The Strange Monster of Strawberry Cove

I remember this film as one of the first I saw that showed kids doing something creative, while slightly misbehaving, and using their intelligence. I'd love to see it again, to compare how it measures up to the memory. The old "Wonderful World of Disney" made-for-TV movies of the week were simple, sappy (by today's jaded standards) fare that were honest family entertainment. Today, (to quote another theatrical character) entertainment is demented madmen running around in ski-masks hacking up young virgins. Gone (unfortunately) are the days where escapist entertainment without political or religious overtones can be seen, and enjoyed for the storytelling quality alone.

This is pretty standard stuff from Disney that was made for TV, back in the days when they had forgotten how to make anything of quality. Walt had been dead for 5 years, and a malaise had taken over at the studio. It didn't last all that long, but this film is unfortunately from that period.

It's not all that bad; the 3 kids are good, but the story is boring and it goes at a snail's pace. Burgess is good, as always, as the old codger who might or might not be mean. It's worth a look, if you can find it to watch, but not much more. Kids today will be bored silly by it, I think.

This movie is an adaptation of the short story "The Strange Sea Monster of Strawberry Lake" from the book The Mad Scientists' Club written by Bertrand Brinley. It first appeared as a short story in a 1961 issue of Boys' Life. The seven boys of the Mad Scientists club confound the inhabitants of Mammoth Falls by secretly building a remote control Sea Monster which they set loose on Strawberry Lake in the evenings. The book is comprised of 6 more of their zany adventures!

This can work as a good baby sitter for smaller kids. The performances of veterans Agnes Moorehead and Burgess Meredith save the movie. The kids are fine, the action is acceptable, safe fair (think Disney in the 70's)and there are lots of familiar old-time Hollywood favorites character actors helping it along. Not available on video but may show up on tv (worth taping for kids)