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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
From ‘Freaky Friday' to ‘Herbie Rides Again,' a look at the other kind of Disney movie
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Lindsay Lohan as Hallie "Hal" Parker and Annie "Ann" James in the 1998 remake of "The Parent Trap." (Disney) Disney Advertisement The quality of these live-action films took a nosedive after Walt Disney passed away in 1966. In 1961, the kids got 'The Parent Trap' and 'The Absent-Minded Professor.' In my youth, I got the 1976 double whammy of 'The Shaggy D.A.' and 'Gus.' I also bore witness to 'The Cat From Outer Space,' who landed on a military base and befriended Sandy Duncan. His collar was a glowing piece of feline bling. There's a major gap in greatness between 1957's ' Advertisement The 2025 reunion of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan is the sequel to their 2003 remake of the 1976 original. That's three generations of kids bearing witness to the 'Freaky Friday' franchise. Considering that all three films are practically the same movie, Disney has become an ouroboros eating its own tail. But I digress. In honor of 'Freakier Friday,' let's take a tour through some of the Disney live-action movies I saw as a kid. Consider this a companion piece to my Let's start with MacMurray, who starred in the aforementioned 'The Absent-Minded Professor.' If you've seen the 1997 Robin Williams remake, you'll know that Flubber is a rubber-like material that defies gravity. MacMurray used it to make his Model T fly. By putting Flubber on the sneakers of a basketball team, MacMurray also invented the precursor to Air Jordans. Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in "Double Indemnity."As a kid, I knew MacMurray from this film, its sequel, 'Son of Flubber,' and reruns of 'My Three Sons,' where he's the lovable Dad. So, imagine how shocked I felt when I first saw 'Double Indemnity' as a kid, and 'The Apartment' as a teenager. That guy had range! 'The Absent-Minded Professor' also introduced me to Nancy Olson, the co-star of my second favorite movie of all time, 'Sunset Boulevard.' It's the best movie on this list, so it's all downhill from here. Advertisement I first saw Bette Davis in 'Return From Witch Mountain,' the second film in the five-movie 'Witch Mountain' franchise. Starting with 'Escape to Witch Mountain,' the series follows Tony and Tia, two aliens who look like kids. Tia is telepathic and can talk to animals better than Doctor Doolittle. Tony plays a harmonica that gives him telekinetic powers. Davis plays an evil financier who gives her fortune to an equally evil scientist partner played by Christopher Lee. Lee kidnaps Tony and hypnotizes him to do their bidding. Said bidding includes playing Stevie Wonder harmonica solos while Lee and Davis dance the Latin Hustle. OK, that doesn't happen. I'm just checking to see if you're still paying attention! "Escape to Witch Mountain," released in 1975, was the first of a five-movie series. Disney Revisiting 'Escape' and 'Return' recently, I was surprised to find them watchable. I also realized that 'Escape' may have been my introduction to both Donald Pleasance and Ray Milland. I liked the films as a kid, so maybe there was some nostalgia involved in this viewing. I wish I could say I had the same reaction to revisiting the film that introduced me to Helen Hayes, 1974's 'Herbie Rides Again.' This is also a sequel, preceded by 1968's 'Herbie the Love Bug.' Hayes had two Oscars and a theater named after her on Broadway, but she had terrible taste in Disney co-stars. Herbie is a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own. It gets into loads of family-friendly trouble like auto racing and jousting with other cars. It often has racing stripes and the number 53 painted on its hood. Advertisement Justin Long and Lindsay Lohan take a ride in Herbie, a Volkswagen Bug that can drive itself, in 'Herbie Fully Loaded.' RICHARD CARTWRIGHT Hayes plays Mrs. Steinmetz, the current owner of Herbie. Rather than describe the plot, I'll just tell you that, as a kid, I thought Herbie was the most boring vehicle I ever saw. He was the 'Benji' of automobiles. I hated being dragged to his movies — and there were four of them. As if he were trolling my childhood, Herbie was eventually reincarnated in theaters in 2005. His owner in 'Herbie: Fully Loaded' was Lindsay Lohan. Speaking of Lohan, that brings me to the original 'Freaky Friday.' I saw this one by itself; since it was new, there was no double feature. The original remains the best movie in the franchise, even if the clothes and some plot details trap it in its era. Mary Rodgers adapted her own 1972 children's book for this movie. Barbara Harris (of 'Nashville' fame) and Jodie Foster played the body-swapping mother and daughter. The casting here was perfect, because you could believe young Jodie Foster was really an adult trapped in a kid's body. Jodie Foster in Disney's original "Freaky Friday" where she plays a teenager who changes identities with her mother. Disney The year 1976 was a big one for both 'Freaky Friday' stars. Harris co-starred in Alfred Hitchcock's last movie, the much-maligned 'Family Plot.' Foster shocked the world by appearing in a violent, adult-themed movie that served as my introduction to the actor. Of course, I'm talking about 'Bugsy Malone.' Like with its animated features, Disney has been remaking its live action movies for decades now. I hope we get a reboot of 'The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes,' the movie that introduced me to Snake Plissken himself, Kurt Russell. Perhaps Russell could reprise his role. I'd pay to see that. Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
Buzz Feed
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Are You Familiar With These Live-Action Disney Movies?
