Search - The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin on DVD

Victorian Adventure, American Style

Chris Schweizer | Atlanta, GA, USA | 03/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of those countless live-action films that Disney made and seemed to have forgotten about, this is by far one of the best - and now they're finally releasing it on DVD.

Roddy MacDowell stars as Eric Griffin, a by-the-books, remarkably canny Butler for the Flagg family. When the patriarch dies and the Flagg orphans are revealed to be destitute, Griffin must follow them to the wild west where he proves that good manners and a clever, clear head can help one overcome any situation, from poverty to bandits to bare-knuckle boxing championships. The villian of the show, played over-the-top with delicious relish by the potatoe-nosed Karl Malden, is a treat, and a great counter for MacDowell's clean, handsome Griffin.

There are laughs, great action sequences, and numerous episodic adventures, but what really makes this movie shine is a strong sense of period. The feeling that this really is the mid nineteenth century, and not a '60s recreation, is palpable, and is a must for any fan of Westerns, victoriana, steampunk, or just the good old days when "for the whole family" didn't just mean "for kids."

For similar enjoyment, check out Disney's soon-to-be-released dvd of "In Search of the Castaways", based on Jules Verne's riveting adventure "Captain Grant's Children.""

Cute Disney western comedy - in WIDESCREEN

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 05/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN, a western comedy-rouser from Disney, gets it's long awaited DVD debut. Roddy McDowall, Suzanne Pleshette and Karl Malden (all veterans of Disney live action films) lead the impressive cast.



McDowall plays a meek butler from Boston, suddenly landed in the wild wild west, in the thick of the gold rush. Romance, adventure and comedy abound with Suzanne Pleshette an eyeful as saloon cutie Arabella Flagg. The cast also includes Harry Guardino, Richard Haydn, Hermione Baddeley, Cecil Kellaway and Joby Baker.



Disney has released THE ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN in pleasing 16:9 anamorphic. With the company in the bad habit of releasing most of their back-catalogue titles in fullscreen, this is rather a surprise. Sadly no extras, though having BULLWHIP GRIFFIN finally in digital format has been worth the wait."

A butler with a THEME SONG!

Kirsten Karns | North Pole | 06/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A series of extremely funny accidents take a butler, a boy and an independent young woman off to California for the gold rush.
They keep getting rich, and then losing it.
The whole movie is full of wonderful quotes that make you want to repeat them at random moments:
"Oh. Well, now I shall be forced to trounce the scoundrel!"It's just an unwilling hero story, but so well done that you will always remember it. And who could pass up a butler with a theme song?"

Very cute Disney film from the 60's

Charles Wild | Fullerton, CA. | 02/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"How can one resist the cast? Roddy McDowell, Suzanne Pleshette (YES, she sings! - and quite well), Karl Malden and a host of classic western stars. A very fun family film that has a fun story that takes many different directions - It will be nice on DVD, though only disappointment is that Disney NEVER does any extras at all on these old "claasics"."