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Variety Volume 333 Number 5 November 23, 1988 Page 89 by Tone
(The Magical World of Disney) With Tim Dunigan, Gary Grubbs, Cheryl L. Arutt, Richard Tyson, Samantha Eggar, Matt Salinger, Johnny Cash, David Hemmings, Brenda Crichlow, Jill Gamley, Jeff Irvine, Blu Mankuma, Fred Perry, Matt Walker Supplier: Echo Cove Prods. & Walt Disney TV Exec Producer-Writer: William Blinn Supervising Producer: Mark H. Ovitz Producer: Frank Fischer Director: Hemmings Music: Joel McNeely Photography: Isidore Mankofsky 120 Mins., Sun. (Nov. 20), 7 p.m. NBC-TV Well, Old Hickory, doesn't much resemble himself, young Davy Crockett (Tim Dunigan) at times strains too hard to be verbally colorful, and the Creek Indians seem a trifle silly in this version, but that historical figure of early 1830's, one-time "Disneyland" character who thrived on ABC 1954 - 55, jumps into another series. The quality returns with it, and, despite some historical nitpicking, should do well in its alloted spots. For 2-hour preem, aging Crockett (Johnny Cash), on his way to the Alamo, stops at the White House to reminisce with President Andy Jackson (director David Hemmings, too refined for the role -- younger Jackson's played by Matt Salinger) about their meeting back in the Alabama campaign 25 years ago. There's a reach when the White House housekeeper turns out to be Ory Palmer (Samantha Eggar; in the younger part, Cheryl Arutt), whom Davy once rescued from revengeful Indians. Flashbacks to the lovely woods-and-lake country (actually near Vancouver) picture Crockett and his Tennessee volunteers lustily joining up with Gen. Jackson's troopers on the Creek's mission. Series regular George Russell (Gary Grubbs) becomes a Georgian "fighting friend," and Crockett goes about rescuing pretty Ory from deranged volunteer Lute (Richard Tyson), who snaps when he sees an Indian maiden's blood. Adventure has its far-fetched points, and the an-old-man's-memories-got-a-lot-of-honey-on-'em type dialog smacks of artifice as Crockett drags them into the dialog. But the production has riches, a costumed series is welcome, the teleplay holds interest, and the stuntwork is just fine. Acting is Saturday-matinee stuff; Eggar's a convincing beaut, and Dunigan looks like he might just grow into the earthy path Fess Parker once set his boots in.
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