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Customer Reviews of The Castaway Cowboy

ADVENTURE ALL THE WAY FOR KID'S
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CHILDREN'S MOVIE WHERE EVEN THE ADULT'S ARE CARRIED AWAY. I AM ABOUT 60 AND I STILL ENJOY THIS MOVIE. YOU HAVE TO LOOK FROM THE EYE'S OF CHILDREN IT IS SO GOOD THAT YOU WILL FORGET THAT YOU ARE ADULT BUT WILL INJOY WITH THE LITTLE KIDS-THANKS TO DISNEY AND ONE OF THE LAST OF THE OLD LEGEND OF THE WESTERN WORLD JAMES GARNER-WE ARE PRIVILIGED TO SEE HIM IN THIS 21ST CENTURY LIKE THE OLD TOM MIX IN THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY WHEN HE WAS AROUND WITH REAL WYATT EARP GIVING HIM THE TECHNICAL DETAILS. I DONT WANT TO GIVE AWAY THE STORY WITH VAST OPEN SPACES AND THE SEA FOR THE CHILDREN WHO MAY HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN THE SEA BUT THE HIGH RISE APARTMENTS OF CONCRETE JUNGLE.-I AM SURE THEY WILL ALL INJOY AND LAUGH AT THIS ADVENTURE TRIP-CURTSEY OF DISNEY FILMS.

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Entertaining little Disney comedy-western
In the early '70's, James Garner made two films for Disney studios, "One Little Indian" and "The Castaway Cowboy." Of the two, "Cowboy" is by far the best: a slight but entertaining little comedy-western co-starring the lovely Vera Miles (who was also in "Indian"). She plays Henrietta McAlvoy, the owner of a failing Hawaiian (known here as the Sandwich Islands) potato plantation whose native workers fish a nearly drowned deserter named Costain (Garner) out of the ocean. While Costain waits for a ship home to Texas, he hatches a plot to save the farm by turning it into a cattle ranch, using the Hawaiian workers as ranch hands. Of course, in Disney films of the era, there is always a villain, and "Cowboy" features Robert Culp as Bryson, a local businessman who romances Henrietta in order to get her land and when she won't sell, stoops to some nasty business to sabotage Garner's plan.

Everything is predictable and ends just like you think it might. Also quite predictably, Henrietta is a widow with an irrepressibly cute (i.e. cloying and obnoxious) preteen son played by "The Poseidon Adventure"'s young Eric Shea, who gives an even more annoying, don't-say-your-line-shout-it performance than he gave in the previous film. The only other performances of note are given by native Hawaiians playing the workers as stereotypes who exist merely as goofballs to be laughed at. (More about that later.) Only Elizabeth Smith as Henrietta's housekeeper escapes with her dignity intact, since she manages to make her character more than a one-note stereotype.

Finally, about Anchor Bay's DVD presentation. Even though the copy I received was in fullscreen format (instead of the advertised widescreen--grumble, grumble) I kept it because of the excellent remastered print and the addition of a cool copy of the original poster art from the 1974 release on the back of the scene breakdown card. I still would prefer widescreen, but at least the picture and sound are much better than the awful transfers Disney have been ripping us off with on its own lazy releases.

Now, a word of warning about the presentation of the native Hawaiian characters: if you are sensitive about racial issues and potential racism in the movies, you may want to steer clear of this film. The Hawaiian workers are stereotyped as lazy and undisciplined men-children who would rather swim and play than work. This fact may make the film as offensive to some as "Song of the South" is to African-Americans. However, the natives do become better, more competent workers by the end of the film, so proceed at your own risk!

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Castaway Cowby--a great movie!
I really liked this movie!! The scenery was beautiful (of course, it's Kauai and that can't be helped!) and the story line was interesting with all the obstacles James Garner had to contend with to help this family establish a cattle ranch. It also had a great ending and the good people won! My kids even enjoyed it (ages 4,5, and 8), so I must recommend it.