Bon Voyage!

"Bon Voyage" is a very good Disney movie from the studio's heyday of family films - that is, films centered around families. It's a comedy that also includes subtle lessons about life. These may not be such heralded motives or themes in the Hollywood of the 21st century, or even of large audience interests in modern times. But in the mid-20th century - especially the two decades plus, after World War II, they were good themes and very popular. This film finished 13th place in box office sales for the year. So, audiences of that time - and, most critics, enjoyed this movie.

The movie screenplay was written by Joseph Hayes. It is based on the 1956 novel of the same title that he co-wrote with his wife, Merrijane. Hayes is remembered for a number of novels and screenplays. His most notable work was his 1954 book, "The Desperate Hours," from which he then wrote a 1955 Broadway play that won the Tony as the best play of the year. That was followed immediately by a screenplay for the blockbuster film that starred Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, and Martha Scott. Although more celebrated for his mystery and thriller stories, Hayes also wrote some comedy and drama.

Among the cast of this film set on a ship crossing the Atlantic and then, in Paris and the French Rivera, are some actors dubbed as Disney legends - notably, Fred MacMurray as Harry Willard and Tommy Kirk as his son, Elliott. They and Deborah Walley as daughter Amy give the best performances with the bulk of the screen time. The rest of the cast are good, including Jane Wyman as Mrs. Katie Willard, Michael Callan as Nick O'Mara, who pursues Amy from ship to shore, and Kevin Corcoran as the youngest Willard, Skipper.

Not many movies have been made about families on vacation. There was a small surge of such films in the mid-20th century, mostly comedies. This is one of the better films, along with "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" of the same year that starred James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara. Other movies, "National Lampoon's European Vacation" of 1985 and later films since then have lots of comedy in the antics of the cast, but very little interplay about family life.

The usual family humor is present here, where the older teens think their parents are old-fashioned, out of touch, or not to be believed or followed. After some antics and mishaps, Harry talks reasonably with Elliott and Amy. And the kids find out that dad may be wise after all. That kind of family interplay is most often left out of modern movies in favor of all-out efforts for humor. The result is often a picture of dumb parents, a dodo dad, and families in which kids have little or no respect for parents. I can't believe that modern vacationing families might really be like that.

Anyway, this is a very good film that is quite funny in places and thought-provoking at times. Here are some favorite lines.

Harry Willard, "Where the devil did she meet that fella?" Katie Willard, "Probably in the elevator." Harry, "How could she possibly meet someone during a ten-second elevator ride? I've been riding elevators all my life. I never meet anyone."

Katie, "He looks rather nice." Harry, "That's probably what he does - hang around elevators all the time. They have a name for his kind - elevator lurkers." Katie, "Oh, don't be silly, Harry. He's one of the passengers."

Harry, "What's wrong son? You can tell me." Elliott, "Dad, let's not do the man-to-man talk bit now, okay? I couldn't take it."

Harry, "I wish you'd stop talking like I'm from Mars or something. What don't I understand?"

Elliott, "I'm not interested in other girls. I'm deeply, beautifully in love with a very fine person. Together we might've had a chance for happiness. Together, we. .." Harry, "Wait a minute, Elliott. Are you talking about that scrawny Hamilton kid back home - the one with the floppy bangs that calls me 'chum'?" Elliott, "Dad, if we can't discuss Ruth with the respect to which she is entitled, I'd rather we didn't discuss it at all."

Harry, to youngest son, Skipper, "Whaddaya think of that fella, O'Mara?" Skipper, "Search me! He's no different from the other creeps Amy goes with back home."

Harry, "There's just something about that Nick O'Mara that raises my hackles. He admits he went to Yale." Katie, "Now, Harry." Harry, "I know - some of the sweetest boys you know went to Yale."

Harry, "And I thought the only thing we had to worry about on this trip was to make sure everybody drank bottled water."

Harry, "Look, son, let's get something straight right here. We ARE tourists. We're not playboys, or business tycoons, or international spies, or anything like that. We're just plain tourists from Terre Haute, Indiana. Now, for a start, it might help if we stop showboating all over the place and pretending something we're note. Then, maybe tourist won't be such a dirty word anymore."

Katie, "Harry, you surprise me. You're more devious than I gave you credit for. " Harry, "Well., I have given the matter some thought." Katie, "All right, you Happy Machiavelli, where's your first move?"

Amy Willard, "Give yourself some credit, daddy. You raised a girl with some gumption."

