Davy Crockett saves the day during the Creek Indian War, runs for Congress and dies at the Alamo (spoiler!) in this "film" compiled from three episodes of the TV series. It's not really a rip-off since the series was filmed on colour film stock, but aired in black and white. Seeing it in colour is impressive, especially much of the scenery shot in North Carolina in the opening segment. I don't think it's top notch Disney, but it's good stuff.

Perhaps not a masterpiece, or the best Disney film or live-action Disney film. However, it is more than easy to see why the 'Davy Crockett' series and films and merchandise were so popular.'Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier' still holds up quite well now, and to me more than just nostalgic value (have had several childhood favourites that have not held up, but 'Davy Crockett' still has a huge amount to like). Due to it being basically three episodes of the series rolled into one film, 'Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier's' episodic nature is inevitable but it doesn't hurt the film that much, the middle third may not be quite as exciting as the outer two but not in a bad way.Some of the exaggerated action sequences may come over as a bit silly and childish now and the dialogue (with some hilariously bad grammar) even more so. However, 'Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier' has a huge amount to like and is impossible to dislike, a lot happens and very rarely does it lull.It is a good-looking film, with gorgeously epic scenery and evocative production design that looks like a lot of care and homework went into it, all handsomely filmed. The music is rousing, especially the timeless theme song that is one of Disney's and childhood's best and most memorable theme songs.There is some endearingly-good natured dialogue, and as said the story is eventful and often exciting, especially the final third in the Alamo. The characters are a lot of fun, with a charismatic and likable hero in Davy Crockett, and direction is breezy and bright.Fess Parker is jovial, charismatic and immensely likable in the title role and Buddy Ebsen counteracts with him very nicely. The acting may not be "great" but hardly bad, more than competent.On the whole, an impossible to dislike film and with a lot of good things. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I remember the summer of 1955 when this movie was THE movie of that summer, and when I felt it was a must to have a rabbit-skin cap and a Davy Crockett suit, all of which my mother bought me, and it was all because of the influence of that unforgettable movie. As much as I liked it, and as much as I play it now on my own video tape of it, it was definitely not your typical Walt Disney movie, like "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs", and "Pollyanna"; the latter came along later. (Who would have ever connected Kenneth Tobey, who portrayed Jim Bowie, with a Disney movie, or Helene Stanley, who played the small role of Davy's wife Polly, since she was a lady who did often play not-so-nice girls?) Basil Ruysdael performed well the role of the then pre-president Andrew Jackson, and in these his pre-"Beverley Hillbillies" days, Buddy Ebsen was excellent as Crockett's sometimes-comical sidekick George Russell, and the large Don MacGowan was convincing as Colonel Travis the second-in-command to Bowie. Hans Conreid did a good turn as the shifty riverboat gambler, who perhaps surprisingly was very brave at the Alamo. Nobody else could have played Crockett as well as did the large Fess Parker; Crockett was a sometimes-rough man, but always good-hearted and honest. The movie followed well the man's life, all the way from his resolving the Creek Indian wars in 1814, to Davy's term in Congress where the man with butchered English expressed himself articulately and bravely his negative feeling about the Indian Bill when expansion was on everyone's minds, then to the battle at the Alamo in 1836. Again, some of the actors were rough and brave, and the fighting Mexicans at the Alamo were as mean as they could be. What also stood out to me was the song toward the end entitled "Farewell", which was soothing and beautiful in its own right. Definitely, an outstanding production.

This was the classic Davy Crockett film by Walt Disney, an astonishing world success at the time, almost creating a cult lasting until the 60s, with an overwhelmingly realistic Alamo finale (end of siege today March 6th 1836 with all heroes fallen), inspired the mammoth "Alamo" film 5 years later with a bleak John Wayne in comparison with Fess Parker, while the great performance of that film was Richard Widmark as Colonel Jim Bowie. The Disney production was above all extremely well and carefully written originally for television, with such a success that is was turned into a major film, and Fess Parker's impersonation of the very simple and common but totally straight-forward frontier man is perfectly convincing, even and especially his appearances in congress. The film is wonderfully sincere in its simplicity, and you never forget the few but intimate family scenes. Buddy Ebsen as George Russell makes a perfect buddy all the way through, and Basil Ruysdael is a formidable Andy Jackson. There are also some great hard fighting fisticuff style, both with Indians and more blatant crooks, the Bigfoot scoundrel being perfect as a flamboyant villain. The music adds to the charm of the sincerity of the film, it's only one tune all along, with the exception of the more lyrical, intimate and unforgettable "Farewell to the Mountains" in the Alamo pause of fighting; but at one time the Davy Crockett song even masquerades in an arrangement for string quartet. In its simple adventure genre, it remains as a film a timeless classic, this is great film story telling, offering plenty of after-thought and all true, which it will always be a pleasure to return to in one decade after another...