Watch/Rewatch of Movies Featuring Sherman Brothers Music

[ninecrayons]

A few of us were talking about the recent documentaries Waking Sleeping Beauty and The Boys in another thread. I mentioned that after watching The Boys, I really wanted to rewatch films that feature the Sherman Brother's music.

I feel like the documentary gave me a really interesting filter for re-watching these films because so much of it seems to connect to what was going on in history at the time, at Disney at the time or in the Sherman brother's lives.

Would anybody be interested in doing a watch/rewatch of the films that feature the Sherman Brother's music? Maybe we could have a quick discussion about the music in the film? I think it could be fun!

My plan is watch about 1 film a week. I'm starting this week with The Parent Trap.

Cristen

 

[Cherinva]

That sounds like fun...I'll have to go to my DD house and raid her movies....

 

[mainegal]

Don't forget to borrow and watch for "free" from your library!

 

[arjones31]

I would LOVE to do this! I especially enjoy the Haley Mills ones, so starting with The Parent Trap would be great. Anyone else?

 

[ninecrayons]

I would LOVE to do this! I especially enjoy the Haley Mills ones, so starting with The Parent Trap would be great. Anyone else?

Hopefully we'll get a few more and can kick this off this weekend!

Also, hello to a fellow teacher of English! I teach 7th grade ELA!

 

[DisneySunflower]

Count me in! I just watched The Boys this evening and I cried like a baby! I'll pick Parent Trap up from the Library in the AM.

 

[challer]

I did just that and went back and watched Summer Magic. I was so impressed with that film. Wonderful music.

 

[Miss Monorail 1971]

I would love to. I may have to dust off the vcr because some of the oldies are on tape. So its the original Parent Trap this weekend. Good thing its snowy and cold and there is nothing to do here in the Middle.

 

[arjones31]

English teachers rock! I currently teach 11th and 12th grades. Looking forward to the viewings and discussions.

 

[ninecrayons]

I'm home all day tomorrow so I'll be watching The Parent Trap!

I'll post a few thoughts/questions after.

Looking forward to our discussion!

 

[mainegal]

I got halfway through "The Boys" last night. Very well done. My years came when Mary Poppins was featured. I love that movie!

I had no idea how prolific the brothers were and that had done pop songs like "Sixteen".

 

[Fantasmic23]

I just finished watching The Boys. I laughed, I cried ... It was wonderful!

I'll also be ransacking the attic tomorrow to hopefully find my old VHS copy of Charlotte's Web (With Debbie Reynolds). I had no idea that the boys wrote the songs for this!

I'll be watching Mary Poppins tomorrow love and I'm adding Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to my Netflix queue. I hang my head in shame as I have never seen this movie.

 

[ninecrayons]

I'll be watching Mary Poppins tomorrow love and I'm adding Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to my Netflix queue. I hang my head in shame as I have never seen this movie.

Don't feel bad! When I was growing up, it was all about the Disney animated films. I recall HATING Mary Poppins and I've never really seen Bedknobs and Brooksticks or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Of course I'm at least 20 years older than the last time I tried watching any of that, so the results will surely be different.

 

[arjones31]

I remember thinking as a child how wonderful it would be to go to summer camp and find a twin. I talked my parents into sending me to a one-week Girl Scout camp because I was convinced that my twin would be there (never mind the fact that my parents had never divorced - I chose to ignore that little detail!). I was so disappointed that she was not there that I never went back. Last night when I watched the film again, it was so obvious to me that Haley Mills had played both Susan and Sharon. I guess as an adult I have lost a lot of my willing suspension of disbelief. I still love the movie, though. It has always been one of my very favorites. The music is so very lovely and perfectly fits each scene. I love to hate Vicki and "her electric hips". I was so delighted to find out that most of the movie was filmed at Walt's own ranch. There is so much to enjoy - what a great first choice for our viewing party!

 

[ninecrayons]

Watched The Parent Trap today - what a fun film!

