a film projector into the classroom and putting on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and while the Mr. Toad cartoon is good I prefer The Sleepy Hollow Story and I highly recommnd this DVD!
10 I LOVE this!
I absolutely love these old classics! Sure the animation doesn't match that of today, but there's just something wonderful about these animated features of yesteryear. I remember watching Ichabod when I was 6 or 7 (I'm 20 now) on Disney Channel for a Halloween special, and loved it very much. Of course I never understood the story entirely, but I enjoyed the animation and scariness of the Headless Horseman all the same. I've never seen Mr. Toad until I watched this DVD actually. What can I say, I'm a kid at heart and still liked the featurette. To answer the previous reviewer, I think you have a bad copy. Mine does not have the snippets missing as you describe. It was a weasel who threw a dagger, hence Mole fell on top of Winkie, and ended up running for his life.
Overall, I am very pleased with this DVD.
11 Charming animated Disney film, why the jarring edit?
Both halves of ICHABOD AND MR TOAD are charming examples of late-'40s era Disney animation. "The Wind in the Willows" segment is filled with detailed English countryside backgrounds and English manor interiors ... very cozy, very warm. The "Sleepy Hollow" portion is wonderfully creepy, the final ride home of Ichabod remains one of the most memorable and thrilling sequences in animated history.
Still, can any cartoon buff out there tell me why there's a weird little missing snippet during the "riot at Toad Hall" sequence? Out of nowhere, a flying axe (presumably thrown by Winky) cuts through the chandelier sending the heroes soaring (at 33:41). They had been saving Mole, but after the axe is thrown, Mole is no longer in their grasp but running along the floor. Are there more than a few seconds missing here? There's also an abrupt cut in the musical score. Wha' hoppened? Fellow Amazonites, I await a response!
12 Two for the price of one
This fine feature film, made from two featurettes, is a real gem to add to your collection of family Halloween favorites, or a joy to behold at any time of year.
This 11th addition to the Disney feature film canon is worth watching over and over again.
In the first featurette, we are treated to a retelling of one story from Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows" - the story of what happens when Mr. Toad decides to go for a wild ride in his new motorcar. I can't even imagine any other version of the vision of Toad Hall and its inhabitants than this one anymore. I thought it was fairly true to the original source material. Basil Rathbone provides the narration, but other characters have their own voices. The only problem with this is that I thought Rathbone's horror talents would have lent themselves better to "Sleepy Hollow".
In the second, and far better, story, we are treated to a Disney version of Washington Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow". While not as scary as the original story, nor anywhere near as scary as Tim Burton's movie based on the same story, it's still chilling enough to make a great Halloween party event without scaring the young ones silly. The Disney style lends itself fairly well to this story, too, especially in the characterization of Ichabod Crane and other characters. The story is told by Bing Crosby - who also supplies all of the character voices and songs. Crosby does a great job on characters who I thought would have been better voiced by Rathbone.
The DVD also features a karaoke segment - a standard feature of almost all newer Disney DVDs, as well as a storybook adventure and a gallery of collectibles.
A stellar addition to the Disney collection, and a good investment for anyone planning a Halloween get together for children.
13 "You Can't Reason with a Headless Man!"
Disney's THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD is one of the best Halloween DVDs available, especially if you are looking for something to entertain--and spook!--the entire family.
There are actually two stories on this film, the first segment being a "telling" of Kenneth Grahame's THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. The animation is well done--as are most Disney cartoons from this era (c. 1949)--and the narration by Basil Rathbone is wonderfully literate. Voice characterizations are done by other actors, however, which detracts from the film's premise that the story is being "told" by the venerable Mr. Rathbone. While this segment is certainly entertaining enough, it is NOT the highlight of the DVD. That honor goes to the other segment....
