Toby Tyler or 10 Weeks with a Circus (film)

Last updated
Toby Tyler
or 10 Weeks with a Circus
Toby Tyler poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Charles Barton
Written by Lillie Hayward
Bill Walsh
Based on Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus
by James Otis Kaler
Produced byBill Walsh
Starring Kevin Corcoran
Henry Calvin
Gene Sheldon
Richard Eastham
Music by Buddy Baker [1]
Production
company
Distributed by Buena Vista Distribution
Release date
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3,100,000 (US/Canada rentals) [3]

Toby Tyler or 10 Weeks with a Circus, also known simply as Toby Tyler, is a 1960 American drama film directed by Charles Barton and starring Kevin Corcoran, Henry Calvin, Gene Sheldon, and Richard Eastham. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Company on January 21, 1960. It is based on the 1880 children's book Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis Kaler.

Contents

The film, shot at Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, California, later aired on the Walt Disney anthology television series.

Plot

After his stern Uncle Daniel describes him as a "millstone" for neglecting his chores, ten year old Toby Tyler runs away from his foster home to join the circus. There, he soon befriends Mr. Stubbs, a frisky chimpanzee. However, the circus isn't all fun and games; his employer Harry Tupper, the candy vendor, is dishonest and greedy. He convinces Toby that his Aunt Olive and Uncle Daniel don't love him nor want him back and hides their letters. Toby resigns himself to circus life, even scoring himself a much bigger role, when he replaces the uppity, self-centered boy bareback rider after an injury. When Toby discovers, with the help of Mr. Stubbs, that Harry lied to him about his aunt and uncle, he departs the circus for home. Mr. Stubbs follows him and Toby decides to take the chimp home with him. Soon after, though, Mr. Stubbs is chased by a hunter's dog. The hunter, Jim Weaver, accidentally shoots Mr. Stubbs just as Harry arrives to haul Toby back to the circus.

Back at the circus, Toby finds his aunt and uncle in attendance, leading to a tearful reunion. When Harry tries to pursue Toby, he's obstructed by Ben, who confronts him for tampering with Toby's mail and warns him to leave him alone. Joyfully, just before Toby's performance, with his family in attendance, he discovers that Mr. Stubbs has survived his wounds, having been brought back to the circus by Jim. Relieved, Toby begins his performance on horseback, only to have Mr. Stubbs jump down from the trapeze to join him, thus creating a wonderful new act for the circus.

Cast

RoleActor
Toby Tyler Kevin Corcoran
Harry Tupper Bob Sweeney
Sam Treat Gene Sheldon
Benjamin Obadiah "Ben" Cotter Henry Calvin
Colonel Sam Castle Richard Eastham
Jim Weaver James Drury
Mademoiselle JeanetteBarbara Beaird
Monsieur Ajax Dennis Olivieri
Aunt Olive Edith Evanson
Uncle Daniel Tom Fadden
Circus Cook (uncredited) Henry Rowland
Roustabout (uncredited) Kermit Maynard
Drummer (uncredited) James MacDonald
Bandleader (as Ollie Wallace) Oliver Wallace
Downtown Parade OrganistJames Dietrich
Concession Worker Michael McGreevey
Jailbird (uncredited) William Challee
Roustabout (uncredited) John Cliff
Ringling Brothers Clown (uncredited)'Eddie Spaghetti' Emerson
Ringling Brothers Clown (uncredited)Abe Goldstein
Townsman (uncredited)Sam Harris
Ringling Brothers Clown (uncredited)Duke Johnson
Ringling Brothers Clown (uncredited)Harry C. Johnson
Sheriff (uncredited) Jess Kirkpatrick
Wife in Audience (uncredited) Ruth Lee
Townsman (uncredited) Herbert Lytton
Ticket-Taker (uncredited)Howard Negley
Jailbird (uncredited) William Newell
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)Barry Seltzer
Husband in Audience (uncredited) Robert Shayne
Townsman (uncredited) Guy Wilkerson

