Search - Treasure Of Matecumbe on DVD

DVD does deliver!

Jamesy Waxy | 11/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Treasure of Matecumbe" has to be one of my favorite childhood movies, and rewatching it has been a treat. The DVD is only available new (as of now) from the Disney Movie Club or Disney Movie Rewards (550 points), but it's worth getting it one way or the other.

In response to another's review, the DVD presentation is NOT cut; though the back does claim a 107 minute run-time, it runs approximately 117 minutes (1:57). It is disappointing that the presentation is fullscreen (1.33:1 aspect ratio) when it undoubtedly was filmed in widescreen, and it hasn't been restored to the quality of the Vault Disney Collection (there is a large amount of grain, artifacts, etc.) Despite this, I would highly recommend this to any fan of Disney films, or quality family films in general."

Classic Family Entertainment

Kendra | 01/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent movie very much in the spirit of Huckleberry Finn, but geared to all ages with less mature themes. Fun from start to finish.

I wasn't going to review this movie, but I did want to clarify the time on it. The DVD movie portion is exactly 115 minutes and 46 seconds. I just copied the dvd file to my computer so I'm certain of the time. Therefore, it's more likely this is the uncut, untrimmed version."

Disney Adventure Forever!

Michael Taylor | Auckland, NZ | 06/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I could speak volumes on what I think of Disney films. Like so many others, those days of adventure and classic TV are all but gone. However DVD at least allows us to finally fill that void and this - from Disney Studios later years, is a great fun flick for all the family. Lots of laughs; cheeky characters and excitement in the usual Disney tradition.

This is another of my favorites from the 'Wonderful World of Disney'. Many people have gone on about the lackluster version of the DVD itself i.e. no special features etc, but as long as there is the movie and it has great color and sound - as this edition has - I am happy.

I would agree with many others however - Disney DVD take note - it would be better for you to edit it the way people prefer and to keep that whole Disney experience as part of the program... have that 'Wonderful World Of Disney' intro right at the start of the movie... hey lets keep the Disney old days feel about it all. Lets face it - that is why people buy these movies - to relive those good old days! A MUST HAVE, DISNEY FANS!"

Rollicking adventure

microjoe | 04/09/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE STORY: Action, comedy, adventure, romance, nostalgia, this movie had a bit of something for everyone. Immediately after the American Civil War in Kentucky, two young boys one white named David, one black named Thad, begin the adventure of their lives. They live on Grassy, the family plantation, with David's aunts but it is depleted of all its money and they could lose it soon. Someone shows up late at night near death with a secret to a map hidden in the attic by Davids father before he died. But the same night a murderous criminal gang led by Spnagler (Vic Morrow) arrives in the night, breaking into the family plantation in order to steal a map to a treasure. The boys run away with the map, and start traveling to the Florida swampland. They know they can trust no one with their secret. Along the way they meet up with many friends and enemies, while still being pursued by the original crooks. A conniving southern belle Lauriette (Joan Hackett), a jolly medicine show doctor (Peter Ustinov), and a roaming adventurer (Robert Foxworth) alternatley help and slow the boys at times, but eventually they all join up together. It's a treasure hunt and a journey story story rolled into one. A good adventure movie, might be watched split over two nights if you have smaller kids since it is a bit long and slows down in parts.

BEHIND THE SCENES & TRIVIA: The remarkable Peter Ustinov who also starred in "Blackbeards Ghost" for Disney stars as Dr. Snodgrass, a quack medicines show doctor. Dick Van Patten and Jane Wyatt also star. Released as a theatrical movie on July 9, 1976 the movie was directed by Vincent McEveety. He directed mostly comedies at Disney like "Gus", "Million Dollar Duck", The Strongest Man in the World" and the hilarious "Superdad". He is also known for his earlier job as a Disney writer, responsible for most of the wacky college films like "Now You See Him, Now You Don't", and "The Barefoot Executive". The title song was written by Shane Tatum and Richard McKinley. The film required extensive location shooting, beginning in Danville Kentucky, including an early 1800's plantation, with over 200 acres. They also shot on the Sacrament River, standing in as the mighty Mississippi. They used the real Everglades in an area not far from Walt Disney World. The hurricane was filmed in Seminole country and was created in a similar method to one Disney used in the movie "The Wild Country". The studio brought in giant wind machines and airplane engines, this time adding water to the wind. In the film, there is a scene where Ustinov appears to fall and be washed away in the hurricane, surely to die. What viewers did not know at the time was that this was more than good acting, the fall was real, and he was hospitalized from the damage to his left ankle. Some final scene beach scenes, post hurricane, were actually filmed at Disney's man-made lagoons inside Walt Disney World. The screenplay was adapted from the book "A Journey to Matecumbe", by Robert Lewis Taylor. It was a project that Walt Disney had green-lighted when he was alive, but it took awhile for the studio to get to filming it. The movie later aired on "The Wonderful World of Disney" television show on October 2, 1977 as a special two hour format night, which they usually held to one hour. They did some extensive editing to make it fit in the time slot for that night. But the version on this disc is the original complete and unedited version. The running time listed on this page is incorrect, and after watching it all the way through, I have learned that nothing has been edited versus my complete VHS version. It was released on video in 1986 for the first time (unedited), and now on DVD for the first time in 2008. As originally filmed the movie's running time was at 116 minutes. It has not been remastered for this version. While it is not in widescreen on this DVD, It is possible that this is the original format. It was made during a period that Disney was filming many movies like this in full screen in order to easily re-show them on their TV show.
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