The remainder of the film is a "telling" of Washington Irving's THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, and it is sheer delight. This classic American ghost story is narrated by Bing Crosby, who also sings all of the songs and voices nearly all of the characterizations. The script is very loyal to the source material, even including--though a little less subtly than Mr. Irving--the same wry sense of humor. The depiction of the Headless Hessian himself is really spooky, too, though still gentle enough so as not to scare the little ones too much. Lots of fun for old and young alike, this, and a great film for the family to watch on Halloween night!
Also included on the DVD is the classic Disney animated short LONESOME GHOSTS. This one has Mickey, Donald, and Goofy working as ghost exterminators, and one could easily make the argument that it was the inspiration for 1984's live-action GHOSTBUSTERS. (Indeed, one of our animated heroes even utters the line "I ain't afraid of no ghosts!") A real hoot, and another great film to include in the family's Halloween celebration.
If you're already a fan of the animated THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, you'll definitely want to include this DVD in your collection. The colors are much richer than on the VHS release, and the details are understandably crisper. You'll see Ichabod, Bram Bones, that little coquette Katrina, and the infamous Headless Horseman like you've never seen 'em before!
14 Absolutely Wonderful!
My all-time favorite story is "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow," and this version has to be the best and most entertaining film adaptation of the classic story out there! The "Mr. Toad" part is fine too, but the real gem is the "Ichabod" part. Bing Crosby's narration and singing is wonderful, he did a marvelous job! I absolutely love it, it is one of Disney's best, and I recommend it for anyone!
15 Two fun family frolics in one!
Many are familiar with Disney's cartoon version of Washington Irving's _Legend of Sleepy Hollow_ from its inclusion in two early 1980s Hallowe'en compilations for TV. Most, however, are not familiar with the cartoon in its original format, packaged together with Disney's version of _The Wind in the Willows_ and known collectively as _The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad_. If you haven't seen both featurettes together and in their entireties, you haven't seen them at all!
I highly recommend the Sleepy Hollow portion of this video for family Hallowe'en festivities. It's cute, it's funny, and the headless horseman provides just enough scarefactor for spooky fun. Even though this cartoon was produced in 1949, it's aged very well. Bing Crosby fans will enjoy his narration and singing.
I'm also fond of the Mr. Toad half, masterfully narrated by Basil Rathbone. It's heady and silly, with great music. If you've ridden Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland, you know what I mean!
16 When the spooks hold a midnight jamboree...
I'd never really realized that this was the name of the movie when I was a child. I never remembered Mr. Toad at all. I only remembered The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I guess the Wind in the Willows part is OK. It's because of the Headless Horseman that I bought this movie. I haven't seen the whole thing in its entirety since I was a child. It's much longer than I remembered. Still, it's a classic that I love to watch around Halloween.
The extras on the DVD that make it worth while are a ghost cartoon with Mickey, Goofey, and Donald. Also, be sure to play the silly question-and-answer game: there's a bonus vintage Disney cartoon at the end of it.
17 The DVD is Incredible!
This is my all-time favorite of the Disney animated classics; I have seen it countless times, and enjoy it as much as the first time I saw it, way back when I was 7 years old. It is a Halloween fixture for me still, although I watch it all year 'round. Bing Crosby had a wonderful speaking voice, as well as a singing one, and he does great things with the character of Ichabod and his tuneful telling of this timeless tale, set in Sleepy Hollow; I believe that were Washington Irving alive today, he would love this version of his terrific novel, based on old folk tales and legends of that part of New York. I also love Toad; J. Thaddeus Toad, Esquire, the Master of Toad Hall, with his loyal friends, Mole, Angus McBadger and Ratty. I have never seen this favorite classic in such splendor before my DVD version arrived...the colors, the crisp picture, the overall beauty of it took my breath away, and I was 7 years old again, watching it on the big screen. Now I can watch it anytime, and have the same quality as I enjoyed as a child, what a treat! Even if you have a VHS copy, buy the DVD, you won't believe the difference!
