Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier

Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
Directed by	Norman Foster
Written by	Tom Blackburn
Produced by	Walt Disney
Starring	Fess Parker Buddy Ebsen
Cinematography	Charles P. Boyle
Edited by	Chester W. Schaeffer
Music by	Thomas W. Blackburn George Bruns
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release dates	May 25, 1955
Running time	93 min.
Country	US
Language	English

Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier is a 1955 live-action Walt Disney adventure film starring Fess Parker as Davy Crockett. This film is an edited compilation of the first three stories featuring the Davy Crockett from the Disney television series:

• Davy Crockett Indian Fighter (first broadcast December 15, 1954)
• Davy Crockett Goes to Congress (first broadcast January 26, 1955)
• Davy Crockett at the Alamo (first broadcast February 23, 1955)

Plot

Creek Indian Wars

Tennessee wilderness settlers, Davy Crockett and best friend George "Georgie" Russel volunteer to fight with General Andrew Jackson in the Creek Indian War. After a victorious battle, Crockett and Russel return home over the protestations of their superiors. Returning the next season, the pair find that the pursuing American forces have reached a stalemate chasing the remnant Creek forces through the swamps.

Georgie Russel is ambushed while scouting for the Indian positions, but Crockett is able to track the Indians back to camp. In exchange for Russel's life, Crockett challenges Red Stick, the Creek's remaining chief, to a tomahawk duel. Crockett emerges victorious but spares the life of Red Stick on condition he will sign the American peace treaty.

Fronier Pioneer

Crockett and Russel leave home once again to the scout virgin territory being opened for settlement. There the pair encounter a man named Big Foot who is running Indians off their land and reselling it. After befriending a family of Indian refugees who have been forced from their homes, Crockett agrees to become magistrate for the area. Confronting Big Foot in hand to hand combat, Crockett eventually defeats his oppenent and arrests him and his accomplises.

Not long after, Crockett recieves a letter from his sister-in-law which relates that Polly, his wife, has died.

Off to Congress

Crockett agrees to run for congress when he learns of the unrivaled candidacy of Amos Thorpe, an unscrupulous politician in league with men trying to lay claim to Indian lands. Handily elected, Crockett becomes a popular member of the Tennessee legislature and of Andrew Jackson who has become governor of the state.

Aware of Crockett's views of Inidian's rights, Jackson's underlings arrange for Crockett to take a speaking tour accross Tennessee during the introduction of a legislative bill to usurp of Indian treay lands.

Hearing of the bill, Georgie Russel rides accross the state to fetch Crockett. The pair arrive back in Nashville where Crockett makes an impassioned speach before the legislature against, aware that it will cost him his political career.

The Alamo

Crockett learns of the embattled Texans at the Alamo and decides to join them, with Georgie Russel reluctantly following him. En route to San Antonio the pair are joined by riverboat gambler and an Indian brave forced from his tribe. After reaching the Alamo, the army successfully holds out against General Santa Ana until being finally overrun by Mexican troops.

Background

The film was released as a result of the enormous success of the three television episodes, which were first shown on the Disney anthology television series. This was, and remains, Walt Disney's most successful television film project. The Davy Crockett episodes of the early-to-mid 1950's were not only popular, they sparked a national "Davy Crockett craze", with hundreds of coonskin caps being sold, as well as a successful recording of the episodes' infectious theme song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett". Actor Fess Parker became so identified with the role that in 1964 he starred in a successful television series about Daniel Boone, another American frontiersman.

Cast

• Fess Parker as Davy Crockett
• Buddy Ebsen as George Russel
• William Bakewell as Maj. Tobias Norton
• Basil Ruysdael as Gen./President Andrew Jackson
• Pat Hogan as Chief Red Stick
• Mike Mazurki as Bigfoot Mason
• Hans Conried as Thimblerig
• Don Megowan as Col. William Travis
• Helene Stanley as Polly Crockett
• Kenneth Tobey as Col. Jim Bowie
• Campbell Brown as Bruno (Bigfoot's Henchman)
• Jeff Thompson as Charlie Two Shirts
• Nick Cravat as Busted Luck
• Jim Maddux as Congressman #1
• Rober Booth as Congressman #2
• Eugene Brindel as Billy Crockett
• Benjamin Hornbuckle as Henderson
• Henry Joyner as Swaney
• Ray Whitetree as Johnny Crockett
• Hal Youngblood as Opponent of political speaker

See also

• Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
• The Ballad of Davy Crockett

External links

• Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier at IMDb