Themes: Family Vacations, Americans Abroad, Mischievous Children
Main Cast: Fred MacMurray, Jane Wyman, Michael Callan, Deborah Walley
Release Year: 1962
Country: US
Run Time: 131 minutes
Plot
An Indiana family embarks on their dream vacation to France. The Willard family, led by Harry (Fred MacMurray) and Katie (Jane Wyman), bring their three children along to experience a slice of continental culture abroad. Amy (Deborah Walley) is the lovestruck teenager whose brother Elliott (Tommy Kirk) is easily as eager for love. Younger brother Skipper (Kevin Corcoran) is the mischievous moppet who is always getting lost. Elliott is mesmerized by a pretty French maid, Amy is wooed by a wealthy teen, and Katie fends off the advances of an amorous playboy. From Paris to Monte Carlo, the Willard family experiences culture shock firsthand and realizes quickly they are not back home in Indiana. This Walt Disney production, while focusing on less childlike themes than in other films, still managed to take in five million dollars in its initial domestic release. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Review
The spirit of Andy Hardy lives on in Bon Voyage!, a live-action Disney comedy that is a throwback to the earlier Mickey Rooney series in spirit, if not to the letter. Bon Voyage! also shares a lot with countless other "American hicks abroad" comedies, and those who like such fare will undoubtedly find the film very much up their alley. Those who find such fare a bit tiresome, on the other hand, will not find anything new or refreshing here, as Bon Voyage! basically recycles many gags and situations that have been seen countless times before -- and somehow takes more than two hours to do so. James Neilson's direction may be a bit sluggish, but it does allow the audience time to see some lovely location shots of Paris and to enjoy the fashions its trio of Oscar-nominated designers created for the occasion. More importantly, it's time that is spent in the always-pleasurable company of Fred MacMurray, as well as the engaging company of Jane Wyman. Tommy Kirk, Deborah Walley, and Kevin Corcoran play their kids in patented Disney style. It's all fluff, but it harmless, and if the length doesn't bother you, fairly enjoyable. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Carroll Clark - Art Director, Marvin Aubrey Davis - Art Director, Ron Miller - Associate Producer, Bill Walsh - Associate Producer, Gertrude Casey - Costume Designer, Chuck Keehne - Costume Designer, Bill Thomas - Costume Designer, Joseph L. McEveety - First Assistant Director, James Neilson - Director, Cotton Warburton - Editor, Paul J. Smith - Composer (Music Score), Richard M. Sherman - Songwriter, Robert B. Sherman - Songwriter, William Snyder - Cinematographer, Walt Disney - Producer, Hal G. Gausman - Set Designer, Emile Kuri - Set Designer, Eustace Lycett - Special Effects, Robert O. Cook - Sound/Sound Designer, Dean Thomas - Sound/Sound Designer, Bill Walsh - Screenwriter, Joseph Hayes - Book Author, Marrijane Hayes - Book Author