18 A Great Disney flick!
This is a collection of two stories told by different stars such as Basil Rathborn and Bing Crosby. the first story if " The Wind in the Willows", inspired by a popular british book and it tells the story of a rich but crazy Toad whom named " Toad" has been accused of stealing a Motorcar but his friends have to solve the case and crack it up.
Then last, " Legend of Sleepy Hollow" told by Bing Crosby and it tells the story of a Skinny Scarecrow-like gentleman named " Icabod Crane" who is trying to charm a beautiful Rich girl named " Katrina" but when his rival is jealous, he tells Icabod the story of the Headless horseman but Icabod doesn't believe him until one night when he finds out the Headless Horseman is for reals.
A very entertaining collection of stories which features good artwork, a hot disney chick named " Katrina" and good songs in the " Sleepy hollow" story. Perfect for Halloween, this is a great Disney movie cause i'm a major lover of Disney flicks.
19 Sneaky marketing ploy cheats Disney fans out of a classic
I have only one complaint about this DVD, and it seems to be a marketing ploy used by many companies. On the original VHS release of TLOSH, there were 2 short "extra" cartoons, "Lonely Ghosts" and "Trick or Treat". I thought the 3 worked very well as a Halloween treat. In the case of the DVD, "Trick or Treat" is left off, why? This is a classic Disney short and should have been included for sure. Do we really need a silly game on the DVD, I'd opt for the masterpiece "Trick or Treat" any day. It's kind of like releasing a Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits album without putting "Thriller" on it, only so the record company can release Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits Volume 2 the next year only to make more money. It's kind of a cop out. Otherwise an awesome DVD, Bing Crosby's narration puts the finishing touches on what I consider to be the greatest Disney cartoon of all time.
20 Hidden Cartoon
Play the Toad Wild Ride Game (trivia questions) and get all the answers right. A screen will pop up with a present and a play button. Enter Play and you get the added cartoon: "Susie, the Little Blue Cupe."
21 I LOVE IT....
It is great to see these stories finally on DVD. Coming from the mini-classics section of Disney, they used to be shown on the Wonderful World of Disney and other Disney specials on television. Now it is possible to see them crisp and clear for the first time on DVD. The color, sound (Bing Crosby's crooning is awesome and Basil Rathbone's voice is wonderful)and picture quality are all great.
The DVD includes a chapter list of each special. The only setback is that you can not choose which show you watch first, only through the chapter list can you do so. There are some cool extras included, like the cartoon Lonesome Ghosts, and a DVD storybook of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Also included is a Mr. Toad trivia game and a sing-a-long song.
I was very pleased with the way Disney put this out. Classic stories mixed with solid, sharp picture and sound, make this viewing experience and walk down memory lane a positive one.
22 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Gold Collection DVD
Walt Disney's 11th animated film combines two stories that are so different in content, that it's hard to believe that they work so hood together to make this film.
The first of the package feature is The Wind in the Willows, a story chronicling the high-risk life of Mr. Toad. The story is mostly comedic, but the attempts to prove Mr. Toad's innocence when accused of a crime provides a lot of excitment.
"The Legend Of Sleeping Hollow", is the best of the two. It has fun songs, and good characters. At first this retelling starts off a little comical, but around the time of the Holloween party it makes a sharp turn into a dark, intense tale. This all leads up to the final confrontation with the Headless Horseman, that is brilliantly brought to life by Disney's animators.
This was the last of Walt's package features, before returning to full length stories ("Cinderella" was his next film). And this was an excellent film to end his package feature run.
The Gold Collection DVD includes the Mickey Mouse cartoon, "Lonesome Ghosts".
23 Just like I remembered
As a man getting close to 30 and trying to reconnect with his past, this movie brought me right back. They don't make 'em like this anymore. I highly recommend it, almost more for the adult than the child for the pure nostalgic value of it.
24 Nice Short Cartoons
I liked the Disney version of "The Wind in the Willows" ever since I first saw it as a child. It was fun and funny. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was not quite as good, but I still liked it. The animation is excellent in both of them, of course; this is old Disney!
