ONE & ONLY GENUINE ORIGINAL FAMILY BAND (DVD) DVD

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
Set in 1888, this tuneful fact-based Disney production concerns the attempts of a musically talented family of Dakota pioneers -- who are politically divided on the upcoming presidential election -- to wrangle an invite to that year's Democratic convention in cosmopolitan St. Louis. Incumbent Grover Cleveland is attempting to win his second straight election and is challenged by Benjamin Harrison. The results are that Cleveland won the popular vote, but Harrison won the electoral vote to be declared President of the United States. Cleveland would win the next election to become the only President to ever serve two non-consecutive terms. Walter Brennan, Buddy Ebsen, Janet Blair, Richard Deacon, Wally Cox, John Davidson and Leslie Ann Warren round out the adult cast. Along with the moppets, they sing and dance to espouse their political allegiances to the candidate of their choice. Look closely for Goldie Hawn in her first film role as a laughing chorine. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Cast Walter Brennan as Grandpa Bower Buddy Ebsen as Papa Bower John Davidson as Joe Carder Lesley Ann Warren as Alice Bower Janet Blair as Mama Bower Kurt Russell as Sidney Bower Steve Harmon as Ernie Stubbins Richard Deacon as Charlie Wrenn Wally Cox as Wampler Debbie Smith as Lulu Bower Bobby Riha as Mayo Bower Smitty Wordes as Nettie Bower Heidi Rook as Rose Bower John Walmsley as Quinn Bower Pamelyn Ferdin as Laura Bower John Craig as Frank William Woodson as Henry White

Crew Herman A. Blumenthal - Art Director Carroll Clark - Art Director Bill Thomas - Costume Designer Chuck Keehne - Costume Designer Emily Sundby - Costume Designer Michael O'Herlihy - Director Cotton Warburton - Editor Robert B. Sherman - Composer (Music Score) Richard M. Sherman - Composer (Music Score) Gordon Hubbard - Makeup Frank Phillips - Cinematographer Bill Anderson - Producer Emile Kuri - Set Designer Hal G. Gausman - Set Designer Harold Lewis - Sound/Sound Designer Lowell S. Hawley - Screen Story Lowell S. Hawley - Screenwriter Laura Bower VanNuys - Book Author

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
A flat and only intermittently entertaining musical from the Disney studios, The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band features a good cast that doesn't get enough of a chance to show what they can do. The score by the Sherman Brothers is catchy and hummable, but aside from the expansive "Dakota", it's not really impressive or up to the task of anchoring a major musical film. More depth, greater inventiveness in melody and more character-driven or --revealing numbers are needed; instead, what we have is pleasant and innocuous. Still, the score is a good deal better than the screenplay, which plods terribly and features terribly leaden dialogue and a surfeit of rather boring (because they are merely repetitive) political arguments. After the dreadful response to its previous "roadshow" musical, The Happiest Millionaire, Disney made sure that Band was of a more manageable length -- but even so, Michael O'Herlihy's pacing makes it feel too long. Fortunately, Walter Brennan is his usual feisty old codger self, Buddy Ebsen gets to do a bit of a soft shoe, Lesley Ann Warren has plenty of charm and Janet Blair is serenely winning. The cast gives Band some much needed zip. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD: Generic Dolby Digital (unspecified format) Additional Features: Feature commentary with Lesley Ann Warren, John Davidson and Richard Sherman The Family Band album French and Spanish subtitles Dolby Digital Mono sound Fullscreen (1.33:1) DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: G DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 110 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Opening/The Family Band [4:40] 2. "The Happiest Girl Alive" [9:13] 3. "Oh Benjamin Harrison" [11:43] 4. Mr. Carder [10:08] 5. Off to Dakota [8:00] 6. The Party Line [9:11] 7. "Bout Time" [4:02] 8. A Lesson in Politics [13:28] 9. A Trip to the Woodshed [1:51] 10. The Board Meeting [5:55] 11. Election Night [9:15] 12. A Time for Making Up/End Credits [14:07]