Reception

Howard Thompson of The New York Times wrote: "The kids will love 'Toby Tyler' and his circus world. Leave it to a shrewd old master like Walt Disney to package a simple, warm and sentimental little yarn about an orphan boy and the big top." [4] Variety called it "a warm-hearted, chucklesome film" with a script that "has a number of good laughs, and consistently maintains interest even for the more sophisticated adults." [5] John L. Scott of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "Disney's knack of taking a simple theme, usually a small boy and his pet animal, and building it into a box-office product is again exemplified in 'Toby Tyler' ... Mr. Stubbs, it must be said, just about steals the movie, too." [6] Harrison's Reports wrote: "The Disney brand of cinemagic has been applied to a tested and true circus story and the result is a whimsical, delightful film for the youngsters and those adults who like their entertainment nostalgic and nonsensical." [7] The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that the story, though familiar, "should still give pleasure to children. On the other hand, there is little sense of the real circus; and not enough fantasy or natural child charm (Kevin Corcoran is merely efficient) to make up for this lack." [8]

Home media

The film was issued on DVD on August 2, 2005.

Related Research Articles

<i>Song of the South</i> 1946 American live-action animated film

Song of the South is a 1946 American live-action/animated musical drama film directed by Harve Foster and Wilfred Jackson; produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It is based on the Uncle Remus stories as adapted by Joel Chandler Harris, and stars James Baskett as Uncle Remus in his final film role. The film takes place in the U.S. state of Georgia during the Reconstruction era, a period of American history after the end of the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery. The story follows seven-year-old Johnny who is visiting his grandmother's plantation for an extended stay. Johnny befriends Uncle Remus, an elderly worker on the plantation, and takes joy in hearing his tales about the adventures of Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear. Johnny learns from the stories how to cope with the challenges he is experiencing while living on the plantation.

<i>The Happiest Millionaire</i> 1967 American musical film directed by Norman Tokar

The Happiest Millionaire is a 1967 American musical film starring Fred MacMurray, based upon the true story of Philadelphia millionaire Anthony Drexel Biddle. The film, featuring music by the Sherman Brothers, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design by Bill Thomas. The screenplay by A. J. Carothers was adapted from the play, based on the book My Philadelphia Father by Cordelia Drexel Biddle. Walt Disney acquired the rights to the play in the early 1960s. The film was the last live-action musical film to be produced by Disney before his death on December 15, 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Kirk</span> American actor (1941–2021)

Thomas Lee Kirk was an American actor, best known for his performances in films made by Walt Disney Studios such as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, The Absent-Minded Professor, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, as well as the beach-party films of the mid-1960s. He frequently appeared as a love interest for Annette Funicello or as part of a family with Kevin Corcoran as his younger brother and Fred MacMurray as his father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterling Holloway</span> American actor (1905–1992)

Sterling Price Holloway Jr. was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films and 40 television shows. He did voice acting for The Walt Disney Company, playing Mr. Stork in Dumbo, Adult Flower in Bambi, the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Kaa in The Jungle Book, Roquefort the Mouse in The Aristocats, and the title character in Winnie the Pooh, among many others.

<i>Swiss Family Robinson</i> (1960 film) 1960 US adventure film by Ken Annakin

Swiss Family Robinson is a 1960 American adventure film starring John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran in a tale of a shipwrecked family building an island home. It was the second feature film based on the 1812 novel The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, a previous adaptation having been released by RKO Pictures in 1940. Directed by Ken Annakin and shot in Tobago and Pinewood Studios outside London, it was the first widescreen Walt Disney Pictures film shot with Panavision lenses; when shooting in widescreen, Disney had almost always used a matted wide screen or filmed in CinemaScope.

William Crozier Walsh was a film producer, screenwriter and comics writer who primarily worked on live-action films for Walt Disney Productions. He was born in New York City. For his work on Mary Poppins, he shared Academy Award nominations for Best Picture with Walt Disney, and for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium with Don DaGradi. He also wrote the Mickey Mouse comic strip for more than two decades.

<i>Babes in Toyland</i> (1961 film) 1961 film

Babes in Toyland is a 1961 American Christmas musical film directed by Jack Donohue and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It stars Ray Bolger as Barnaby, Tommy Sands as Tom Piper, Annette Funicello as Mary Contrary, and Ed Wynn as the Toymaker.

<i>The Monkeys Uncle</i> 1965 American comedy film by Robert Stevenson

The Monkey's Uncle is a 1965 American comedy film starring Tommy Kirk as genius college student Merlin Jones and Annette Funicello as his girlfriend, Jennifer. The title plays on the idiom "monkey's uncle" and refers to a chimpanzee named Stanley, Merlin's legal "nephew" who otherwise has little relevance to the plot. Jones invents a man-powered airplane and a sleep-learning system. The film is a sequel to 1964's The Misadventures of Merlin Jones.

