{"id":68541,"date":"2019-01-22T08:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-01-22T13:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=68541"},"modified":"2022-02-05T23:06:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T04:06:17","slug":"movie-review-the-legend-of-lobo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/movie-review-the-legend-of-lobo\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: The Legend of Lobo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image Copyright Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based on Ernest Thompson Seton\u2019s 1898 short story \u201cLobo the King of Currumpaw,\u201d which was inspired by Seton\u2019s wolf-hunting experiences in the American Southwest, Disney\u2019s The Legend of Lobo <\/em>was theatrically released on November 7, 1962. The live action nature adventure is sixty-seven minutes in length.<\/p>\n

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

In the late-nineteenth-century American Southwest, the native wolves deal with dangers from both animal predators and the encroaching human population, especially the cowboys (Emile Genest and Walter Pidgeon). If the wolves want to avoid extinction, they need a strong leader, and, fortunately, they have one in El Feroz, \u201cthe fierce one.\u201d El Feroz provides for his mate and five children, including Lobo, by hunting antelope, buffalo, and cattle; by thwarting threats that arise when his children get tangled in mischief; and by relocating his family when cowboys move too close to the wolves\u2019 previous habitation for comfort. As great a leader as El Feroz is, however, Lobo proves superior in this regard upon his father\u2019s death. Indeed, Lobo becomes such a nuisance to the cowboys by hunting their cattle that the humans put a bounty on the wolf to hasten his demise. Will this monetary reward finally end the reign of the wolves in the region?<\/p>\n

The Legend of Lobo<\/em>\u2019s plot is shallow. The outlaw storyline adds some excitement to the end of the movie, but this subplot develops too slowly and too late to contribute much to one\u2019s enjoyment of the film.<\/p>\n

Narration and Song<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although The Legend of Lobo<\/em> features several human characters, the film has no dialogue. In lieu of conversations between and among the on-screen players, information is relayed to the audience by a combination of general narration from Rex Allen and a recurring ballad-style theme song, \u201cThe Legend of Lobo,\u201d which was written by Richard and Robert Sherman and performed by the musical group \u201cSons of the Pioneers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allen\u2019s narration and the Sherman Brothers\u2019 theme song are both excellent, and they are among the major reasons to recommend the film. Allen\u2019s narration, which occurs in tandem with the movie\u2019s visible antics, is concurrently folksy, soothing, and witty, presented in a style akin to that of a grandfather telling a story to his grandchildren. For its part, \u201cThe Legend of Lobo\u201d is an extremely catchy number, comparable to, though perhaps not quite as good as, the ballad from Disney\u2019s Davy Crockett series of the 1950s. \u201cThe Legend of Lobo,\u201d which is alternately soothing and exciting and which will linger in your head for a while after watching the flick, is representative of the best work of Richard and Robert Sherman. The Sherman Brothers, who contributed music to numerous other Disney films, including Summer Magic <\/em>(1963), Mary Poppins <\/em>(1964), The Happiest Millionaire <\/em>(1967), The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band <\/em>(1968), The Aristocats <\/em>(1970), Bedknobs and Broomsticks <\/em>(1971), and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh <\/em>(1977), were named Disney Legends in 1990; Rex Allen was named a Disney Legend in 1996.<\/p>\n

Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n

With great vistas of natural beauty, plenty of animal shenanigans, and no dialogue, The Legend of Lobo<\/em> is a more sophisticated version of the installments of Walt Disney\u2019s \u201cTrue-Life Adventures\u201d series, a string of thirteen nature-based films released by the Disney Studio between Seal Island<\/em> in 1949 and Jungle Cat<\/em> in 1960. (1) The main difference between the \u201cTrue-Life Adventures\u201d installments and The Legend of Lobo<\/em> is the discernable plot in the latter; as such, The Legend of Lobo<\/em> is for all intents and purposes one of Disney\u2019s \u201cTrue-Life Fantasy\u201d films. Although only Perri<\/em> (1957) officially garnered this label, other films, including Nikki, Wild Dog of the North <\/em>(1961) and The Incredible Journey<\/em> (1963), followed a similar formula, incorporating an overt story and oftentimes human characters in addition to the antics of nature. (2) Since 2007, Disney has released a series of nature-based documentaries under the \u201cDisneynature\u201d label.<\/p>\n

Numerous animals are incorporated in The Legend of Lobo<\/em>. These critters include wolves, buffalo, antelope, cougars, turtles, porcupines, badgers, rattlers, raccoons, cattle, and dogs.<\/p>\n

The opening scene of The Legend of Lobo<\/em>, where buffalo rumble across the landscape with the theme song soothingly playing in the background, is beautiful to behold. \u00a0A similar vibe of beauty is maintained throughout the film with the varied terrain types and colors of the American Southwest frequently displayed.<\/p>\n

Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout The Legend of Lobo<\/em>, the title critter works to become a leader, proverbially grabbing life by the horns rather than merely going with the flow. From the time he is six weeks old, Lobo demonstrates independence, frequently wandering off the trail and, in one telling scene, taking the initiative to walk behind his mother rather than waiting for his mother to carry him like she does Lobo\u2019s siblings. Lobo\u2019s independent nature occasionally endangers the wolf, but these moments of peril afford Lobo experience and wisdom that can only be learned from taking risks. In human terms, Lobo is eschewing theoretic knowledge from book-learning for practical knowledge from real-life experience. As Rex Allen says early in the film, \u201cThe school of hard knocks isn\u2019t a bad place to start an education. And Lobo caught on fast. The truth was, all of his life, he\u2019d be one to learn from experience, and what\u2019s more important, store it up and remember it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Loyalty<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rex Allen notes early in the film that wolves are loyal critters; they \u201cmate for life, the male and the female both being devoted to each other and the family.\u201d Said loyalty is demonstrated throughout the movie, most notably in the flick\u2019s closing moments, when Lobo devises an ingenious scheme to free his mate from the clutches of a bounty hunter.<\/p>\n

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

Action scenes are interspersed throughout The Legend of Lobo<\/em>. Along the way, a herd of buffalo and a herd of cattle march across open terrain, El Feroz hunts antelope to feed his family, the wolves and a pair of hunters battle a cougar, El Feroz battles a badger for the latter\u2019s den, El Feroz rescues Lobo from a snake, Lobo runs and swims with a new antelope friend, the hungry wolves fight cattle, Lobo fights for leadership of a new pack of wolves, and the wolves attempt to survive the growing human presence. The growing human presence sets the stage for a climactic battle scene, where Lobo and his pack rescue Lobo\u2019s mate from a bounty hunter, who is using the female wolf as bait to capture the wanted title character. The excitement of this fight is enhanced by a long rendition of the film\u2019s theme song.<\/p>\n

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

No aspects of The Legend of Lobo <\/em>are hysterically funny, but Rex Allen\u2019s witty narration and the corresponding on-screen action will likely provide a few chuckles.<\/p>\n

After Lobo wanders off for the first time, Allen says, \u201cWell, if you\u2019re going to leave your common sense at home when you go travelling, you\u2019re bound to land in trouble.\u201d Moments later, Lobo does land, tumbling a few feet below onto a pile of grass and rocks.<\/p>\n

With the wolves preparing to move to a new den after the cougar incident, Allen puts words in El Feroz\u2019s mouth concerning the animal\u2019s mate: \u201cAll right dear; get a move on; let\u2019s get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allen refers to the wolves\u2019 quest to find a new den as \u201chouse hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lobo stops to \u201csay howdy\u201d to a turtle and follows the turtle down its path. After a while, Lobo finally gets \u201cthe point\u201d that the turtle does not want company\u2014the turtle hides under a cactus, and Lobo gets poked in the nose by the prickly plant.<\/p>\n

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

Rex Allen subsequently narrated The Incredible Journey <\/em>and Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar <\/em>(1967) for Disney.<\/p>\n

Emile Genest also appeared in Nikki, Wild Dog of the North<\/em>, Big Red <\/em>(1962), and The Incredible Journey <\/em>for Disney.<\/p>\n

Walter Pidgeon also contributed to Big Red <\/em>and Rascal <\/em>(1969) for Disney.<\/p>\n

The American Southwest is also the setting for Ten Who Dared <\/em>(1960) and Scandalous John <\/em>(1971).<\/p>\n

In The Legend of Lobo<\/em>, young Lobo makes a temporary friendship with an antelope, a critter that should be a wolf\u2019s prey. Surprising friendships between animals are also formed in Nikki, Wild Dog of the North<\/em>, The Incredible Journey<\/em>, A Tale of Two Critters<\/em> (1977), and The Fox and the Hound<\/em> (1981).<\/p>\n

Cowboys also play important roles in the \u201cEl Gaucho Goofy\u201d segment of Saludos Amigos <\/em>(1942), in the \u201cPecos Bill\u201d segment of Melody Time <\/em>(1948), and in Tall Tale <\/em>(1995). \u201cSons of the Pioneers\u201d also contributed music to the Pecos Bill short.<\/p>\n

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

Guests wanting accommodations themed after the American Southwest should consider lodging at Walt Disney World\u2019s \u201cCoronado Springs Resort,\u201d Disneyland Resort Paris\u2019s \u201cDisney’s Hotel Cheyenne,\u201d and Disneyland Resort Paris\u2019s \u201cDisney’s Hotel Santa Fe.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo Copyright The Mouse for Less<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The American West is the theme for the respective \u201cFrontierland\u201d sections at Walt Disney World\u2019s Magic Kingdom and the Disneyland Parks in California and Paris. The \u201cWesternland\u201d section at Tokyo Disneyland Park and the \u201cGrizzly Gulch\u201d section at Hong Kong Disneyland Park have a similar theme.<\/p>\n

The Sherman Brothers contributed songs to many classic Disney theme park attractions, including \u201cIt\u2019s a Small World,\u201d \u201cJourney into Imagination with Figment,\u201d \u201cWalt Disney’s Carousel of Progress,\u201d and \u201cWalt Disney\u2019s Enchanted Tiki Room.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The Legend of Lobo <\/em>is a good family film. The plot is loose, but the animal antics, the relaxing narration, and the theme song make the effort worth watching.<\/p>\n

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

1) Jim Korkis, \u201cWalt and the True-Life Adventures,\u201d The Walt Disney Family Museum, February 9, 2012, accessed September 27, 2018, https:\/\/www.waltdisney.org\/blog\/walt-and-true-life-adventures.<\/p>\n

2) Ibid.<\/p>\n

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

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  • The Legend of Lobo<\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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