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I love Kevin Corcoran's acting in the first place, but this is most likely my favorite movie with him STARING! What sets this one above the rest is it does NOT rely on a sound-track to keep the interest of the viewers. Toby is an orphaned boy being raised by his aunt and uncle. His uncle tells him he is a burden, so Toby joins the circus. What makes this movie most entertaining is Toby's horse training! As I said, this movie does not rely on a sound-track to keep the interest of the viewers, but in fact it is this very aspect that makes it a charm! As Toby is trained to ride a horse, you see him fail, fail, learn, learn some more, then eventually succeed! All the time, the only thing you hear is the trot of the horse!

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.

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.

Walt Disney who certainly liked to make films that take place in earlier simpler times like when he was young has Toby Tyler set during the era before World War I at the turn of the last century. Kevin Corcoran plays young Tyler who is an orphan and foster child of his uncle and aunt Tom Fadden and Edith Evanson. When the circus comes to town he neglects chores and when they tell him he's 'millstone around their necks' young Corcoran runs away.

The rest of the film tells of Toby's adventures with the circus where he first works for concessionaire Bob Sweeney who has a really nice role as a not so lovable carny who takes really bad advantage of Toby. Fortunately he does not stay under Sweeney's tutelage and makes some real friends in circus strongman Henry Calvin and clown Gene Sheldon.

Calvin and Sheldon were from the Disney TV show Zorro and Sheldon played Guy Williams's dumb valet Bernardo. Sheldon was a great pantomime comedian and rarely spoke in his performances on stage, film, or in Zorro. He's great here, but it was nice to hear him. Broke a bit of the illusion, almost like having Harpo Marx talk.

And Toby also meets young equestrian performers Dennis Oliveri and Barbara Beird. Beird likes him, but Oliveri is rather full of himself, really odd for someone so young. Toby gets his chance as a performer and to escape Sweeney when Oliveri gets injured showing off.

As this is a Disney film naturally it all works out in the end for everyone but Sweeney. And when you see the film I think you'll agree with me that he got off very lightly indeed.

Toby Tyler holds up very well after over 50 years, still a nice children's classic.

Michael Eisner seemed to market every Disney film on video then he re-leased them again on DVD. This is one of the films that I love but it just hasn't been released.

Hey, Robert Iger, this movie is special to LOTS of people. Please release it to the new generation of children who have never seen "Toby Tyler."

I saw this movie first in Lake Tahoe, CA, while on vacation with my parents. I am 49 now and I would still watch it many times--if I could only find it.

Classic Disney--family oriented, familiar cast from other Disney films, great storyline.

If it ever comes out on DVD, I will run to buy it as soon as I know about it.

Well, Ringling Brothers has closed down, so kids can't run away and join the circus, like Toby Tyler. I suppose as a practical matter I couldn't when I was a kid, although I enjoyed books like Elephant for Rent. At any rate, it seemed possible, especially with bright Technicolor juvenalia like this.

Kevin Corcoran is mildly annoying as the star, but the supporting adult cast as varieties of scoundrels, are engaging.

You can't find this one to buy anywhere. I finally found it at Moviehunter.com. It was a thrill to see the most important film of an eleven-year-old's life. I saw this film when I was eleven and never forgot it. I sat in the movie theater all day and saw it three consecutive times. You could do that back then. I would have seen it a fourth time, but I had to go home for dinner. This is a sweet, warm, loving, exciting adventure film about a boy joining the circus and making new friends, including a mischievous chimp and a dishonest boss. It's the old Disney style all the way. It's great for kids, and there's nothing negative to say about it. Too bad Disney doesn't realize it and re-release it and make it available on DVD and VHS. Barbara Beaird is a blonde 12-year-old in this film, and she was the first puppy-love of my young life. I always wonder what ever happened to her. Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran steals the show, or maybe I should say the chimp does.

Despite a pleasing cast, 'Toby Tyler' fails to entertain.

It's an OK premise, with a cute 'friendship' between boy and chimp. However, I just didn't enjoy it for large portions; it's quite plain. That's not to say it's a bad film, I just wanted a more satisfying 95 minutes.

Kevin Corcoran, at this point in his career at least, isn't a great actor it must be said. I don't dislike him though, just nonplussed about his performance. At least his character is written better than he is in 'Savage Sam'.