<i>Old Yeller</i> (film) 1957 American film

Old Yeller is a 1957 American Western drama film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney. It stars Dorothy McGuire and Fess Parker, with Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran. It is about a boy and a stray dog in post-Civil War Texas. The film is based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Fred Gipson. Gipson also co-wrote the screenplay along with William Tunberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Dano</span> American actor (1922–1994)

Royal Edward Dano Sr. was an American actor. In a career spanning 46 years, he was perhaps best known for playing cowboys, villains, and Abraham Lincoln. Dano also provided the voice of the Audio-Animatronic Lincoln for Walt Disney's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction at the 1964 World's Fair, as well as Lincoln's voice at the "Hall of Presidents" attraction at Disney's Magic Kingdom in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Corcoran</span> American actor and film director (1949–2015)

Kevin Anthony "Moochie" Corcoran was an American child actor, director and producer. He appeared in numerous Disney projects between 1957 and 1963, leading him to be honored as a Disney Legend in 2006. His nickname, Moochie, established him as an irrepressible character in film.

<i>The Strongest Man in the World</i> 1975 film by Vincent McEveety

The Strongest Man in the World is a 1975 American science fiction comedy film directed by Vincent McEveety, produced by Walt Disney Productions, and starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn and Eve Arden. It was the third and final film in Dexter Riley series.

<i>Bon Voyage!</i> (1962 film) 1962 film by James Neilson

Bon Voyage! is a 1962 American comedy film directed by James Neilson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It stars Fred MacMurray, Jane Wyman, Deborah Walley, Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran as the Willard family on a European holiday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Sheldon</span> American actor (1908–1982)

Gene Sheldon was an American actor, mime artist, and musician. He is remembered as the mute servant Bernardo in Walt Disney's live-action Spanish Western series Zorro (1957-1959).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Calvin</span> American actor

Henry Calvin was an American actor known for his role as the Spanish soldier Sergeant Garcia on Walt Disney's live-action television series Zorro (1957–1959).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Otis Kaler</span> American writer

James Otis Kaler was an American journalist and author of children’s literature. He wrote under the name James Otis.

<i>Goliath II</i> 1960 film by Wolfgang Reitherman

Goliath II is a 1960 American animated comedy short film produced by Walt Disney Productions. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman and written by Bill Peet, it is narrated by Sterling Holloway and stars the voices of Kevin Corcoran, Barbara Jo Allen and Paul Frees. It was released theatrically in the United States on January 21, 1960, alongside the live-action film Toby Tyler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Wallace</span> English-American composer (1887–1963)

Oliver George Wallace was an English composer and conductor. He was especially known for his film music compositions, which were written for many animation, documentary, and feature films from Walt Disney Studios.

<i>Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus</i> Book by James Otis Kaler

Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus is a children's novel by "James Otis", the pen name of James Otis Kaler.

<i>Pollyanna</i> (1960 film) 1960 film by David Swift

Pollyanna is a 1960 American comedy-drama film starring child actress Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman, Karl Malden, and Richard Egan in a story about a cheerful orphan changing the outlook of a small town. The film was written and directed by David Swift, based on the 1913 novel Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter. The film won Hayley Mills an Academy Juvenile Award. It was the last film of actor Adolphe Menjou.

References

  1. "Toby Tyler (1960) - Music". TCM.com. Turner Classic Movies.
  2. "Toby Tyler - Details". AFI Catalog of Feature Films . American Film Institute . Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  3. "Rental Potentials of 1960". Variety. January 4, 1961. p. 47. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  4. Thompson, Howard (April 20, 1960). "The Screen: 'Toby Tyler'". The New York Times . 45.
  5. "Film Reviews: Toby Tyler". Variety . January 13, 1960. 6.
  6. Scott, John L. (February 11, 1960). "'Toby Tyler' Colorful Tale of Circus Life". Los Angeles Times . Part III, p. 11.
  7. "'Toby Tyler' with Kevin Corcoran, Henry Calvin, Gene Sheldon and Bob Sweeney". Harrison's Reports . January 16, 1960. 10.
  8. "Toby Tyler". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 27 (316): 73. May 1960.