Greenes
Please don't spend money on this.
Roy Hart
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
Bessie Smyth
Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
Sabah Hensley
This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
kidboots
I loved "Toby Tyler"!!! I can remember it being my brother's birthday treat movie and mine was "Pollyanna". My memories of seeing "Toby Tyler" at the local cinema are vivid. We drove across Taren Point Bridge to the Oakley Picture Theatre on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Having a Golden Book and also a Whitman comic helped keep Toby Tyler in my mind . Also when it was shown on Disneyland but I had not heard of it for about 40 years. Then a cable station we had called the Disney Channel showed it and I was able to view it. The bright vivid colours of those Disney films bought memories flooding back.Kevin Cochran came from a family of actors - his sister Donna had had minor success in films and Noreen was in the TV series "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe. May be that explains why such an irritating child actor could be such a success.When the circus comes to town Toby Tyler (Kevin Cochran) has stars in his eyes. He runs away to join the circus after his Uncle tells him he is "no kin to us - nothing but a millstone 'round our necks". He is taken on by Harry Tupper, who runs the refreshment stand, and gives Toby the princely sum of 50 cents a week. Harry Tupper has the reputation of treating his helpers mean so Ben, the strong man, keeps a look out for him. Toby meets a clown with a family of dogs and a lovely bareback rider, Jeanette and her uppity partner Ajax.Mr. Stubbs, the chimp, raids Toby's refreshment box and gets sick. Against orders Ben lets Mr. Stubbs ride atop the wagon when the parade goes into town. When there is an accident Ben is sacked and Toby rescues Mr. Stubbs - he is in the sheriff's office shooting up the town. After disarming him Toby is given full responsibility for the chimp.When Ajax is showing off (riding without his safety harness) he falls off and Toby, who has bragged that he has ridden horses on the farm is ordered to take his place. After some funny rehearsal scenes he goes on at the next town and is a big hit. He also finds out that Mr. Tupper has been hiding letters that his Aunt Emma has written. His uncle is sick and the farm is too much for them - they want him back. Toby runs away from the circus and Mr. Stubbs follows him. When Toby thinks a passing hunter (James Drury) has killed Mr. Stubbs he is taken back to the circus where he is reunited with a much nicer Uncle Daniel and also his Aunt Emma.It was a very entertaining film and in those times there were no forgettable songs to slow down the action.
dbdumonteil
This Disney production was released at about the same time as "Pollyanna".Both heroes have problems with their families: Pollyanna is taken in by her auntie Polly Harrington a good but proud woman who thinks that money can buy everything;Toby has to escape from the farm where he lives with his uncle and his aunt -who are far from being as rich as Polly but who are finally good people-.The subtitles reads "ten weeks with a circus" and that's exactly what it is.Toby takes refuge in a circus where he will meet people from a world he does not know:he becomes good friend with Mr Tibbs ,the chimp and falls in love with the beautiful rider;but his job is to sell peanuts,and Monsieur Ajax,Mademoiselle Jeannette's partner ,always laughs at him.Toby's dream is to become part of the show but he stands no chance till....A nice memory from your childhood from long ago.
Sparrow_in_flight
But not quite as much as some make out...the circus characters in the book were not that grotesque, not was Toby in an orphan's home, constantly being punished for dishonesty. And, he did become a star, in a sense, on horseback. However, he was a glutonous boy who runs away to the circus, for no reason other than his own selfish ones. He does have a hard life. And his riding on the horses lasts for only about a day, but for that day, he and the girl who rode with them were required to do encores of their performances,Anyways....the story is cute. Yes, Mr. stubbs lives in the movie, but that is typical Disney giving a happy ending, and is to be expected. Watch it for fun, not because you want to compare it to the book. Personally, I like both.
acbottomley
My 7 year old grandson was held spellbound by Toby Tyler. I'd love to buy him his own copy, but it's not available. I'd be thrilled to see Disney release a lot of their archival films. How about a DVD starring Jiminy Cricket? I can still hear Jiminy singing "I'm No Fool". "Seabiscuit" is riding a wave of current popularity, but I still remember Nautilus, Disney's "The Horse With the Flying Tail". A recent commercial on T.V. features rabbits multiplying out of control, but way back when there was a Disney short cartoon about multiplying guinea pigs. It would be great if future generations of children could savor and enjoy these little cinematic gems.