1. Snow Dogs (2002) Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in this comedy as a dentist who travels to Alaska to claim his inheritance after being mentioned in a will. However, things take an unexpected turn when he discovers he's been left a team of mischievous sled dogs. Making matters even worse is the crusty mountain man Thunder Jack, who's also got it in for the city slicker. 2. Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) Tony and Tia Malone are two orphaned siblings with extraordinary psychic powers. When their abilities attract the attention of a cruel millionaire, Aristotle Bolt, he kidnaps them with plans to exploit their powers for financial gain. Tony and Tia escape, and with the help of Jason O'Day, a bitter widower camping in a nearby Winnebago, they attempt to elude Bolt and begin to discover their otherworldly origins. 3. The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) This classic Disney comedy focuses on a professor who invents a revolutionary flying rubber, which he dubs `flubber'. Not only does the professor's Model T Ford fly through the air with the greatest of ease, but his secret weapon helps the college basketball team to victory, thanks to flubber-enhanced boots, but while his long-suffering girlfriend tries to win the professor's heart, crooks are trying to steal his formula. 4. Flight of the Navigator (1986) David is a 12-year-old who lives with his family in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. When he awakens from being accidentally knocked out in the forest near his home, he finds that eight years have passed. His family is overjoyed to have him back, but just as perplexed as he is by the fact that he hasn't aged. When a NASA scientist discovers a UFO nearby, David gets the chance to unravel the mystery and recover the life he lost. 5. The Love Bug (1968) Race car driver Jim Douglas and his philosophical mechanic, Tennessee Steinmetz, find themselves in possession of a white Volkswagen Beetle that seems to have a mind and spirit of its own. Calling the car Herbie, Jim and Tennessee become the talk of the California racing circuit -- much to the displeasure of sports-car dealer Peter Thorndyke, who tries to use his assistant to come between the friends and their car. 6. The Watcher in the Woods (1980) This film was quite unusual for Disney to make, because it's, well, a horror film… In this creepy film, an American family moves into a British country house only to encounter malevolent spirits, and the ghost of the owner's daughter, torments the family's young girl. The film is notable for having an alternate ending that was considered too cryptic and ambiguous, so it was replaced with a third ending that became the official theatrical ending. 7. Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) After accidentally reciting some magic words, track coach Steve Walker summons the ghost of the dreaded pirate Blackbeard. The spirit explains to Steve that he was cursed by his wife to roam the Earth until he performs one good deed. Since Steve is the only one who can hear or see Blackbeard, he has no choice but to aid him in his task. Together, they help Professor Backer stop a gang of crooks from taking over an inn for the elderly. 8. The Sword and the Rose (1953) Disney / Via Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII, vainly loves Charles Brandon, a man of much virtue but no social title. Charles, heartbroken, leaves London, but when Mary runs after him, he's locked in the Tower of London, and freed only when she marries King Louis XII of France. With the meddling Duke of Buckingham also competing for Mary's hand, the lovers must overcome considerable obstacles to live happily ever after. 9. Pollyanna (1960) Young orphan Pollyanna believes life's most difficult problems can always be surmounted by a positive attitude and pragmatism. But when she moves in with her dour aunt, she is introduced to a range of disheartened folks who challenge her upbeat outlook. Not to be discouraged, she sets to work spreading hope and good cheer. However, when an inspired doctor leads the community in a campaign in opposition to her aunt, Pollyanna's goodwill is strained. 10. The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) After three poor orphans are sent to live with gambler Russell Donovan, they discover they have actually inherited a large fortune from their dead father. Soon a series of greedy undesirables shows up. They try to get their hands on the money, so, in order to keep things uncomplicated, the kids decide to give their inheritance to a lovable outlaw duo, Theodore and Amos. But there is only one problem -- the gold is locked away in a bank vault. 11. The Black Hole (1979) Disney / Via In the future, a spaceship dubbed the USS Palomino is on its way back to Earth when it discovers another ship that had been assumed missing, the USS Cygnus. Kate McCrae, a scientist aboard the Palomino, learns that it's the same ship upon which her father had served as a crew member. When the Palomino's crew boards the Cygnus, they are met by Dr. Reindhardt and a bizarre, faceless army who plan to be the first people ever to explore a black hole. 12. Cool Runnings (1993) Four Jamaican bobsleighers dream of competing in the Winter Olympics, despite never having seen snow. With the help of a disgraced former champion desperate to redeem himself, the Jamaicans set out to become worthy of Olympic selection, and go all out for glory. 13. Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) Just-fired Darby O'Gill does not want to tell his daughter, Katie, that his position has been taken by a dashing younger man. Then, on his way home, Darby slips through a portal to the land of the little people. There he meets the leprechaun king, Brian, and winds up accidentally bringing the little monarch home with him. Darby then demands Brian grant him three wishes, but the request brings Darby bittersweet, and unexpected, results. 