Disney Rediscovered: The Films of Norman Tokar

Prolific director and occasional writer and producer of serial television programming, Norman Tokar, became a force for the Walt Disney Studio. Through his ability to direct actors in scenes that required expert timing of sight gags, he became one of the major players in creating the look and feel of Disney’s live-action films.

Tokar successfully directed many of the early episodes of “Leave it to Beaver.” Due to his knack for working with child actors and getting the best performances out of them, he was signed into the Walt Disney Studio’s talent pool to direct family features, which frequently used children and animals.

During his tenure with the company, Tokar found his greatest success directing over a dozen films for the Walt Disney Studio, spanning the 1960s to the 1970s.

A strict director who knew what he wanted to capture on camera, he helmed television productions, such as “The Mickey Mouse Club” and “Zorro,” before stepping onto his first motion picture for the Walt Disney Studio, “Big Red.”

At the beginning of his career, Tokar sharpened his directing skills with television shows like “The Bob Cummings Show,” “The Donna Reed Show,” “The Tab Hunter Show,” and “Naked City.” In his private life, he was once married to Phyllis Coates, best known for her work as reporter Lois Lane in 1951’s “Superman and the Mole Men,” and in the first season of the television series “Adventures of Superman.”

On April 6, 1979, Tokar died in his sleep at the age of 59 of a heart attack. Although his life was short, he left an indelible mark on Disney that helped define studio films with a formula that was a mainstay for almost twenty years.

To celebrate his legacy with the Walt Disney Company, let’s take a look at the theatrical films of Norman Tokar.

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Big Red (1962)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob2aZTtgXXs

The family-oriented adventure “Big Red” is Tokar’s feature film debut for Walt Disney Productions. Based on a 1945 novel by American author Jim Kjelgaard and adapted to the screen by American screenwriter Louis Pelletier, the film starred screen legend Walter Pidgeon, Gilles Payant, and Émile Genest.

The film’s namesake Big Red is a free-spirited Irish Setter that is in the process of being a perfectly trained and groomed show dog his sportsman owner (Pidgeon). However, a young orphan boy (Payant) helps look after the dog and rebels against his owner’s strict discipline of “Big Red.”

When the film opened in theaters, it was accompanied by the short subject, “The Living Desert,” part of Disney’s True-Life Adventures series of documentaries. The film also features songs by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, with a score by Oliver Wallace.

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Savage Sam (1963)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvH6N9pUZxI

In his second film, Tokar rises to the challenge in the second installment of a Disney classic with “Savage Sam,” the sequel to “Old Yeller.”

Based on the 1962 novel “Savage Sam” by Fred Gipson, Travis (Tommy Kirk) and Arliss (Kevin Corcoran) are put in charge of the family farm when their parents leave to visit their ailing grandmother. Sam, born to Old Yeller and originally given the name Young Yeller, is given the nickname “Savage Sam” due to his slightly aggressive nature.

The film stars Brian Keith, Dewey Martin, Jeff York, Slim Pickens, and Marta Kristen.

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A Tiger Walks (1964)

Based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Ian Niall, “A Tiger Walks” stars Vera Miles and Brian Keith in a story of an escaped circus tiger and a sheriff’s young daughter who tries to convince her father and others not to kill the tiger. 

The film also stars Pamela Franklin, Edward Andrews, Una Merkel, Peter Brown, and Kevin Corcoran. It was Indian actor Sabu’s last film, released only a few months after his death.

The starring tiger “Patrina” won that year’s PATSY Award for best animal performer in a motion picture.

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Those Calloways (1965)

Adapted from the 1950 children’s novel “Swiftwater” by Paul Annixter, Tokar’s fourth film follows the trials and tribulations of a Vermont family who attempt to establish a sanctuary for the Canada geese in their rural community during their seasonal migrations.

“Those Calloways” stars Brian Keith in his third film with Tokar, Vera Miles, Brandon de Wilde, Walter Brennan, Ed Wynn, and Linda Evans. It was the last credit for veteran film composer Max Steiner.

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The Ugly Dachshund (1966)

Based on a 1938 novel “The Ugly Dachshund” by Gladys Bronwyn Stern, the light-hearted comedy stars Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette, Charlie Ruggles, and Kelly Thordsen in a story about a Great Dane named Danke, who believes he is a dachshund.

The film received negative reviews from film critics, but despite that, it was among that season’s most profitable releases. After the film’s initial release, Disney marketing vice-president Card Walker projected combined receipts of $6 million.

The film’s trailer features the voice of Paul Frees, the narrator of the famed Disneyland attractions “The Haunted Mansion,” and the now-defunct “Adventure Thru Inner Space.”

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Follow Me, Boys! (1966)

Adapted by the 1954 novel “God and My Country” by MacKinlay Kantor, “Follow Me, Boys!” was the final live-action film produced by Walt Disney, who died two weeks after the film’s theatrical release. “Follow Me, Boys!” would be the first of two projects where Tokar would direct Disney’s rising star, Kurt Russell.

In the film, Lem Siddons (Fred MacMurray) decides to embark as a scoutmaster to a group of high-spirited Boy Scouts. The film also stars Vera Miles, Charles Ruggles, and film legend Lillian Gish.

The title song “Follow Me, Boys!” was written by Robert M. and Richard B. Sherman. After the film’s release, the Boy Scouts of America considered using the song as their anthem.

