Pollyanna

Rating:
Summary: Reviewing the new DVD release . . .
Review: Many Amazon dvd reviews concentrate on the film, and not the dvd presentation . . . this isn't one of them . . . But I must say that if you haven't already seen the film, it ISN'T the sappy gag-inducer you probably think it is. David Swift did a great job at adapting the film and achieving a balance between sentiment, drama, and fun. Now, on to the dvd . . .

I'm no technical genius, but the movie looks and sounds fabulous. The print is clean and bright, with no visible flaws. The color range seems accurate and the film is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio. One little touch I especially appreciated was the option to watch the cartoon originally accompanying the film ("Nifty Nineties" starring Mickey Mouse) right before our "feature presentation," just as 1960's movie-goers would have.

As if the picture quality wasn't enough to make this a disc worth purchasing, the extras will convince you. The features are interesting without being excessively repetitive. On the main disc we get a really nice audio commentary with Haley Mills and David Swift, the writer/director/producer.

Disc 2 has the rest of the features. The menu has several layers, but is well-laid out and easy to use. It's also surprisingly attractive, giving you the feeling of actually looking at materials in the "Disney Archives."

There are two good documentaries, "Pollyanna: Making of a Masterpiece," which provides interviews with Swift, Mills, Nancy Olson, Kevin Corcoran, etc. and good background info on the adaption of the book, art-direction, filming, and more. The involvement of David Swift in these materials really makes these disc 2 items particularly enlightening.

There are quite a few different image galleries, the original promos and trailers, and Walt Disney's intros from when Pollyanna was broadcast on tv. A short in which Nancy Olson describes the job of the actor, a little film with archival fottage of "1912," and a little yearbook that goes through all of the projects Disney was working on in 1960, for movies, tv, animation, etc.

All of these items are good, but a few of features really stood out for me, and they are only hinted at on the official list of features.

1. Restoration of the Pollyanna Film Print:
Longer-than-expected explanation of how Disney Studios resurrected the Pollyanna negative from color fade and deterioration. As an archivist myself, I always look forward to these kinds of features, but find them superficial and disappointing. This time I was very pleased. It even takes the time to explain what a three-color-separation archival negative is! Hurrah!!

2. Pollyanna Merchandising:
We get a gallery and a little featurette, where the items are displayed and explained. I was especially surprised about the Pollyanna music . . . which leads me to . . .

3. The Sound Gallery:
This was an incredible surprise!! I didn't see any mention of it on the disc specs. You get to hear the original radio ad, and Haley Mills herself sing the songs "Pollyanna" and "Jimmy Bean," that appeared on the 1960 Pollyanna albums. Neat-o! But the last item in the Jukebox totally blew me away. The ENTIRE 1960 Pollyanna story album!! Movie studio really haven't produced these things since the 80s, but there used to be a time when you could take out your record player and recreate the movie experience at home; the only way to do so before home video. The Pollyanna album is nice since it even features dialogue from the film, rather than a redramatization with a different cast.

I was immensely pleased with the "Vault Disney" production of Pollyanna . . . let's hope Vault Disney continues. It's too bad that not all studios show such care and respect for their "children's" releases. A good "children's" film appeals to everybody!

Rating:
Summary: The Glad Movie
Review: My mom picked up this movie at our library because we didn't have anything to watch and it looked interesting. Well, it was more than interesting, it was fantastic!

Hayley Mills was awesome as Pollyanna, and Jane Wyman, Nancy Olsen, and Richard Egan were all very well cast and played their parts beautifully.

It was in this movie, incidentally that Hayley Mills made her debut into Disney movies, and she went on to make other wonderful movies for Disney, the most memorable one, "The Parent Trap" (See my review for that movie also!)

The DVD has literally millions of extras, including a documentary, commentary with Hayley Mills and director David Swift, and sound tracks of Hayley singing the 'The Glad Song,' which unfortunately is not in the movie.

You will not be disappointed if you see this fantastic movie. It's a timeless classic that will never grow old.

Rating:
Summary: Be Glad!
Review: Pollyanna (Hayley Mills) tells all of us in this movie to be glad and think of how if something is bad, there is always something to like about it.

I have always loved Hayley Mills and was able to meet her when I was eight. Even years later I can still not express the feeling of how I met her and told her how much I loved her classic "Pollyanna".

Rating:
Summary: The Vault Disney collection has tons of extras
Review: Pollyanna is a great Disney movie for any Disney fan or anyone with children. The Vault Disney DVD edition has excellent picture quality, plus tons of bonus material on the second DVD in the set.