It was only a few years ago that I noticed a couple plot holes in "The Wind in the Willows." It may have been when I first started law school, but I think it was earlier. The first is after Badger discovers that "Toad Hall is ablaze with lights" and occupied by weasels. They sneak in to steal the deed Toad had earlier signed. In fact, the very presence of the weasels in Toad Hall confirms that Toad did sell the mansion to the weasels as testified in court. In a sane world, that would exonerate Toad completely.
Unfortunately, this is not a sane world, and that leads to the second plot hole. As soon as the deed is liberated, headlines proclaim "Toad's Good Name Cleared." Strange as it may seem, it is a huge step between proving one's innocence after conviction and having one's name cleared and being released from prison. You actually have to persuade someone in power not only of his innocence, but also that his innocence is relavent and he should be released.
At least today, if Toad were the typical impoverished convict, the habeus corpus battle would be long and difficult, and the outcome uncertain. Toad would be returned to prison, and possibly even sentenced to longer time for escaping.
You don't believe this? Think again. In Texas apparently, "innocence is not a basis in Texas for a new trial," In Re Adams, 768 S.W.2D 281 (overturning the conviction of Randall Adams; see "The Thin Blue Line" and Adams's book "Adams v. Texas"). While the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Adams's conviction in that case because of flagrant prosecution misconduct, more recent cases (eg. Odell Barnes, Gary Graham in 2000) had Texas (under Governor Bush, now President) proceeding with executions even when it was established that the person was very likely innocent, and even framed.
In "Presumed Guilty," Martin Yant demonstrates the extreme difficulty of getting courts to admit and correct their errors.
25 The best DVD to sing along with
I'm 26 years old and I bought this DVD for myself and my son loves it too. It's hilarious the way Ichabod and Bram fight over Katrina, and it has some of the catchiest tunes that you will find yourself singing all day long. A very good choice :)
26 THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD!
TWO classic DISNEY short ANIMATED FILMS on one DVD! Actually, these two mini-features were released together in 1949! THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW is one of the SPOOKIEST films Disney every produced. THRILL as Washington Irving's classic tale of the meek little school teacher named ICHABOD CRANE encounters the HEADLESS HORSEMAN! The narration is provided by BING CROSBY! Did you know that? He even sings some tunes, accompanied by the Rhythmaries! Then there is a whimsical adaptation of KENNETH GRAHAME's classic children's story, THE WIND IN THE WILLOW! You will LAUGH at the grand adventures of MR. TOAD, who certainly loves the AUTOMOBILE! This time BASIL RATHBONE provides the narration! When you are done with the films, enjoy the DVD EXTRAS! Can you win the "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" Game? Have your kids help you out! There is even a MICKEY MOUSE short, "Lonesome Ghosts!" ENJOY these with your KIDS soon!
27 Disney has truly forgotten where it's come from...
...as one can clearly see when viewing this delightful and very exciting animated "double feature" released by the studio in 1949.
"The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad" is truly Disney's greatest animated effort right after the incomparable "Alice in Wonderland". The stories "Wind in the Willows" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" have become not just American literary classics, but also American classics...period.
Certainly any child over the age of 5 (possibly even younger than that) knows the story of Mr. Toad, his woodland companions Ratty, Moley & MacBadger, and their many adventures together. And who could ever forget Ichabod Crane's midnight ride through the haunted forest and his fateful encounter with the Headless Horseman.
Both stories are brought to vivid life in this wonderful and timeless film, particularly Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". This version of Irving's classic tale is so much better than Tim Burton's recent remake, mainly because this one is actually based on the original story, and not simply inspired by it. That's the big problem I have with Burton's version, it doesn't even begin to resemble Irving's original story. Sure Burton got the setting and a few of the character's names right, but that's it! Trust me, you'll only be doing yourself a favor by watching this "true to the story" adaption.
