Rating: 
Summary: Another Disney DVD Disappointment
Review: .
It seems that Disney just can't get consistent with the quality of their DVD releases.While the film stands on its own as an American treasure, the opportunity to optimize the DVD format for "Follow Me Boys" has been completely squandered. While the Bonus Features give us a gallery of photos (which are much too small to even appreciate), only "Looking Back at Lem's Boys" is offered in our bonus package (that is, if you don't count the opportunities to "Register Your DVD" or return to "Main Menu." "Looking Back at Lem's Boys" bonus is nice, in that it's the reflection of several of the young actors in the film who are now grown men in their 50's. Even so, if this piece cost more than a thousand bucks for Disney to produce, someone got robbed. Most amateur videographers could match the quality of this presentation. During the "Looking Back" presentation, some politically correct genius chose to digitally remove all traces of the cigarette that Walt Disney was smoking while talking with Fred McMurray on the set of this film. Such an assault on historical integrity is absurd... particularly in that Disney died of lung cancer only weeks after the film was released. Sadly, DisneyDVD has missed the opportunity to provide a QUALITY release (one worth of the name "Disney"), which should have included: - a documentary on the magnificent career of one of Hollywood's most beloved actors: Fred McMurray - a film commentary by Kurt Russell - biographies of a stellar cast, including screen legend Lillian Gish; Vera Miles; Luana Patten ("Song of the South" and "So Dear to My Heart"); Charlie Ruggles (namesake of the early Disneyland Main Street U.S.A. shop "Ruggles China and Gift House"). A "where are they now" feature on the cast of boys from the film would have been a great addition. - A feature on set decorator Emile Kuri and Special effects man, Eustace Lycett. The importance of their work on Disney films is incalculable, and yet is commonly overlooked by today's audiences. - A feature on Walt Disney's significant contribution as story man on this feature film would have been an appropriate tribute. His personal contribution directly shaped the film that would finally be made. - Walt's personal filmed introduction for "Follow Me Boys" should have been included. Even A&E included this on their recent salute to Kurt Russell; yet somehow DisneyDVD saw it as unnecessary. Unbelievable! Ironically, as the select "premieres" for "Follow Me Boys" were taking place throughout the country in December of 1966, this filmed introduction was played even newspaper headlines revealed that Walt Disney had succumbed to cancer. The high significance of Walt's own words was a magnificent affirmation of Kurt Russell's talent and of Walt's high hopes for Russell's career. Sadly, a generation of new Disney viewers may never hear this touching final story from the master storyteller himself. We'll just call it... "opportunity lost".
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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Disney film -- disppointing DVD release.
Review: A Disney favorite finally comes to DVD with some interesting and worthwhile "extras." Unfortunately, the film is presented in the "pan-and-scan" version, not its original theatrical ratios. These older films, created by Walt himself, appeal to Disney students and collectors, people who truly care about film preservation. A note to Walt Disney Home Video: please release films in widescreen as well as pan-and-scan on the same disc. That way, viewers have the option.
Rating: 
Summary: Follow Me Boys is Awesome
Review: Anyone involved with Scouting can relate to this film. It is inspiring to anyone who views it. Fred MacMurray and Vera Miles are at their best. Whenever I feel "burned out" doing volunteer work, I watch this film and get all fired up with the volunteer spirit and am ready to go forward. This is a "must see" film.
Rating:
Summary: Great for a Scouting boys family
Review: Anyone who has ever been involved in Scouting, or has a family member who is, will appreciate this light romp down memory lane as the reluctant scout leader goes on to lead troop after troop through year after year of memorial adventures. The laughs keep coming and the ending is truly touching.
Never underestimate the importance of one person on another's life.
Rating:
Summary: one of best movies ever!
Review: As a christian and mother of 11 I am very strict with what I get movie-wise.We don't have cable or an antenna or dish and only watch carefully chosen movies. I had never even heard of this movie and came across it accidentally.Am I ever glad I did.It was one of the most wonderfull heartwarming films I have ever seen.It is sweet and wholesome in a way that does not at all come across as cloying.Go and get it now!You won't be sorry!
Rating:
Summary: Follow Me, Boys!
Review: CLASSIC MOVIE THAT ALL SCOUTERS WILL ENJOY. FIRST SAW IT AT PHILMONT LAST SUMMER, AND I CAME HOME AND HAD TO FIND A COPY OF IT. GLAD TO HEAR THERE'S GOING TO BE A DVD RELEASED.
