Movie Type: Fantasy Adventure, Family-Oriented Adventure
Themes: Righting the Wronged, Heroic Mission
Main Cast: Patrick Swayze, Oliver Platt, Roger Aaron Brown, Nick Stahl, Scott Glenn
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
Plot
This ambitious Disney movie uses a remarkable screenplay from Steven L. Bloom and Robert Rodat to tell a rollicking tale of America's transition from a close-to-the-land culture of mythic heroes to a corporate world of real estate tycoons. The strong theme about the decline of folk culture is expressed through a series of high octane adventures experienced by 12-year-old Daniel Hackett (Nick Stahl) at the dawn of the 20th century. Daniel's father, Jonas Hackett (Stephen Lang), runs a farm in a place called Paradise Valley, but his land is coveted by a greedy developer, J.P. Stiles (Scott Glenn). Daniel looks longingly at postcards of New York City while growing increasingly skeptical of his father's tales of legendary folk heroes. Then, through a series of incredible adventures, Daniel meets up with the legends that his father has spoken about -- cowboy Pecos Bill (Patrick Swayze), lumberjack Paul Bunyan (Oliver Platt), and finally, ex-slave and strongman John Henry (Roger Aaron Brown). Each of these heroes hooks up with Daniel and becomes involved in an increasingly bitter and boisterous fight against Stiles, whose plans to buy up land threaten the very strength of the folk heroes and the well-being of the common people. Pecos Bill has a horse named Widowmaker and can lasso a tornado. The giant Bunyan is accompanied by his famous blue ox, Babe. At one point, another legend, the cowgirl Calamity Jane (Catherine O'Hara), joins in the adventures. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Susan Barnes - Hag in Alley; Joe Grifasi - Man in Top Hat; Jared Harris - Head Thug Pug; Moira Harris - Sarah Hackett; Sal Jenco - Big Jim; Bert Kramer - Bronson; William H. Macy; Mike Moroff - Bar Room Bully; John Nance - Doctor; Catherine O'Hara - Calamity Jane; Tim Riley - Farmer #2; Bill Rodgers - Captain of Industry; John Ryan - Grub; Darwyn Swalve - Lumberjack #1; Scott Wilson - Zeb; Richard Zobel - Barkeep; Kevin Brown - Bettor #1; Eric Lawson - Sheriff; Jay S. York - Lumberjack #2; Jackie Burch; Stephen Lang - Jonas Hackett; James Oscar Lee - Spectator
Credit
Jim Dultz - Art Director, Rick Heinrichs - Art Director, Jackie Burch - Casting, William Badalato - Co-producer, Wayne A. Finkelman - Costume Designer, Jeremiah S. Chechik - Director, Lee Cleary - Director, Ernie F. Orsatti - Second Unit Director, Richard Chew - Editor, Bill Badalato - Executive Producer, Randy Edelman - Composer (Music Score), Rob Janiger - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ken Chase - Makeup, Mitchell Dubin - Camera Operator, Raymond Stella - Camera Operator, William Badalato - Production Designer, Eugenio Zanetti - Production Designer, Janusz Kaminski - Cinematographer, Roger Birnbaum - Producer, Joe Roth - Producer, Tom Schulman - Producer, Jerie Kelter - Set Designer, Daniel Maltese - Set Designer, Greg Papalia - Set Designer, Jacques Valin - Set Designer, Scott E. Anderson - Special Effects, Richard Epper - Stunts, Andy Gill - Stunts, Cliff McLaughlin - Stunts, Lee Mc Laughlin - Stunts, Rex Pierson - Stunts, John-Clay Scott - Stunts, Eddie Yansick - Stunts, Tom Elliott - Stunts, Buck McDancer - Stunts, Doug Metzger - Stunts, Ernie F. Orsatti - Stunts, Noon Orsatti - Stunts, Patrick Romano - Stunts, Robert Schenkkan - Screenwriter, Steven L. Bloom - Screenwriter, Robert Rodat - Screenwriter
