Treasure of Matecumbe
Treasure of Matecumbe is a 1976 American family adventure film directed by Vincent McEveety and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It was based on the novel A Journey to Matecumbe by Robert Lewis Taylor. The filming locations were in Danville, Kentucky, Sacramento River at Colusa, California and Walt Disney Golden Oak Ranch in California. The final scene at a beached shipwreck was filmed at Walt Disney World's Discovery Island.[1][2]
Treasure of Matecumbe | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Vincent McEveety |
Produced by | Bill Anderson Ron Miller |
Written by | Don Tait |
Based on | A Journey to Matecumbe by Robert Lewis Taylor |
Starring | Johnny Doran Billy Atmore Robert Foxworth Joan Hackett Peter Ustinov Vic Morrow |
Music by | Buddy Baker |
Cinematography | Frank V. Phillips |
Edited by | Cotton Warburton |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release date |
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Running time | 115 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
In post-Civil War Kentucky, young David Burnie (Johnny Doran) becomes the unexpected heir to a map revealing treasure on the Florida isle of Matecumbe. Joined by four fellow adventurers, Davie begins his search for the treasure despite deadly interference by his late father's Civil War nemesis.
A boy named Davie and his companion, Thad (Billy Atmore) run away from their home on a Kentucky plantation to search for treasure. Davie and Thad board a steamboat to Louisiana, but wind up off the boat when they jump overboard to save Lauriette Paxton, a fellow passenger who is thrown overboard trying to stop a thief from stealing the boys' money. Paxton turns the boys in as runaways, but after they escape and secure employment as apprentices of the snake oil salesman Dr. Ewing Snodgrass (Peter Ustinov) and saving Davie's uncle from a Ku Klux Klan lynching, they earn Paxton's respect. Along the way they are chased by a carpetbagger named Spangler, an enemy of Davie's late father. A Yankee from the north, Spangler is hated by the proud confederate southerner Mrs. Paxton. The map leads them to an isle in Florida, where they dig for treasure.
Cast
- Johnny Doran as Davie
- Billy "Pop" Atmore as Thad
- Robert Foxworth as Uncle Jim
- Joan Hackett as Lauriette Paxton
- Sir Peter Ustinov as Dr. Ewing T. Snodgrass
- Vic Morrow as Captain Spangler
- Jane Wyatt as Aunt Effie
- Virginia Vincent as Aunt Lou
- Robert DoQui as Ben
- Mills Watson as Catrell
- Dub Taylor as Sheriff Forbes
- Dick Van Patten as The Gambler
- George Lindsey as Coahoma Sheriff
- John Myhers as Captain Boomer
- Logan Ramsey as Coley
- Valentin de Vargas as Charlie
- Jonathan Daly as Paxton Farrow
- Warde Donovan as Sheriff Coffey
- James Brodhead as Groom
- John Steadman as Guide
- Rex Holman as Informant
- Clint Ritchie as Flatboat Leader
- Ken Renard as Customer
- Brion James as Roustabout
- John Hayes as Mule Driver
- John C. Flinn III as Spangler's Men
- Louie Elias as Spangler's Men
- Richard Wright as Spangler's Men
- David S. Cass Sr. as Spangler's Men
Reception
Blogger Dean L Jones wrote of the film, "An adventure saga influenced by elements from the fiction of Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, and others—then illustrates those elements through the nostalgic and memorable prism of the Walt Disney Productions house style—Treasure of Matecumbe is as wonderful depiction of childhood whismey and imagination. […], Treasure of Matecumbe includes murder, mystery and an exciting journey in the search of the treasure of maticumbe"[3]
Upon its release in 1976 The Treasure of Matacumbe premiered throughout the U.S. and was received with mediocre applause. As of 2020 it is available on Disney Plus[4]
References
- Maltin, Leonard (September 2, 2014). Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide. Penguin. ISBN 9780698183612 – via Google Books.
- Taylor, Drew (November 13, 2019). "15 obscure movies and TV shows on Disney+ you need to check out". SYFY WIRE.
- Hanson, By Peter (July 14, 2015). "Every 70s Movie: Treasure of Matecumbe (1976)".
- "What To Watch On Disney+: The Ultimate 70s Movies Watchlist". April 28, 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Treasure of Matecumbe at IMDb
- Treasure of Matecumbe at Rotten Tomatoes
- Treasure of Matecumbe at the TCM Movie Database