The narrations of both these stories, done by Basil Rathbone and the late great Bing Crosby, only help to strengthen the ties that bind this animated classic together. The songs are highly enjoyable, too. Wish Disney would put out a soundtrack to this film, as they've now done with many of their other animated classics.
Anyway, if you haven't already seen this true Disney classic, you need to do so sometime in the near future. After watching it, you'll realize exactly what I mean when I say that the studio has forgotten its roots, what with all the crap they're putting out today. "Di$ney" certainly isn't Walt anymore, and it's not very magical now either.
28 Am I the only person rooting for the Headless Horseman?
Bought this video for my husband who loved the Mr. Toad story done here by Disney. I enjoyed Toad, but didn't care much for the Ichabod Crane tale that followed it. Seen several versions of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This one didn't register on my "favorites" list because I didn't find it believable that a skinny, dorkish schoolteacher could be a "ladies man". What on earth did the womenfolk in town see in him? When he had eyes on Katrina I wanted to tell him to get real because, well, face it, Ichabod, she's WAY out of your league. I felt sorry for him at first, but when it became clear that he was really after her father's wealth, my sympathy for him evaporated. I actually found myself rooting for the Headless Horseman to get him.
29 Once you cross that bridge my friend ...
This dvd is fantastic! It contains two of my favorite Disney movies of all-time. Not Mr. Toad, but The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the bonus short of Lonesome Ghosts. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Toad is a great little story, but the two Halloween themed shorts are Disney at it's best.
Sleepy Hollow was my favorite as a kid. I remember watching it every year with my cousin on the Wonderful World of Disney. What a great movie. Bing Crosby is great as the narrator. Pay particular attention to the scenes just before Ichabod runs into the headless horsemen. The "sounds" of the forest come to life. The frog calls out to Ichabod, the birds yell "Beware" and there are other great little "hidden" treats for you to discover. Listen closely.
Lonesome Ghosts is also a true Disney classic. I remember having this little movie on a Fisher Price movie viewer as a kid. You could play it backwards and forwards on the viewer and it always fascinated me. Especially Mickey opening the door to the closet as water comes pouring out. This one was made in 1937 and stars Mickey, Donald and Goofy as Ghost Exterminators. They are called on the phone by the ghosts themselves because the ghosts are bored in their "haunted house". Lots of great images and these characters truly shine.
These are Disney classics! The holiday themed cartoons always seemed to turn out the best. "Trick or Treat" is another classic starring Donald Duck and his nephews. This was available on vhs with some other cartoons years ago, but I don't think it's availabe at this time. Keep an eye out for it. One more I'll mention is the PRINCE AND THE PAUPER. This one was available on Laserdisc and VHS a couple years back as well and I'm sure it will be available again soon. Another great, more modern, classic that not too many people have seen
ENJOY!
30 A Halloween Treat
There is a large collection of Christmas specials out there, but the other holidays seem to get less representation. When I was young, the Wonderful World of Disney would break out the talking magic mirror every Halloween and treat us to "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." It is a truly spooky cartoon with Bing Crosby's excellent narration and singing. The character's are cleverly designed, from the lean as a rake Ichabod Crane, the lovely cocotte Katrina, and the lantern jawed Brom Van Brunt. The fearsome Headless Horseman is the true star of the show.
"The Wind in the Willows" is a nice journey down a familiar path. It too has a dark tone and slides in nicely next to the Headless Horseman. Basil Rathbone supplies delightful narration, and Mr. Toad follows the advice of Oscar Wilde. "The best way to fight temptation is to yield to it." I also quite enjoy the capacious Scottish Badger, the Holmesian Rat and loveable Mole.
It is nice that Disney continued to Halloween flair with the inclusion of "Lonesome Ghosts." Disney has an incredible backlog of great cartoons, and it is nice to see them stick a few on their DVD releases as extras. More please.
31 DVD contains two extra shorts
I recently replaced my VHS copy of this film with the DVD. This is my favorite of Disney's 1940s string of "combo" films (Fun and Fancy Free, Make Mine Music, Melody Time.) The two stories of Mr. Toad and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow go together surprisingly well, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a masterpiece, with some sequences inspiring Tim Burton in creating his movie.
