Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier

About Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier

Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier is an iconic 1955 adventure film produced by Walt Disney Productions. It tracks the life of the legendary Davy Crockett, the pioneer, politician, soldier, and folk hero. The film is a compilation of the first three episodes of the Disney television series "Davy Crockett". The stories follow Davy's adventures in the backwoods and the Congress to his fatal ending at the Alamo.

Making / Production

The movie was produced by Walt Disney, directed by Norman Foster, and written by Thomas W. Blackburn. The film used Technicolor, a renowned film processing technique of the era, giving it a unique visual experience.

Actors

• Fess Parker as Davy Crockett - His portrayal of Crockett secured his place in Hollywood history and sparked the '50s coonskin cap craze.
• Buddy Ebsen as Georgie Russel - Ebsen provided the perfect backup character to Parker's Crockett bringing in humor and charm.
• William Bakewell as Major Tobias Norton - Portrayed the antagonist in the film with great spite and arrogance.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The wild success of the film sparked a Davy Crockett craze among young boys who sported coonskin caps and buckskin shirts.
• The film popularized the theme song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" which became a big hit record during 1955.

Awards

The film was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards in 1955. Fess Parker was nominated as Best Actor for his portrayal of Davy Crockett.

Quotes

• "Be always sure you're right, then go ahead" - Fess Parker as Davy Crockett
• "It's amazin' what an effect that little pint of politeness had" - Buddy Ebsen as Georgie Russel

Music, Soundtrack

• "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" - Sung by Fess Parker during the film, it is now recognized as the hero's theme song.
• "Farewell to the Mountains" - Performed by Fess Parker reflecting on his life's adventures.