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| The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad - 1949 |
Up next we have Disney's 1949 animated classic "The Adventures Of Ichabod and Mr. Toad". This is the retelling of two well-loved literature classics.
The film's voice cast includes Bing Crosby, Basil Rathbone, Eric Blore, J. Pat O'Malley, Colin Campbell, Campbell Grant, and Claud Allister.
Our story begins with a retelling of "The Wind In The Willows". Basil Rathbone narrates this portion of the film, telling us that Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad is one of the most fabulous characters in all of English literature.
We learn that Mr. Toad has a mania for fads. He never sticks with any one thing for very long. However, it costs him a fortune.
He's got three tried and true friends: Angus MacBadger, Rat, and Mole. They have stood by him through every fad.
When Toad has burned through all of his money, Angus MacBadger summons Rat and Mole to Toad Hall, Toad's residence, to discuss how to help their friend.
They try to stage an intervention, but Toad will have none of it. He just plugs his ears and pretends not to listen.
Something, however, catches Toad's eye, and he begins a new mania. He becomes obsessed with cars. It's hilarious to watch Toad behold his first automobile.
He becomes enamored with cars (you'd have to be to think the smell of exhaust is wonderful). Toad eventually gets into some trouble. He is accused of stealing a car. He's found guilty and sentenced to prison.
Toad spends time in prison, but eventually needs to prove his innocence and finds a way to escape.
Eventually, Toad clears his name and is fully exonerated. His friends are thrilled. Toad vows to change his ways and not take up any new fads.
That is until an irresistible new fad comes his way...flying. Toad takes off in his own flying machine over the city.
Our next story is told to us by Bing Crosby (who does all the voices for this section of the film). He tells us of Ichabod Crane. "Old Ichy, if you recall, was the country schoolmaster dreamed up by Washington Irving," says Bing.
Ichabod lives in a eerily quiet town. He's not much to look at and always seems to have his nose in a book.
And for whatever reason, all the ladies of his town think that Ichabod is quite the catch. They all go weak at the knees for him.
The object of Ichabod's desire, however, is Katrina von Tassel. She is lovely. However, Ichabod wants her for her father's farm and the promise of any future riches he might bestow.
Ichabod pursues Katrina, and she uses him shamelessly to make her boyfriend, Brom Bones, extremely jealous. Brom can't stand the sight of Ichabod.
At the von Tassel's annual Halloween frolic, Ichabod takes every opportunity to dance with Katrina, much to Brom's annoyance.
Brom, however, devises a plan to get rid of Ichabod once and for all. That way he can have Katrina for himself.
He tells the assembled company a scary story about a headless horseman who appears on Halloween night. The superstitious Ichabod is thoroughly spooked.
On his ride home that night, Ichabod imagines all kinds of scary things in Sleepy Hollow. Noises nearly drive him mad.
To Ichabod's horror, the Headless Horseman materializes and terrorizes him as he hurries through the hollow.
After that frightening night, Ichabod is never seen or heard from again. Some people say that he married a wealthy widow from another county. Others say that the Headless Horseman killed him. Which do you think it is?
Cast rundown:
Eric Blore..................................J. Thaddeus Toad
J. Pat O'Malley...........................Cyril Proudbottom
Colin Campbell..........................Mole
Campbell Grant..........................Angus MacBadger
Claud Allister.............................Water Rat
Bing Crosby...............................Ichabod Narrator (voice only)
Basil Rathbone...........................Mr. Toad Narrator (voice only)
And that's it for "The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad". This was Disney's last package film (a film composed of different stories and put together) until "The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh" in 1977. The Headless Horseman song sung by Bing Crosby was considered quite dark subject matter and was almost cut from the film.
This is just a bonus of some adorable dogs seen during the "Ichabod" sequence. Enjoy!
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