Le gang des chaussons aux pommes

In the 1970's, Disney churned out cheap film after cheap film meant to draw children in without spending much money. They had mediocre acting, mediocre laughs and often obscure and pointless plots.

Out of all these films, The Apple Dumpling Gang is one of the few that succeeds in capturing the audience. This is entirely due to the splendid performances by Don Knotts and Tim Conway. These accomplished comedy actors give perhaps the most hilarious performances that Disney has delivered to date.

The plot is pretty pointless, most of the acting is only okay, but the dialogue and action, especially from Knotts and Conway, is hilarious. Catch this film if you just want to laugh.

You can also see the sequel, which delivers quite a few laughs but is a little too weird and pointless for my taste.

"The Apple Dumpling Gang" is quite agreeable, providing a generous amount of laughs and excitement as it delivers the Disney formula to a T. Adapted from a novel by Jack M. Bickham, it stars TV legend Bill Bixby as Russel Donavan, a gambler and rogue who shuns responsibility. When he comes into possession of three orphaned kids, he at first tries mightily to dump them on someone else. But surprise, surprise. The scoundrel turns out to be a pretty good parental figure. But the true sparks fly when the kids themselves come into possession of some honest-to-God gold. And naturally, EVERYBODY in town wants to get their hands on that gold, including a notorious outlaw (Slim Pickens) and two incompetent former associates of his, played by top comedy actors Don Knotts and Tim Conway.

The script is brought to life with some real zest, and as usual for Disney, it's a decent example of some good, straightforward storytelling, spiced up with fine period recreation and solid action scenes. But as any fan of this classic can tell you, it's Knotts and Conway that really steal the show. Knotts is perennial flustered straight man to the REALLY dumb Conway, who's hysterical. And of course, their union was fruitful enough to spawn more Knotts-Conway vehicles, some made for Disney, some not.

But the rest of the cast is quite engaging, and full of familiar faces and top character actors & actresses. Susan Clark is feisty fun in a de-glamourized role as a stagecoach driver, and love interest for Donavan. Harry Morgan is great as always, playing the local sheriff / barber / justice of the peace. The three kids are played by the endearing Clay O'Brien (who became a real-life cowboy), Brad Savage, and Stacy Manning. A running joke has Manning constantly needing to run off to urinate. Also to be seen in this most welcome ensemble are David Wayne, John McGiver, Don Knight, Dennis Fimple, Iris Adrian, Fran Ryan, Bing Russell, and Jim Boles. Richard Farnsworth has an uncredited bit as a mover.

Rollicking entertainment, complete with a feel-good theme song.

Followed by a sequel four years later, with Knotts & Conway reprising their roles.

Seven out of 10.

One of the best live-action Disney movies. A sweet story about misplaced children, an unwilling but good-intentioned gambler as a foster parent and two bumbling crooks as the comic foil. Bill Bixby, of "My Favorite Martian" and "The Hulk" fame, plays Russell Donovan, the roaming gambler who is unwittingly stuck with some "valuables." Tim Conway and Don Knotts, a little past their prime, play the hapless crooks known as the "Hash Knife Outfit." Susan Clark plays the tomboy stage coach driver who fills in as the kids mother. It also stars Harry Morgan as the town sheriff. Beautiful scenery, lots of action, comedy, and a fabulous saloon brawl that is the highlight of the film.

I saw the Apple Dumpling Gang when I was a child and I found the film to be delightful. The film is intended to be pure comedy and that is what it delivers.

Don Knotts and Tim Conway are both excellent actors and they provided a superb performance in this comedy. This is a show that I was proud to show my children and my grandchildren as it holds wonderful childhood memories for me.

There are a lot of shows out there today that are too violent, and rude. This show is refreshing in that you can be assured that your children are not watching blood splattering or listening to foul language. This show is in true Walt Disney fashion.

As it goes with most 70's Disney fare, this is an acceptable family movie. Most of their live action flicks of this period are best described as "hit or miss". Where, say, that "Pete's Dragon" is a "MISS", "Apple Dumpling Gang", is a solid "HIT". One wonders where Disney's creative minds were in this period, as some of the films of this period are just a little "off". As in seeming "out of date", and "stale". I guess they were all working on getting Disney World, and EPCOT off the ground in Florida, and gearing up for the much anticipated animated movie "The Black Cauldron". I have a book about Disney, that a relative got for me in 1975, that goes into a good amount of detail on that movie, even though it would be a decade(!) before it was released.

"TADG" has just the right amount of excitement, comedy, cute kids, and bumbling to be watchable by almost anyone. Bill Bixby does a good job as the lead, and Susan Clark is quite watchable. The kids are not as "whiney" as most live action Disney kids, and David Wayne and Harry Morgan are most welcome. And then there's Don Knotts and Tim Conway! I usually get tired of "the bumbling duo" act, but there is just the right amount of screen time for them, to not become annoying.

I'd suggest this to any parent who has to sit and watch along with the wee ones. I usually grab a magazine to read, but I found myself actually enjoying this warm hearted film.

Miss some of the stinkers like "Pete's Dragon"(I hate that kid!), and enjoy this kind hearted little movie from Disney.