The Incredible Journey (1997, VHS)

Last week I checked Homeward Bound out at the library. I hadn t seen this movie but the children recognized it immediately. I must admit I shed a tear at the end ..what a softy.

This week we are viewing the original of this movie, Incredible Journey and the kids don t seem to be enjoying it as much.

The Story

When two dogs Bodger and Luath, and a cat, Tao are left 200 miles from home, with a family friend, they are determined to return home together.

There are of course many obstacles that face them during their journey. Bear cubs and the protective Momma bear too. A lynx and a mean farm dog all stand in their way to return home safely.

Yes, the ending of this old movie brought a tear as well as the animals found their way to their human family.

The Filming

As I put the tape in the VCR I could tell that it was an older movie. I wasn t aware that Homeward Bound was a remake of this Disney Movie, but I could tell just by the style of the introductions that it was a very old fashioned movie. The clothing and the older cars made me think that perhaps this movie was filmed in the s.

Although the container didn t have the date on it, I just had to know when this movie was produced. Thankfully it was listed at Barnes & Noble and let me know that this film was originally made in 1963 and was released to video in 1997.

It was filmed in Canada and runs for 80 minutes. This movie was distributed by Buena Vista Home Video in color and is closed-captioned and is Rated G.

Incredible Journey was directed by Fletcher Markle and was narrated by Rex Allen.

Cast of Characters

While the main characters of this movie are of course the animals, there are a few humans on the screen too.

Emile Geneset plays the family friend, John Longridge, who offers to care for the animals while their family, the Hunters, are on vacation.

**John Drainie ... Professor Jim Hunter
Tommy Tweed ... The Hermit
Sandra Scott ... Mrs. Hunter
Syme Jago ... Helvi Numi
Marion Finlayson ... Elizabeth Hunter
Ronald Cohoon ... Peter Hunter
Robert Christie ... James MacKenzie
Beth Lockerbie ... Nell MacKenzie
Jan Rubes ... Carl Nurmi
Ir na Mayeska ... Mrs. Nurmi
Beth Amos ... Mrs. Oakes
Eric Clavering ... Bert Oakes

None of these names are familiar to me but all gave adequate performances in this film. I do feel that I've seen Beth Lockerbie in something, but this film is the only one listed in her credits.

My Feelings

While I really enjoyed this movie, I have to confess to enjoying Homeward Bound a bit more. Perhaps just what cameras have been able to do with filming in a more realistic manner as technology has advanced, has made this movie feel a bit dated. Perhaps, like the children, I have been a bit Disneyfied and am use to the current level of Disney films.

Of course, seeing much older cars and clothing styles was fun and interesting to me, but I don t think Sammi and Jake were as impressed. Hearing a narrator talk through the movie certainly reminded me seeing The Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday night on television. This film had that style to it, and while it was fun to reminisce a bit, it lacked that extra oomph.

While both of them sat and watched Homeward Bound they didn t seem as interested in Incredible Journey and I had to finish watching it by myself. Any movie with animals will have a certain hold on children (and lots of adults too) this one just didn t seem to grab the children. If they had seen this movie first it may have been of more interest to them, but the animals not talking and only the use of a narrator and the animals expressions to convey their feelings just didn t hold the children s attention as well.

The scenery in this movie was fantastic. The beautiful Canadian mountainous terrain that the animals traveled over was absolutely gorgeous and made this movie very interesting to watch from an aesthetic standpoint.

I enjoyed this movie, but I don t think I would be watching it again, nor would it be one that I would add to my video cabinet. It is a classic film, but I have to admit to preferring its remake and since the children seem to feel that way too I would probably purchase Homeward Bound instead.


**The cast information was taken from Amazon.com