The Boy from Dead Man's Bayou (1971) (TV)

Release Date:

9 February 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family

Cast

Mike Lookinland	...	Claude
John McIntire
Jeanette Nolan
Michael Ontkean
Percy Rodrigues	...	Charbout
Frank Silvera
Mitch Vogel

Also Known As:

Bayou Boy (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

The first ever made for TV feature under the Disney name

During the 1970's,the TV series "The Wonderful World Of Disney",which was on the NBC-TV network at the time,wanted to experiment with feature films that can be used into made for TV movies. And the studio did just that. In the fall of 1971,Disney produced its first ever made for TV movie to be shown and it was a big hit with audiences. The movie was called "Boy From Dead Man's Bayou" and it starred two of the biggest stars from that era,and the biggest sensations of their day: First off,you have actor and teen heartthrob Mitch Vogel,at the time was starring on NBC's biggest series at the time,"Bonanza",as the adopted son of Ben Cartwright,Jaime,and also grace the cover of every teenage magazine published during the early 1970's. Also,you have actor Mike Lookinland,who was on one of the biggest shows of the decade as Bobby Brady on the TV series The Brady Bunch,and also grace every cover of the teen magazine set too during his status as a teen heartthrob and child actor.

The story of "Boy From Dead Man's Bayou" is set in the deep and dangerous woods of Louisiana,where two boys must retrieve a missing church bell from the bottom of deep lagoon located in the swamp where it is secretly guarded by a man-eating alligator. The movie is very intense with some great moments and breathtaking excitement as the boys faced constant danger in the murking and unexpected swamp as they must retrieve the church bell from the depths of the lagoon before they are confronted by the raging beast that lies beneath the waters of the lagoon....the alligator,only to be rescue by a man who lives in the swamp who guides them through the dangerous path(played by actor Percy Rodriguez).

I had a chance to see this feature recently,and for one it comes real late at night during the Disney Channel's Walt Disney Presents,and it is very good with stunning photography and great location shots that makes this a great made for TV movie that was great with the whole family. Worth seeing if it comes on.