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The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

Based on the true story of Philadelphia millionaire Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, and the play “The Happiest Millionaire,” the musical features original music by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman. It was the last live-action musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney, who passed away during the film’s production.

The film is the first time John Davidson and Lesley Anne Warren shared the screen, and would appear together again in the 1968 musical “The One and Only, Original, Family Band.” The film also stars Fred MacMurray, Geraldine Page, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson, and Gladys Cooper. 

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The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit (1968)

Based on the 1955 book, “The Year of the Horse” by Eric Hatch, ad agency executive Fred Bolton (Dean Jones) comes up with an idea to have his firm buy a horse for his teenage daughter to ride in competitive horse shows.

The film would be Tokar’s second film with Kurt Russell. Diane Baker, Morey Amsterdam, Ellen Janov, and Lurene Tuttle round out the cast.

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Rascal (1969)

In the coming-of-age comedy-drama, a baby raccoon named Rascal nestles his way into the life of Sterling North (Bill Mumy), a lonely boy in rural Wisconsin and becomes his companion during his father’s frequent absences. 

Based on the book of the same name by Sterling North, Tokar’s ninth film features stars Steve Forrest, Pamela Toll, Bettye Ackerman, John Fiedler, Jonathan Daly, and the voice of Walter Pidgeon as Sterling’s father, Willard.

The film features the song “Summer Sweet” by Bobby Russell.

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The Boatniks (1970)

Newly assigned to duty in the Coast Guard at Newport Beach, California, Coast Guard Ensign Thomas Garland (Robert Morse) navigates his way through a series of nautical mishaps. Things get more complicated when he falls for Kate Fairchild (Stefanie Powers), a young woman who manages a sailing school, and a trio of bumbling jewel thieves who create havoc at the Orange County beach community.

The film also stars Phil Silvers, Don Ameche, Norman Fell, Mickey Shaughnessy, Judith Jordan, Al Lewis, Wally Cox, Robert Hastings, and Midori. 

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Snowball Express (1972)

Produced by Ron Miller and Tom Leetch, Johnny Baxter (Dean Jones) leaves his middle class job to run a hotel in the Rocky Mountains left to him by his great uncle. Unknown to him, the “estate” in a state of total dilapidation.

“Snowball Express” stars Nancy Olson, Harry Morgan, George Lindsey, Mary Wickes, and Keenan Wynn.

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The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)

Based on a 1971 novel by Jack Bickham, the comedy features a slick gambler named Russell Donovan (Bill Bixby), who is duped into taking care of a group of orphans who eventually strike gold. The Apple Dumpling Gang are named after the orphans’ favorite American dessert treat, the apple dumpling. 

“The Apple Dumpling Gang” is the first film to feature the comedy duo of Don Knotts and Tim Conway, who were enjoying success at the time on television. Susan Clark, David Wayne, Slim Pickens, Harry Morgan, John McGiver, Clay O’Brien, Don Knight, Stacy Manning, and Brad Savage also star.

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No Deposit, No Return (1976)

Written by Arthur Alsberg and Don Nelson, Tokar’s crime comedy stars David Niven, Darren McGavin, Don Knotts, Herschel Bernardi, Charles Martin Smith, Barbara Feldon, Kim Richards, and Brad Savage.

Inspired by the O. Henry short stories “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “A Retrieved Reformation,” two children, Tracy and Jay, fake their own kidnapping, holding themselves for ransom by a pair of down-on-their-luck safecrackers. It doesn’t take long for the two young pranksters to discover just how impractical a practical joke can be.

During its original theatrical release, “No Deposit, No Return” was accompanied with a reissue of the animated film “Dumbo.”

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Candleshoe (1977)

When ex-con artist Harry (Leo McKern) believes that a secret treasure of pirate captain Joshua St. Edmund is hidden inside the English estate Candleshoe, he constructs an elaborate plan to find and steal the treasure. By convincing an orphaned girl named Casey (Jodie Foster) to impersonate the estate owner’s granddaughter, Harry hopes to con the family and uncover the treasure’s location. 

The film also stars Helen Hayes, Vivian Pickles, Veronica Quilligan, Ian Sharrock, Sarah Tamakuni, David Samuels, John Alderson, Mildred Shay, Michael Balfour, and Sydney Bromley.

For more information on “Candleshoe,” visit our past article.

Rediscovering a Forgotten Disney Treasure – Candleshoe

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The Cat from Outer Space (1978)

In Tokar’s final film for Disney, an extraterrestrial cat named Jake crash-lands his spaceship on Earth. “The Cat from Outer Space” stars Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Harry Morgan, Ronnie Schell, Roddy McDowall, and McLean Stevenson.

According to the AFI Catalog, the producers screen-tested multiple breeds of cats for the title role, and eventually settled on the Abyssinian due to the breed’s ease of training and appealing appearance. For the role of the alien cat, several “look-alike” cats were trained.

Produced by Walt Disney Productions, the film was shot at the studio’s Golden Oak Ranch and Santa Clarita, California. 

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Bonus Clip: Walt Disney’s Final Bow

The introduction to ‘Follow Me, Boys!’ by Walt Disney on “The Wonderful World of Disney” is the last known footage of him just a few days before doctors discovered he had a tumor on his lung. In the clip, Disney talks about Tokar’s upcoming film “The Happiest Millionaire,” which was in production at the time, and is the last film that was personally supervised by Walt Disney.