Amy, "Oh, don't worry about me, Pop. I'm going out with my two brothers. You take care of your own problem."

Fred MacMurray, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran. 3 classic Disney stars that you can't go wrong with. But somehow this just missed. A good concept but just didn't have laughs. Its more about annoying love spats. I've been watching all of the late 50s and into the 60s live action Disney movies. Some of them are awesome. Some of them are good but a little slow and then by the time you get to the end, the music and the story have you captured. Others yet left a little to be desired but are still good family fare. This one, well it just doesn't make the cut. Well, if you are like me and want to watch every Disney live action movie from the time period, its OK, its not that bad, scenes in France will keep you interested.

Bon Voyage Let's See. On board for 'Bon voyage' is my mother's favorite actor 'Fred MacMurray'. There is actress and Ronald Regan's ex 'Jane Wyman'. Disney maverick's 'Tommy Kirk' and 'Kevin Anthony "Moochie" Corcoran' are on board as well. And then there is Deborah Walley, who I never heard of before, but she seems like she's a good actress.

OK, there is the wholesome Disney atmosphere, some wacky situations, one involving Fred getting lost in the sewers of Paris and other wacky things including Fred almost getting arrested from causing a scene at a restaurant. He has some other wacky conversations with some relatives who have never meet him, but think it's horrible that Jane Whyman's character has marred of all things 'A plumber'. He slyly reveals that he is the plumber much to their shocked snobbery surprise. Overall there is the interesting sitcom concept and premise of a family taking a vacation in Europe.

This concept was used in 'National Lampoon's European Vacation' and produced a rather funny film. The concept used in this film produced a rather dull and boring movie. Despite the cleaner friendly film, it isn't a Disney film worth adding to your collection and I would have to say it isn't worth renting either. NLEV is crude in parts and is not worth letting your kids watch unless you find a way to severely edit out all the inappropriate parts.

But 'Bon Voyage' is not the better equivalent. With Fred MacMurray you expect better work. His character is annoying. When a man hits on his wife instead of hitting him, he guzzles down booze and gets upset at his wife because a guy is flirting with her. He does finally sock the guy, so justice wins out in the end, even though you have to wait for it to happen while enduring his whining about it. The melodrama that bubbles up from this film is also annoying and leaves you wondering about the deeper storyline that they never reveal. Even if they did you probably wouldn't care anyway.

The Disney magic does not flow upon everything that it does. This is not the worst film ever made or the worst film Disney ever made, it's just a rather boring dull film. So I say Bon Voyage 'Bon Voyage ( and don't come back)

Nice Disney family film in the tradition of Old Yeller, Swiss Family Robinson & LT. Robin Crusoe USN. Stars Fred Mac Murray & Jane Wyman as well as veteran Disney child actors Tommy Kirk & Kevin Cochoran, and the late Deborah Walley. Real star of this film is the old Ocean Liner SS United States. - 1962 was the twilight of the big Transatlantic Ocean Liners and " The Big U" shows herself in all her glory. Shot on location in Paris and the Riviera, it gives us a look back at Paris back in the 60's with all the fads and fashions. A bit dated for today's tots. This film is probably better suited for adults looking for a nostalgic look back.

This Disney Romantic Comedy is just plain too long for its own good. Fred MacMurray and Jane Wyman star as an Indiana couple finally getting their trip to Paris, but with three "kids" in tow. They get involved in all sorts of complications, especially with the older kids.

Amy (Deborah Walley) has met a rich young man (Michael Callan) who is also taking the ocean liner trip. She's a cold fish and he's a neurotic pain. Elliott (Tommy Kirk) is a sullen little thing, but he perks up when he gets to Paris and meets some girls. Then there's little Skipper (Kevin Corcoran) who makes some trouble for Dad.

While this could have been a fun film, it's so slow and draggy, the pacing kills it dead. Wyman and MacMurray have very little chemistry but go through their paces as the pros they were. Wyman is further hampered by those hideous mid-century clothes and hats.

Jessie Royce Landis provides a punch of fun and color as Callan's flamboyant mother. Ivan Desny makes for a dreary masher. A few other familiar faces like James Milllhollin, Howard Smith, Doris Packer, Max Showalter, and Richard Wattis, don't have much to do. Carol White, a British actress famous (later in the 1960s) for gritty British films like POOR COW, is oddly cast as one of Kirk's girl friends.

MacMurray does have a few good comedy scenes, but there's not enough punch to make this more than an extended sitcom. The film won Oscar nominations for sound and the hideous costumes.