14. The Devil and Max Devlin (1981) Max Devlin dies and makes a deal with the devil to save his soul by getting three innocent children to sell theirs. He returns to life with magical powers, but Barney, the devil's henchman, constantly monitors his progress. The film was considered to be controversial for a Disney film at the time, partly because of the subject matter, but also because of Cosby's atypical portrayal of a villainous character. 15. The Happiest Millionaire (1967) Disney / Via Clever yet hapless new butler John Lawless manages a Philadelphia household for quirky and joyful millionaire Anthony Drexel Biddle, his unflappable wife, Cordelia, and their spitfire daughter, Cordy. When Cordy goes to boarding school and becomes engaged to handsome heir Angier Duke, it's up to John the butler to help mesh the two families and keep the nuptials on track. 16. Pete's Dragon (1977) Disney / Via Elliott, a magical and sometimes mischievous dragon, causes chaos in a Maine fishing village when he tries to help a young orphan called Pete escape from his evil foster parents. Pete wants to live in the lighthouse with Nora and her father. Will Elliott be able to help her achieve her dream, while avoiding the clutches of the greedy Dr Terminus who wants to exploit him? 17. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) During the Battle of Britain, Miss Eglantine Price, a cunning witch-in-training, decides to use her supernatural powers to defeat the Nazi menace. She sets out to accomplish this task with the aid of three inventive children who have been evacuated from the London Blitz. Joined by Emelius Brown, the head of Miss Price's witchcraft training correspondence school, the crew uses an enchanted bed to travel into a fantasy land and foil encroaching German troops. 18. The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969) Students from a cash-strapped college, in need of a computer, convince businessman A.J. Arno to donate one. When it needs to be repaired, student Dexter Reilly fixes it during an electrical storm and receives a shock. Suddenly the computer's brain has fused with his, and he's a genius. Unfortunately, he also has knowledge about Arno's illegal gambling operations, which were stored in the computer. Now Dexter is a celebrity, but Arno wants him eliminated. 19. The Shaggy Dog (1959) The son of dog-hating former mailman Wilson Daniels, young Wilby accidentally becomes a canine himself when he stumbles upon an ancient curse. Inadvertently invoking a magical spell engraved on a centuries-old ring, Wilby begins turning into a sheepdog at unpredictable times, only to later return to human form. As if this wasn't enough for Wilby, he overhears a plot to steal secret government information while in dog form, leading to unexpected adventure. 20. That Darn Cat! (1965) A Siamese cat picks up the only clue to a bank robbery when a kidnapped bank clerk slips her wristwatch around his neck. The cat then finds himself being followed by FBI agent Zeke Kelso, who is given the runaround in an effort to lead him to the villains. 21. The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) The Bower Family Band petitions the Democratic National Committee to sing a rally song for President Grover Cleveland at the party's 1888 convention. On the urging of Joe Carder, a journalist and suitor to eldest Bower daughter Alice, the family decides instead to move to the Dakota Territory. There, Grandpa Bower, a staunch Democrat, causes trouble with his pro-Cleveland sentiments. 22. Gus (1976) Yugoslavian farm boy Andy Petrovic loves soccer, but is useless on the playing field. When he announces to his beloved mule, Gus, that he's giving up the game for good, the animal obligingly kicks Andy's soccer ball far away. Soon, Andy has trained Gus to kick the ball on command. After the story of Gus the goal-kicking mule makes the news, the owner and coach of a hapless California football team draft Gus and Andy as their new field goal unit. 23. The Cat from Outer Space (1978) Disney / Via A UFO captained by a cat-like extraterrestrial (Ronnie Schell) is intercepted by the U.S. Military. The spacecraft's feline pilot, who goes by the human name Jake, reveals to his captors that he must locate a substance called "Org 12" to restore his battered spacecraft and reunite with his mothership. With help from scientist Frank Wilson (Ken Berry), Jake figures out the Earth equivalent of Org 12 -- gold -- and then activates his collar's technological capabilities to help retrieve it. 24. Condorman (1981) Woody is a cartoonist who fantasises about becoming the heroic characters he creates. Then one day he gets a chance to be a real hero when his room-mate Woody, who works for the CIA, enlists him to deliver some harmless documents to Istanbul. There Woody introduces himself to beautiful KGB agent Natalia as Condorman. It's just a bit of harmless fun: until Natalia decides to defect. 25. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) Disney later made another creepy film. Based on the novel by Ray Bradbury, this film focuses on a villainous carnival owner, Mr. Dark, who preys upon unsuspecting Midwestern townsfolk by granting wishes, but for a price. 26. The Rocketeer (1991) Disney / Via Cliff Secord is a cocky stunt pilot in love with a beautiful actress, Jenny Blake. When he discovers a jet pack hidden in a biplane, Cliff straps on the rocket, dons a flashy helmet and becomes the high-flying hero known as The Rocketeer. But when Nazis want to use the rocket as a weapon, Cliff must use his alter ego to both protect Jenny from an evil actor and save the day.