If you are a fan of Disney shorts, you may be surprised to learn that there are not one but two extra Disney shorts included on this disc. The Mickey/Donald/Goofy short "Lonesome Ghosts" is mentioned on the cover. But also, take the time to play the Mr. Toad trivia game. If you win, your "prize" is the short "Susie the Little Blue Coupe," a wonderful story narrated by Sterling Holloway.
As to the picture and sound on this DVD, I don't have a souped-up setup or claim to be an expert, but I was quite satisfied. I found the sound to be quite crisp and an improvement over the VHS version.
32 Mr. Toad and Ichabod's Wild Rides
If you are a Disney fan, like moi, you'll love this. Some people with a short attention span would say it's not "deep" or "plotted". But any Silly Symphony lover has to simply adore the characters and the wonderful sense of nostalgia defined by this video. I own it, I love it. There is so much to say for it. Bring it to your family! Mr. Toad is so cute and so is the Mole, and I'm a reader and I've always liked "the wind in the willows", so I have quite high standards. See this movie.
33 Stories may be good but audio/video is horrible
Disney did absolutely nothing to restore these enjoyable two shorts. The audio and video are so bad you might as well buy the VHS version and save yourself some money.
34 " A Wild Adventure"
I think that "The adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is my favorite disney movie of all-time. Bing Crosby's enchanting voice brings sleepy hollow to life. The unforgettable chase of Ichabod by the headless horsemen gets me again and again. I love to pull it out on halloween and watch it. It is an absolutely excellent movie! It is fun and enchanting for everyone!
35 one of the best!
I'm a die hard Disney animation fan and this is one of the best! The Toad part is excellent, no doubt, but the highlight is the Sleepy Hollow section. This is one of the best animated films you'll ever see! I've always loved it and am so glad to be able to own it! Bing Crosby really makes it great and Katrina Van Tassel is enchanting! Get the new Johnny Depp version and this one together. Halloween wouldn't be Halloween if I couldn't pop in this Disney classic just as the evening rolls around. This is on my Halloween hit list with Hocus Pocus, The Worst Witch, and Charlie Brown!
36 funny, pleasing, and relaxing; made me laugh
I really enjoyed this. The animation is superb, the color perfect, and the story so good. These I saw in the 1950's on Disney's TV program on Sunday afternoons. Not since then have I seen them. Now, as a adult, I can laugh at the antics of the characters and see the moralistic instructions intended for children. I saw it two days ago and enjoyed it immensely. It's a good story for adult and children's enjoyment.
37 my favorite disney feature since 1954...1st time!
I saw The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad when I was 6 years old and I can't tell you how much I loved it! I watched it with my best friend and it was shown Halloween night, 1954. I have taped it off the disney channel practically every time it's been shown and I bought it when it was released to video in 2 separate parts...several copies! I recently got my disney catalog and saw it on the back being released for it's 50th anniversary all in one piece as it was meant to be seen. I plan on laying in a good supply of this wonderful feature. i enjoy it as much today as when I first saw it so many years ago. The colors and the magnificent animation combined with the great voices of Bing Crosby(who also had a terrific speaking voice) and Basil Rathbone make this a winner for the ages. The songs will stay with you for a long time. Don't miss this one!
38 great!!
im so glad this is comeing to video!now all we need to our collection is saludos amigos and make mine music.mr.toad rocks!!
39 One of Disney best efforts, truly.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is one of Disney's best animated masterpieces and the best one of the "featurettes". It consists of two segments. The first one is The Wind in the Willows, my favorite, which follows the madcap adventures of J. Thadeus Toad and his mania for moving vehicles. The second is a musical narrated and sang by Bing Crosby and tells the story of Ichabod Crane from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Truly remarkable animation and extraordinary charachters make this film one of Disney's best.
