{"id":55456,"date":"2017-07-25T08:00:40","date_gmt":"2017-07-25T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=55456"},"modified":"2022-02-05T23:19:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T04:19:17","slug":"movie-review-toby-tyler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/movie-review-toby-tyler\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: Toby Tyler"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Toby
DVD Cover Copyright Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based on James Otis Kaler\u2019s 1881 book Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus<\/em>, Disney\u2019s Toby Tyler <\/em>was theatrically released on January 21, 1960. The live action film is ninety-five minutes in length.<\/p>\n

Plot Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Convinced that he is no longer wanted by his guardians, his Uncle Daniel (Tom Fadden) and his Aunt Olive (Edith Evanson), poor farmers, following an impassioned tirade by Daniel, young Toby Tyler (Kevin Corcoran) runs away from home to join Colonel Sam Castle\u2019s Great American Circus, which is concluding its local run. Recruited by the show\u2019s seemingly-friendly concessionaire, Harry Tupper (Bob Sweeney), to be his assistant, Toby slowly but surely realizes that Tupper is in fact a sleazy backstabber. Fortunately for the lad, he makes some genuine friends on the tour, including the deceptively-kind strongman, Ben Cotter (Henry Calvin); the head clown, Sam Treat (Gene Sheldon); the young female equestrian, Jeanette (Barbara Beaird); and one of the circus\u2019s chimpanzees, who Toby names \u201cMr. Stubbs.\u201d Concurrent with Toby\u2019s rising stardom under the big top, correspondence from his Aunt Olive, which is suppressed by Tupper, reveals Uncle Daniel\u2019s failing health and true repentance for his harsh words. Will Toby be moved by these sentiments and return home, or will he remain with the circus?<\/p>\n

Acquisitions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Toby Tyler<\/em>\u2019s chimpanzee received much attention during the film\u2019s production. Hired by Walt Disney after an impressive appearance on a 1959 episode of \u201cThe Jack Benny Program,\u201d Mr. Stubbs, whose official name was \u201cMarquis Jr.,\u201d was trained by Englishman Gene Detroy at a chimpanzee training school near Las Vegas. At Disney, the chimpanzee utilized the dressing room formerly occupied by the canine in The Shaggy Dog <\/em>(1959), was afforded a red rose by a prop boy each morning, and wore $75 suits. (1)<\/p>\n

Director Charles Barton was especially impressed by the chimpanzee, saying, \u201cThis chimp understands direction better than a couple of humans I\u2019ve worked with,\u201d (2) and \u201cHe puts on the most convincing act since Cheetah talked to Tarzan.\u201d (3) The scene where Mr. Stubbs retrieves Aunt Olive\u2019s letters from Mr. Tupper\u2019s coat pocket had to be reshot with tighter stitching for the pocket because Mr. Stubbs performed the task, which Detroy demonstrated just once, too quickly. (4)<\/p>\n

Additionally, Disney obtained the film\u2019s clowns and aerialists from Ringling Brothers; the elephants from the Jungleland park in Thousand Oaks, California; and the wagons from both Los Angeles\u2019s Bradley & Kaye Amusement Park and the faltering Jimmie Wood Circus in Los Angeles. (5)<\/p>\n

Uncle Daniel<\/strong><\/p>\n

The early harangue and the late reconciliation notwithstanding, Daniel\u2019s relationship with his nephew is equivocal. Was Daniel\u2019s anger an isolated reaction to laziness by Toby, or does Daniel frequently berate his nephew for no reason? Ben Cotter\u2019s comment that he, Cotter, dislikes kids, especially runaways, because they are a \u201cweak-livered lot\u201d who leave good homes \u201cthe first time some little thing goes wrong\u201d may validate the former explanation. Toby\u2019s subsequent desire to leave the circus upon collecting enough money to help his guardians also points in this direction. Perhaps his experience of reality behind the innocent fa\u00e7ade of the circus, especially his relationship as a mentor of sorts to Mr. Stubbs, teaches Toby that life is not all fun and games.<\/p>\n

Deception<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes, the seemingly cruel are actually kind, and the seemingly kind are actually cruel. In tricking Toby out of his tips under the guise of benevolence, Tupper tells the boy to conceal their arrangement because \u201cin the circus world, one must pretend to have a hard nature.\u201d This description more accurately reflects the personality of Ben Cotter, a kind man who acts tough because of social awkwardness, than it does that of Tupper, a manipulator who feigns kindness.<\/p>\n

Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

Action scenes are interspersed throughout Toby Tyler<\/em>. Along the way, the circus parade, complete with festive music, chimpanzees, camels, lions, elephants, and horse drawn carriages, marches down the main street of Toby\u2019s hometown, Guilford; Ben dunks a colleague into a tub of water following an insult and throws a perturbed Tupper into a lake; trapeze acts, horse acts, and clowns dazzle and awe spectators beneath the big top; Mr. Stubbs figuratively derails the circus\u2019s Fourth of July parade through downtown Woodvale before leading a shootout from inside the sheriff\u2019s office; and Harry Tupper frantically, and cruelly, tries to prevent Toby from returning to his aunt and uncle.<\/p>\n

Corcoran performed his own stunts on the horses, though he was connected to piano wires as a safety precaution. (6)<\/p>\n

