dbdumonteil
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.
eebarnett
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.
Geff
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.
Hans C. Frederick
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.