Rating:
Summary: It WAS filmed in Widescreen
Review: Contrary to what the other reviewer said about the film not being filmed in widescreen, he's wrong. The standard screen ratio of 1:33 was later changed to a standard 1:66 -- that was for every film that wasn't filmed in a larger widescreen format, such as Cinemascope or Panavision -- which could go up to 2:35. So Follow Me Boys was filmed in 1:66, and trust me, you do lose image if it isn't letterboxed. And Disney doesn't care if you like it or not -- they only have contempt for their older products, and for their customers.
Rating:
Summary: A rip-off presentation of a great film.
Review: Disney, Disney, Disney. "Follow Me, Boys" is a flat-out wonderful film. When first saw it during its mid-'70's re-release, I was absolutely riveted by the story and performances and moved by the Capra-esque ending. I would recommend this film to everyone. But I cannot recommend this version of one of your most beloved films. You see, the pan-and-scan version you have presented on DVD is horrible. The picture is muddy, the picture is cut-off, and the whole picture suffers because of it. The only reason I give it two stars is because you did include a wonderful documentary with reminiscences from "Lem's boys," while your other fullscreen DVDs have not had any special features whatsoever. And contrary to what Disney apologists like some of these reviewers like to think, it DOES matter whether or not a film is in widescreen. It's called ARTISTIC INTEGRITY, something Walt Disney had but the current Eisner-led idiots do not. The actors, technicians, writer and director all deserve better, to say nothing of Walt himself, who happened to produce the darn thing and would have loved widescreen format. Let's face it: there's a reason all of today's top directors--Eastwood, Scorsese, Spielberg, Allen, Stone, Lucas, Jackson,etc.--insist on widescreen transfers of their films. It's the only format that truly respects their work as filmmakers. I bought this DVD in spite of the format because I love the film so much but I'm sorry I did. In fact, I will no longer buy any video from any company unless it is widescreen. I encourage everyone who loves movies to do likewise.
Rating:
Summary: A rip-off presentation of a great film.
Review: Disney, Disney, Disney. "Follow Me, Boys" is a flat-out wonderful film. When first saw it during its mid-'70's re-release, I was absolutely riveted by the story and performances and moved by the Capra-esque ending. I would recommend this film to everyone. But I cannot recommend this version of one of your most beloved films. You see, the pan-and-scan version you have presented on DVD is horrible. The picture is muddy, the picture is cut-off, and the whole picture suffers because of it. The only reason I give it two stars is because you did include a wonderful documentary with reminiscences from "Lem's boys," while your other fullscreen DVDs have not had any special features whatsoever. And contrary to what Disney apologists like some of these reviewers like to think, it DOES matter whether or not a film is in widescreen. It's called ARTISTIC INTEGRITY, something Walt Disney had but the current Eisner-led idiots do not. The actors, technicians, writer and director all deserve better, to say nothing of Walt himself, who happened to produce the darn thing and would have loved widescreen format. Let's face it: there's a reason all of today's top directors--Eastwood, Scorsese, Spielberg, Allen, Stone, Lucas, Jackson,etc.--insist on widescreen transfers of their films. It's the only format that truly respects their work as filmmakers. I bought this DVD in spite of the format because I love the film so much but I'm sorry I did. In fact, I will no longer buy any video from any company unless it is widescreen. I encourage everyone who loves movies to do likewise.
Rating:
Summary: A rip-off presentation of a great film.
Review: Disney, Disney, Disney. "Follow Me, Boys" is a flat-out wonderful film. When first saw it during its mid-'70's re-release, I was absolutely riveted by the story and performances and moved by the Capra-esque ending. I would recommend this film to everyone. But I cannot recommend this version of one of your most beloved films. You see, the pan-and-scan version you have presented on DVD is horrible. The picture is muddy, the picture is cut-off, and the whole picture suffers because of it. The only reason I give it two stars is because you did include a wonderful documentary with reminiscences from "Lem's boys," while your other fullscreen DVDs have not had any special features whatsoever. And contrary to what Disney apologists like some of these reviewers like to think, it DOES matter whether or not a film is in widescreen. It's called ARTISTIC INTEGRITY, something Walt Disney had but the current Eisner-led idiots do not. The actors, technicians, writer and director all deserve better, to say nothing of Walt himself, who happened to produce the darn thing and would have loved widescreen format. Let's face it: there's a reason all of today's top directors--Eastwood, Scorsese, Spielberg, Allen, Stone, Lucas, Jackson,etc.--insist on widescreen transfers of their films. It's the only format that truly respects their work as filmmakers. I bought this DVD in spite of the format because I love the film so much but I'm sorry I did. In fact, I will no longer buy any video from any company unless it is widescreen. I encourage everyone who loves movies to do likewise.
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