Humor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Toby Tyler <\/em>is not Disney\u2019s funniest effort, but the antics of Sam Treat, Mr. Stubbs, Harry Tupper, and Toby are amusing. For example, Treat keeps a fluctuating family; Mr. Stubbs eats an eclectic diet of bananas, candied apples, keys, button hooks, and hairbrushes; Tupper regularly attempts to break off his sacred \u201cgentleman\u2019s agreements\u201d; and Toby calmly disarms rampant chimpanzees, devises equestrian puns, and tries to speak with a German accent.<\/p>\n

Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

Background tunes, including upbeat circus numbers, comprise most of the music in Toby Tyler<\/em>. The film\u2019s one lyrical number, the soothing \u201cBiddle-Dee-Dee,\u201d is sporadically hummed by Ben. The song is nicely utilized as a lullaby during Toby\u2019s first night with the circus but is largely unmemorable.<\/p>\n

An enchanting tune accompanies Jeanette\u2019s announcement to Colonel Castle (Richard Eastham) that Toby has horseback riding experience and perhaps indicates a close friendship between the two children. This relationship, not fully developed in Toby Tyler<\/em>, may have made an interesting subject for a sequel.<\/p>\n

Relationship to Other Disney Films<\/strong><\/p>\n

A circus was also featured in Dumbo <\/em>(1941).<\/p>\n

Kevin Corcoran had previously starred in Old Yeller <\/em>(1957), The Shaggy Dog<\/em>, Pollyanna<\/em> (1960), and Swiss Family Robinson<\/em> (1960) for Disney; and he subsequently appeared in Babes in Toyland<\/em> (1961), Bon Voyage! <\/em>(1962), Savage Sam<\/em> (1963), and A Tiger Walks<\/em> (1964) for the studio. Corcoran was named a Disney Legend in 2006.<\/p>\n

Bob Sweeney subsequently appeared in Moon Pilot <\/em>(1962) and Son of Flubber<\/em> (1963) for Disney.<\/p>\n

Gene Sheldon and Henry Calvin, who subsequently starred in Babes in Toyland<\/em> for Disney, were both costars on Disney\u2019s television series \u201cZorro,\u201d Sheldon portraying the title character\u2019s mute servant, Bernardo; and Calvin playing the Spanish officer Sergeant Demetrio L\u00f3pez Garc\u00eda.<\/p>\n

Michael McGreevey, who made a brief appearance as a concessionaire in Toby Tyler<\/em>, would play more substantial roles in each installment of the \u201cMedfield College Trilogy\u201d\u2014The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes<\/em> (1969), Now You See Him, Now You Don’t<\/em> (1972), and The Strongest Man in the World<\/em> (1975)\u2014as well as Snowball Express<\/em> (1972) and The Shaggy D.A.<\/em>(1976).<\/p>\n

A trapeze segment high over a corporate boardroom is included in The Strongest Man in the World<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Monkeys were also utilized by Disney in Moon Pilot<\/em>, The Monkey\u2019s Uncle<\/em> (1965), Monkeys, Go Home!<\/em> (1967), and The Barefoot Executive<\/em> (1971).<\/p>\n

In the Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

A circus theme pervades the \u201cStorybook Circus\u201d subsection of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World\u2019s Magic Kingdom. Storybook Circus features the classic children\u2019s spinner \u201cDumbo The Flying Elephant.\u201d Dumbo\u2019s queue incorporates interactive elements, including slides and climbing nets, to entertain children while waiting to board the famed elephant. An assortment of circus-inspired goodies can be purchased in Storybook Circus at \u201cBig Top Treats.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Combining traditional circus action with tangential entertainment and some heartwarming moments, Toby Tyler<\/em> is an enjoyable effort. Walt Disney, with some hyperbole, well summarized the film\u2019s intent in publicity material: \u201cWhat a spectacle! A treat for the youngsters who have never seen a circus and for their elders who remember it.\u201d (7)<\/p>\n

Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) Sampson, W. (2010, June 16). The Story of Disney’s Toby Tyler. Retrieved July 14, 2017, from https:\/\/www.mouseplanet.com\/9284\/The_Story_of_Disneys_Toby_Tyler_<\/a>; Johnson, E. (1959, July 7). This Chimp Knows His Business, Stars in Movie. Ocala Star-Banner<\/em>, p. 5. Retrieved from https:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19590707&id=KnVPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6AQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4002,1139633<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2) Ibid.<\/p>\n

3) Sampson, W. (2010, June 16). The Story of Disney’s Toby Tyler.<\/p>\n

4) Johnson, E. (1959, July 7). This Chimp Knows His Business.<\/p>\n

5) Sampson, W. (2010, June 16). The Story of Disney’s Toby Tyler.<\/p>\n

6) Ibid.<\/p>\n

7) Ibid.<\/p>\n

What do you think of Toby Tyler? Let me know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sponsored Ad:<\/strong>\u00a0 Would you like to help support The Mouse For Less website in continuing their mission of being THE Disney vacation planning resource?\u00a0 You can do so by purchasing Toby Tyler<\/em><\/a> from our Affiliate Link through Amazon. Thanks so much for your support!<\/p>\n

Did you like this article? Make sure to share it with your friends! Check below for easy ways to share!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Based on James Otis Kaler\u2019s 1881 book Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus, Disney\u2019s Toby Tyler was theatrically released on January 21, 1960. The live action film is ninety-five minutes in length. Plot Summary Convinced that he is no longer wanted by his guardians, his Uncle Daniel (Tom Fadden) and his Aunt Olive…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":55458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disney-movies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55456"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56298,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55456\/revisions\/56298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}