| Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Norman Foster |
| Written by | Tom Blackburn |
| Produced by | Bill Walsh |
| Starring | Fess Parker Buddy Ebsen |
| Cinematography | Charles P. Boyle |
| Edited by | Chester W. Schaeffer |
| Music by |
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Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Film Distribution Co., Inc. |
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7 million[3] |
| Box office | $2,150,000 (US)[4] |
Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier is a 1955 AmericanWesternadventuredrama film produced byWalt Disney Productions. It is an edited and recut compilation of the first three episodes of theDavy Crocketttelevision miniseries. The episodes used wereDavy Crockett Indian Fighter,Davy Crockett Goes to Congress, andDavy Crockett at the Alamo. The film starsFess Parker asDavy Crockett.[5]
A prequel, titledDavy Crockett and the River Pirates, was released on July 18, 1956.
TwoTennessee wilderness settlers, Davy Crockett and his best friend George Russell (son of Captain William Russell and Agness H. Mccollough), volunteer to fight with GeneralAndrew Jackson and Major Tobias Norton in theCreek War (1813-1814). They return home after a successful battle, to make sure their families have enough provisions for the winter, rejoining a short time later to find the Americans at a stalemate against theCreeks, with Jackson havinggone to New Orleans. Against Norton's orders, Crockett and Russell scout for Creek positions, and Russell is captured.
Crockett tracks the Creeks to their camp, where he challenges the remaining Creek chief, Red Stick, to atomahawk duel for Russell's life. Crockett wins, but agrees to spare Red Stick's life in exchange for his signingthe American peace treaty.
Crockett and Russell head west to scout virgin territory being opened for settlement, planning to send for Davy's family once a cabin has been built. They acquire a claim after beating Bigfoot Mason in a shooting contest. They learn that Mason is running Native Americans off their land in order to resell it, and befriend a family of Cherokee refugees Mason has victimized. Crockett offers to become the magistrate for the area. Crockett defeats Mason in hand-to-hand combat before arresting him and his surviving accomplice (the other one having been shot dead when he tried to shoot Crockett).
Crockett is convinced to run for the state legislature against Amos Thorpe, a corrupt politician in league with men trying to claimCherokee lands, who is running unopposed. He then receives a letter from his sister-in-law telling him that his wife has died of a fever. Crockett wins the election handily and becomes a popular member of the Tennessee General Assembly. He reunites with Norton and Andrew Jackson, who is running forPresident of the United States and convinces him to run for theUnited States House of Representatives.
After he enters Congress, Norton, trying to pass a bill to usurp Native American treaty lands, has Crockett embark on a speaking tour across the eastern United States to distract him, but Russell learns of the bill and brings Crockett back to Washington to argue against it. Crockett tears the bill in half before leaving, ending his political career.
Crockett decides to join theBattle of the Alamo (1836), joined by George Russell. While traveling toSan Antonio, they are joined by Thimblerig, a riverboat gambler, and Busted Luck, aComanche tribesman. Reaching the Alamo, they join its defense, though ColonelJames Bowie confides that their supplies are dangerously low. Russell manages to slip through the enemy lines to try to bring back help, only to return empty-handed. The Texan garrison withstands several attacks from Mexican troops before being overcome. George Russell, Thimblerig, Busted Luck, Travis, and a bedridden Colonel Bowie are all killed, leaving Crockett the sole defender standing. Crockett is last seen swinging his rifle against the encroaching Mexicans; the scene then fades to a shot of theLone Star Flag and Crockett's journal closing on its last entry "March 6, 1836 - Liberty and Independence Forever!", accompanied by a reprise of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett".
Most footage was shot inTennessee andWildwood Regional Park inThousand Oaks, California.[6][7][8]
The three segments comprising the film, which originally aired onWalt Disney's Disneyland, were popular enough forWalt Disney to release them theatrically. The film remains Disney's most successful television film project, inspiring two prequel episodes for the television series which were later released in theaters asDavy Crockett and the River Pirates.[citation needed]
The film was released on video in 1980, 1985, and 1993.[9] It was released on DVD on Sep 07, 2004.[10] On November 10, 2015, the films were released on Blu-ray on a "60th Anniversary Edition" set through the Disney Movie Club.[11]