Rating:
Summary: The Eternal Optimist
Review: Pollyanna is a innocent spirit in a strict world ruled by adults who somehow lost the connection with their inner child early in life. She enjoys the moment and this irritates people until they learn that the way she sees life really does bring happiness to their own existence on the planet.

Adopted by her Aunt, she learns to live a new life after loosing her missionary parents in the British West Indies. Her father seems to have taught her how to deal with life and she often quotes something wonderful he has said. Of course, the grownups in the story don't understand her at all and tell her not to repeat the wisdom of her father. That in fact showed how out of touch they are with a child's delicate feelings.

Unshaken, Pollyanna is happy just to have her own room and still desires to see life in a positive way. She also gives everyone more than one chance to see the beauty in life. She becomes a ray of sunshine and a breath of fresh air in a stuffy town filled with grumpy lives. Yet, even Pollyanna gives up for a few minutes, then realizes what a responsibility she has to bring happiness to the lives of those she has learned to love.

Almost single handedly, she rallies the entire town to a good cause and helps to raise money for a new orphanage. Like a little angel, she touches each life she meets with a sweet innocence and creative flair.

Just as Pollyanna has changed so many lives for the better, her life takes a drastic turn for the worse. Even in the face of tragedy, what she does achieve is actually quite miraculous. The ending is spectacular and shows how love can really change the world you live in. You will not cry for the sadness of the situation, but more for the overwhelming realization of what one life can achieve.

Perfect for all ages and a much needed ray of light in our pessimistic world! After viewing this movie, you might start to see more good in life and in others. It is there if you find the time to look.

You will smile, laugh and cry.
Absolutely Charming!

Rating:
Summary: This is a Good Movie!
Review: Pollyanna is a really good movie and though it's not my absolute favorite of the Disney movies Hayley Mills starred in it is good and I liked her character Pollyanna's positive happy outlook and I highly recommend this movie!

Rating:
Summary: A Disney Gem!
Review: PollyAnna is a wonderful movie and one of Hayley Mills best, it's not my #1 favorite that would be The Parent Trap but it is in my top 3 along with That Darn Cat. This movie is charming and sweet but it's not sappy and definitely is worthy of being called a classic, it is being released to DVD soon and I think that's fantastic!

Rating:
Summary: You Will Be Glad You Watched This Movie
Review: Pollyanna is nothing but a classic, a great Disney presentation with all the right ingredients. Pollyanna Whittier, a young girl whose missionary parents have died, comes to live with her aunt. Everyone is bewildered about her tendency to be "glad" all the time, and she tells them about the Glad Game: Once long ago, the missionary relief barrel arrived and Pollyanna hoped it would contain a doll. However, they discovered it held crutches. Her father invented the Glad Game by proclaiming Pollyanna should be glad she didn't need those crutches. But at the end of the film, when Pollyanna gets injured and cannot walk, wouldn't she have been glad to have had those crutches?

Rating:
Summary: "What Do You Know? You're Nothing But a Child!"
Review: That's what crusty Adolphe Menjou snaps at Hayley Mills (Pollyanna), but even he is won over eventually by the indomitable orphan girl determined to bring the Glad Game to her new hometown. This town, like so many places really, is filled with unhappy people who have lost the ability to see that the life they've been given is full of blessings, that they have more to be glad of than they realize. Adolphe Menjou believes that everyone hates and fears him, Agnes Moorehead is a hypochondriac ruining her daughter's life, Karl Malden is a minister who can't preach anything but damnation, and Jane Wyman has stopped listening to her heart and only thinks of social status. These and others in the town are affected by Pollyanna's message of hope. Yet the biggest test of the Glad Game will be for Pollyanna herself, when she faces personal tragedy.
This is one of Disney's Americana classics, the sort that Main Street USA in Disneyworld is based on. It's a funny, cheerful movie that is filled with workman like performances by many solid Hollywood performers, most of whom are bound to be familiar to any viewer who's owned a TV during the last couple of decades. Hayley Mills does give an exceptional performance for a girl of only 14, chock full of insight and charisma.
Watch "Pollyanna" with the little boys and girls in your life--you'll all be "glad" you did!

Rating:
Summary: This is one film you must own!
Review: The DVD of this feature film is one you must own. Pollyanna is possibly Hayley Mills best performance as a child actor. This wonderful widescreen DVD features an audio commentary by Hayley Mills and director/screenwriter David Swift. This film was a labor of love for all involved. It shows in the final product.
The script is wonderful because it does not make Pollyanna to sweet to be believable. Hayley's natural abilities make the film a treasure. Be sure to listen to the commentary and have a few laughs as Hayley talks about her talk with her Dad Sir John Mills. Especially humorous was her decision the day before shooting her first scene to give herself a little haircut.
I promise you will enjoy this film. Beautifully done!!