So Dear to My Heart (1948)

Directors:

Harold D. Schuster, Hamilton Luske

Writers:

John Tucker Battle (screenplay), Maurice Rapf (adaptation),

Stars:

Burl Ives, Beulah Bondi, Bobby Driscoll

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview:
Burl Ives	...	Uncle Hiram Douglas
Beulah Bondi	...	Granny Kincaid
Bobby Driscoll	...	Jeremiah 'Jerry' Kincaid
Luana Patten	...	Tildy
Harry Carey	...	Head Judge at County Fair
Raymond Bond	...	Pete Grundy, Storekeeper
Walter Soderling	...	Grampa Meeker
Matt Willis	...	Mr. Burns, Horse Trainer
Spelman B. Collins	...	Judge
John Beal	...	Jeremiah as an Adult, Narrator (voice)
Ken Carson	...	Voice of Wise Old Owl (voice)
Bob Haymes	...	Singer Bob Haymes
The Rhythmaires	...	Vocal Ensemble

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

county fair | nightshirt | part animation | family relationships | part live action | 

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Taglines:

A Walt Disney Country Fair, Filled with Music, Laughter, Drama! (1964 re-release)

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Genres:

Family | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tão Perto do Coração

Filming Locations:

Porterville, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first Disney film with live actors ever to be shown on television, in 1954.

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Connections

Featured in The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Ol' Dan Patch"
Sung by Burl Ives

User Reviews

Too innocent for contemporary audiences, but taken in the context of when it was made this is still enjoyable.

So Dear To My Heart is a more-or-less forgotten Disney movie made in 1949. It feels like an attempt to repeat the success of the studio's 1946 classic Song of the South, but the innocent, twee approach is likely to be met with derision by many of today's street-wise youngsters. That's not to say the film is bad. In fact, if you can put it into the context of when it was made and try to enjoy it for its merits, this film is actually a lovely slice of entertainment.

The simple story tells of a young boy called Jeremiah Kincaid (Bobby Driscoll) who lives on a farm in 1903, helping his granny (Beulah Bondi) with the up-keep of the place. He comes to own a young black lamb named Danny, and dreams of taking the lamb to the County Fair - though granny advises him not to bother, since there's no call for black wool. Young Jeremiah is visited by some animated creatures who convince him to follow his heart.... if he thinks the lamb has a chance of winning, what the hell! Why not go for it?

Driscoll was one of the finest child actors ever and here he is excellent as the young boy with a far-fetched dream. Bondi as granny is stern but lovable, and Burl Ives is good too as the boy's optimistic uncle. The animation is quite good, but the live action takes up most of the screen time. There are some memorable songs, although the Oscar nominated tune "Lavender Blue" is actually rather disappointing.

So Dear To My Heart is worth watching, just so long as you remember that it was made in a time when the world was more innocent.