Henry Calvin is great in this, as Ben. He's likeable in the 'Zorro' films too, I appreciate what he gives here. One of his co-stars from those aforementioned productions, Gene Sheldon, is also a joy in the role of Sam. Bob Sweeney, portraying Tupper, is also good.

I hold no hard feelings with this, it's just I believe Disney have done far better live-action films up to this point.

James Otis Kaler's book becomes too-glossy Walt Disney saga of a spotless, overly-polite orphan boy from a rural town who runs away from his uncle's farm and attaches himself to a traveling circus. He makes himself useful as a concessions salesman before joining the horse-riders in the center ring, garnering friends for the first time (some of whom only see dollar signs in the lad's untapped potential). Disney skimps a bit on the big top fun while loading up the plot with various characters, including a hateful uncle who manages a complete change of heart by the finale (what is the message of this movie...that success is the best revenge, particularly if you're an orphan?). We do get clowns and a parade, plus a chimp who reacts to everything like a human would; however, the central figure is played by the leaden Kevin Corcoran, a Disney favorite, who can barely read a line. The youngster has a consistent look of bewilderment on his face and is generally unable to carry the more dramatic scenes proposed by the tale (if you do watch, see if you can count how many times Corcoran stumbles over the name "Mr. Tupper"). There's a regrettable moment wherein the audience is made to think an animal is killed by a hunter's rifle, while the subplot about Toby Tyler's financial worth is never quite resolved. A few scenes of color and merriment, but the elements of the story (basic as they are) are bungled. *1/2 from ****

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.

If you do a search using the phrase "Toby Tyler on VHS" you will find an ebay site that has some Toby Tyler DVDs on sale. I purchased a VHS copy of Toby Tyler a few years ago and still enjoy watching it. It is one of my favorite Disney movies. I agree with the other comments that this movie was done very well with a minimum of background music. Disney movies such as this might also be available on Amazon.com. I have been successful in obtaining other Disney movies on VHS or DVD such as the 40th Anniversary DVD of Mary Poppins, The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band, etc. I hope this helps. Good luck with your search.

"Toby Tyler" (1960) is one of my earliest movie memories. In combination with the film Whitman Publishing released a book of the screenplay, which differed considerably from the source novel, managing to lighten up the story.

Most boys (at least in my class) were at first reluctant to see the film because it's star, Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran, had pretty much ruined the "Spin and Marty" serial when he was added to the cast after the first season. We also had suffered through his "too cute" acting in "Old Yeller". Rare is the child actor who was more irritating to his contemporaries. But "Moochie" was just a hammy kid who did what the director wanted; and fortunately the director of "Toby Tyler" dialed down the standard "Moochie" cuteness for his first staring role.

The film was the perfect escape for boys. Running away with the circus was almost as good as getting to spend the whole summer riding horses on the Triple "R" Ranch. Plus Toby's protector was Ben Cotter, our old friend Sgt. Garcia from "Zorro". Mr. Stubbs the chimp is given the "too cute" supporting role that "Moochie" normally played, which was most likely an attempt to expand the target audience to include pre-teen girls. It worked as the film entertained the entire family.

The story involves Toby's efforts to move from peanut vendor to circus performer. He eventually replaces a snotty boy in a bareback riding act. His partner is Mademoiselle Jeanette (Barbara Beaird), my first crush and most likely the reason that I remember the film so fondly.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

I've mentioned elsewhere that Disney's adaptations of famous works sometimes avoid the dark and dreary messages of the original works.He wished,it seems,to provide wholesome family entertainment.IN this regard,he succeeded.But,after seeing this film,as I did when it first came out,I was horrified when I got around to reading Kahler's book.Let's see the differences.

1.)Toby,in the story,is a sly,fat, lazy glutton,who leaves a brutal orphan's home in order to avoid doing his chores,and being punished for dishonesty.He joins the circus,and wages an undercover war against the evil management.

2.)The circus is a dreary,run down dump,managed by vicious alcoholics who beat and cripple children.Toby,consequently,starts a guerrilla war against them.

3.)The people who work in the circus,when they aren't brutal bullies,are among the most grotesque characters in Victorian American fiction.

4.)Toby DOESN'T become a star on horses.Mr.Stubbs isn't a cute chimp,but a mangy,pathetic,morose old monkey.And the hunter does kill him.

5.)The story ends with the manager of the orphanage taking Toby back.And you get the feeling that all will not be well.

So,while the film adaptation sticks to some of the facts,the underlying message has been avoided.