Gene Siskel: His first movie review for the Chicago Tribune – Chicago Tribune
Gene Siskel: His first movie review for the Chicago Tribune – Chicago Tribune Chicago Tribune In 1963, author Sterling North re-created an enchanting year of his own Wisconsin boyhood. He wrote “Rascal,” a simple story of a relationship between a boy and his pet raccoon, and of an attitude that values animals for companionship, not for control. Bill Mumy, who annoyed you in TV’s “Lost in Space,” gets his role of the young Sterling North confused with that of the raccoon and sets some sort of a record by pursing his lips for the entire 85 minutes. [ Sign up for Vintage Chicago Tribune to get an inside look into the Tribune’s archives delivered to your inbox weekly ] But children of this television age may enjoy “Rascal,” frequently a fast-paced flick that places good old Mother Nature on a treadmill and runs her to death. I liked the part where Rascal goes into the store and scares the fat lady who knocks over the pots and pans.” She caught the slapstick, but missed the emotion when Sterling, realizing that Rascal must return to Nature, says good-by to the raccoon at the river’s edge.
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Published : 2 years ago by Gene Siskel in Entertainment
This column originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on Aug. 5, 1969.
In 1963, author Sterling North re-created an enchanting year of his own Wisconsin boyhood. He wrote “Rascal,” a simple story of a relationship between a boy and his pet raccoon, and of an attitude that values animals for companionship, not for control. Book buyers, who back then thought Jackie Susann was the name of a wind-up doll, made North’s tender reminiscence a best-seller.
Now Walt Disney Productions, after adapting North’s book, gives us a raccoon so talented that you wonder if Gentle Ben and Flipper aren’t under-achievers. Bill Mumy, who annoyed you in TV’s “Lost in Space,” gets his role of the young Sterling North confused with that of the raccoon and sets some sort of a record by pursing his lips for the entire 85 minutes.
[ Sign up for Vintage Chicago Tribune to get an inside look into the Tribune’s archives delivered to your inbox weekly ]
But children of this television age may enjoy “Rascal,” frequently a fast-paced flick that places good old Mother Nature on a treadmill and runs her to death. Cit kids who may think a raccoon is just a clever rat do get a look at real pastoral settings. And parents who took their children to “Vixen,” thiking it was the story of one of Santa’s reindeer, will be delighted that the only bare breasts in “Rascal” are those of chickens.
“Rascal” could have been a fine film. In the book, episodes — and not Walter Pidgeon’s narration — tell the story. We don’t need Buddy Baker singing the “Summer Sweet” theme song to tell us that flowers, tall grass, and creeks are beautiful.
After the show, we spoke to a 10-year-old girl who said she liked it. “Yes, it was funny. I liked the part where Rascal goes into the store and scares the fat lady who knocks over the pots and pans.”
She caught the slapstick, but missed the emotion when Sterling, realizing that Rascal must return to Nature, says good-by to the raccoon at the river’s edge.
Because of excessive gimmickry, most kids will miss the tenderness. And that makes us angry enough to go scare a fat lady and push her into some pots and pans.
Topics: Illinois, Reviews, Movies, Chicago