Search - The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band on DVD

Charming Lesley Ann Warren/Disney tuner

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 03/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE ONE AND ONLY GENUINE ORIGINAL FAMILY BAND is a charming musical from Disney, with Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson (the romantic leads from Disney's previous musical hit THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE) once again centre stage.

However, when compared to HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, this movie falls decidedly flat. The storyline isn't engaging and the score (while quite pretty) doesn't have the same theatricality or flavour as MILLIONAIRE.

Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson once again offer charming performances as the lead romantic couple and get a lovely song to share ("'Bout Time"). Lesley Ann Warren also glows in her solo number "The Happiest Girl Alive". The cast also includes old musical pro's Buddy Ebsen and Janet Blair, with Walter Brennan as the irascible old grandfather.

The DVD is presented in fullscreen (as opposed to HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE which got the grand widescreen treatment from both Disney and Anchor Bay). There's an informative featurette with new interviews from Lesley Ann Warren, John Davidson and composer/lyricist Richard Sherman.

Theres also a scene-specific audio commentary featuring Warren, Davidson and Sherman (all recorded separately). One of the tidbits unearthed from the commentary is Warren recalling how she and John Davidson were starring on Broadway in 1965 at the same time (she in 110 IN THE SHADE, he in HELLO DOLLY), and actually dated a few times, all before being paired in these two Disney musicals!

Still, a fine companion piece to THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE and a wonderful slice of Disney moviemaking at it's peak."

Dakota, Dakota...Where there's Land for all!!!!!!

Amber Dyar | Savannah, GA United States | 06/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my favorite movie in the entire world!!! My mom rented it when I was a little girl, and I just adored it. However, as I grew older I was devastated when I was no longer able to find it out on video. I have been surfing the web for months trying to find a copy, but to no avail. You can imagine how ecstatic I was when I found out it was coming out on DVD!! I truly believe this is the best movie ever made. I mean, think about it, it's got your history, politics, family life, and what better love story than Leslie Ann Warren and John Davidson? Not to mentiont he completely adorable Kurt Russell, the energetic dancer and singer Buddy Ebsen, and of course the lovable grandfather Walter Brennan! I absolutely love this movie! Thank you Disney for finally releasing it! You have made my year!"

Four Star movie -- one star DVD

Disney Movie Fan | IL | 08/18/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"A disappointing release from Disney Home Video of a charming film with great stars and wonderful Sherman Brothers' music. The extras are nice: a short "making of" documentary and optional audio commentary. Why the one star? A poor pan-and-scan release with below par video quality are truly unacceptable in today's DVD market. It would be better for the Disney Company to slow down its release sechedule and take the time to create quality releases of these older title that appeal to "grown up" Disney fans and film students."

Still one of the best kept Disney movie secrets!

K. Gaskins | Near the sound, Washington | 03/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For some reason, most people don't know too much or have never heard about this Disney movie. And I don't quite understand why, since it rates in some of my TOP Disney movies. First off, it carries a cast of today's well known actors in some of their earliest roles ever. Kurt Russell as a kid (singing, dancing and playing a musical instrument at that!). Goldie "Jeanne" Hawn as a bit part. Not to mention Leslie Ann Warren, before she started playing loopy characters. Buddy Ebsen, John Davidson (very pre-Hollywood Squares). Walter Brennan. The story is about a musically talented family in which Grandpa organizes the family band to play at the democratic convention. But his grandaughter Alice's love interest, Joe Carder, a Republican, convinces the family of which most are Republican to head out to the Dakotas (at that point still just one state). The movie revolves gently around the politics of the Grover Cleveland re-election campaign against Benjamin Harrison with a focus on the comedy, the love quarrels and a ton of kids having fun. The climactic end takes place at the Republican primary if I remember correctly, where jsut about everything goes haywaire and unexpected. (Even as it did at the real election at that time.) It's nice getting the history lesson in without even realizing it! The songs are upbeat and memorable, aside from one lousy Leslie Ann Warren song early on, and are still fun to sing and dance along with many years later. My VHS of this movie has just about gone caput, so I'm very pleased that the DVD version is coming out."