Treasure Of Matecumbe [HD]

Peter Ustinov, Joan Hackett
STORY: Action, comedy, adventure, romance, nostalgia, this movie had a bit of something for everyone. Immediately after the American Civil War in Kentucky, two young boys one white named David, one black named Thad, begin the adventure of their lives. They live on Grassy, the family plantation, with David's aunts but it is depleted of all its money and they could lose it soon. Someone shows up late at night near death with a secret to a map hidden in the attic by Davids father before he died. But the same night a murderous criminal gang led by Spnagler (Vic Morrow) arrives in the night, breaking into the family plantation in order to steal a map to a treasure. The boys run away with the map, and start traveling to the Florida swampland. They know they can trust no one with their secret. Along the way they meet up with many friends and enemies, while still being pursued by the original crooks. A conniving southern belle Lauriette (Joan Hackett), a jolly medicine show doctor (Peter...

Cross-burning, lynching and squaws! Where's Leonard Maltin? ;)
If you're looking to relive fond memories of sitting in front of the TV Sunday afternoons watching The Wonderful World of Disney, this will fit the bill nicely.

Treasure of Matecumbe has everything you'd expect from the generally mediocre live-action output Disney was known for in the 1970s: Bad rear-projection shots when people are outdoors? Check. Grainy, mismatched inserts of wildlife borrowed from True-Life Adventures episodes shot 25 years earlier? Check. Half-hearted attempt at a contemporary-sounding theme song (wholly inappropriate for the post-Civil War setting of this film)? Check.

Sort of a hybrid of Huckleberry Finn and the Apple-Dumpling Gang, Treasure of Matecumbe (presented full-screen pan-and-scan, subtitled, no extras) follows the river-borne trek of two boys in pursuit of buried treasure. Along the way they pick up a southern belle and a crooked medicine man, face thuggish river folk, alligators, mosquitoes, a hurricane, masked Indian tribesman,...

One of Disney's best kept (Treasures)
I cant believe this film is out of print. If anyone can find a copy floating around a video store - BUY IT! This is a perfect example of a great live disney film. The cast as an ensemble is even better. And the late Joan Hackett is outstanding, warm, and very funny as Lauriette.

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