I'd never seen it before, but it was so cute. It was definitely obvious that Hayley Mills played both parts, but I thought their use of split screen or whatnot was pretty effective!

How cool to hear that most of it was filmed on Walt's ranch! While watching the movie I though that ranch was so interestingly architectuarly - the sort of seemless flow of space from inside to outside.

My favorite part of the movie was when they recreate the parents first date. Too cute! Musically, I also loved the way they merged the guitar and classical music!

Overall, in terms of music I thought the Sherman's did a great job! I was susprised at how jazz-inspired the opening bit was. And the opening song totally makes the movie. "Let's Get Together" is really great too. All of the music makes me think that regardless of what was happening behind the scenes, the Shermans knew how to make music FUN!

Interesting fact - the brothers advocated to have the name of the film changed from The Parent Trap. Writing a title song containing that name would have put two stong consanants together (parent trap). They made it work by putting a beat of space between it in the song.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

For our next film - what do you guys want to do? In Search of the Castaways is next chronologically with Summer Magic and The Sword in the Stone coming right after. I haven't seen any of them, so I'm open to any thoughts or suggestions!

 

[challer]

For our next film - what do you guys want to do? In Search of the Castaways is next chronologically with Summer Magic and The Sword in the Stone coming right after. I haven't seen any of them, so I'm open to any thoughts or suggestions!

I went back to watch Summer Magic because I had to see the movie that produced the song "Ugly Bug Ball." This movie was surprisingly good, and some of the songs are currently used as Main Street BGM. I recommend this one.

I went back to watch Sword/Stone. I was quite unimpressed with the story.

 

[arjones31]

Summer Magic is one of those hidden gems, I think, that people tend to overlook. The contrast of city and country, rich and poor, arrogant and humble - there are so many messages in the script. The scenery, while not as dramatic as that in The Parent Trap, is quite lovely. One of my favorite scenes is when the dog comes bounding in through the window and jumps into bed with the snooty cousin (can't remember her name - just the priceless expression!). The Sherman brothers really outdid themselves musically. My favorite song is "You've got to walk feminine, talk feminine, smile and beguile feminine. That's what every girl should know, if she wants to catch a beau." Such a simple time! Together with Pollyanna, it really captures for me what Walt was aiming for on Main Street U.S.A.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Together with Pollyanna, it really captures for me what Walt was aiming for on Main Street U.S.A.

Pollyanna is my absolute favorite Disney film. Whenever I walk up and down Main Street U.S.A., I always get a strong Pollyanna vibe.

Admittedly, I am not too familar with Summer Magic, but I am going to add it to my queue on Netflix.

 

[ninecrayons]

I decided to watch In Search of the Castaways next.

ISotC is another Hayley Mills film. This one is based on a Jules Verne novel about children whose father is lost at sea and presumed dead. They set off on a journey to find him w/ some help from others, including a professor played by Maurice Chevalier.

The music is pretty unremarkable. There's one cute song - "Let's Climb (Grimpons)".

The movie itself is pretty terrible. The story is all right but as an adult it's a bit much. They kind of lost me when there was an earthquake and they rode the a giant chunk of glacier to the bottom of the mountain.

If you're interested in watching some of it, you can find clips and such on youtube. It's also available via NetFlix.

 

[Fantasmic23]

I decided to watch In Search of the Castaways next.

ISotC is another Hayley Mills film. This one is based on a Jules Verne novel about children whose father is lost at sea and presumed dead. They set off on a journey to find him w/ some help from others, including a professor played by Maurice Chevalier.

The music is pretty unremarkable. There's one cute song - "Let's Climb (Grimpons)".

The movie itself is pretty terrible. The story is all right but as an adult it's a bit much. They kind of lost me when there was an earthquake and they rode the a giant chunk of glacier to the bottom of the mountain.

If you're interested in watching some of it, you can find clips and such on youtube. It's also available via NetFlix.

I love the tagline for ISotC: "A thousand thrills ... And Hayley Mills!"