August 13, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & II • Page 19 Charming Disney productions feature famous narrators by Dennis Seuling In the late 1940s, the Disney Company was eager to get material into theaters to regain momentum lost because of World War II. A new Blu-ray/DVD combo pack double- bills two of these films: “Fun and Fancy Free” (1947) and “Ichabod and Mr. Toad” (1949), each of which contains several long-form cartoon stories. Bing Crosby narrates and sings Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in his trademark easygoing manner. The early part of the film is filled with sight gags, mostly centered on Ichabod’s daydreams about food or local sweetheart Katrina Van Tassel. The animation is lush and treats Ichabod Crane as a goofy and awkward but likable clod, more comic than Irving conceived him, but this is Disney, after all. The story adheres fairly closely to the original and the half-hour length allows for character development. The best part, of course, is Ichabod’s fateful nighttime ride as trees, fireflies, strange sounds, the wind, and shadows conspire to create a suspenseful atmosphere until the dreaded Headless Horseman appears. The “Wind in the Willows” segment, based on Ken- neth Grahame’s “Toad of Toad Hall,” is narrated by Basil Rathbone. The pompous, childish J. Thaddeus Toad loves motorcars, but this affection lands him in jail when he is accused of stealing a car. Determined to prove his inno- cence, Toad’s loyal pals Mole, Rat, and Angus McBadger get Toad out of prison and succeed in bringing the actual crooks to justice. Character actor Eric Blore provides the voice of Toad, an absolutely perfect choice to give the amphibian his aristocratic flair. “Mickey and the Beanstalk” stars Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as three starving farmers in a loose adaptation of the classic fairy tale. This beautifully Ichabod Crane and Katrina Van Tassel do a fancy one-step in the Disney adaptation of Washington Irving’s ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.’ rendered featurette-length cartoon is particularly impres- sive in the sequence in which the beanstalk grows and grows and grows into the sky. The trio must eventually get past Willie the Giant (voiced by Billy Gilbert), outsmart him, and get away with the magical singing harp. A thrill- ing chase down the beanstalk, filled with assorted mishaps, makes for a rousing conclusion. This was the last feature starring Walt Disney as the voice of Mickey Mouse. Also included are “Bongo,” based on a Sinclair Lewis story, and “The Reluctant Dragon.” “Viva Las Vegas” (Warner Home Video) is available in a new 50th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition. Starring Elvis Presley, this 1964 feature was one of the singer’s most suc- cessful films. Made with a bigger budget than usual, “Viva Las Vegas” was shot largely on location under the direction of musical movie veteran George Sidney (“Show Boat,” “Pal Joey,” “Kiss Me Kate”). Lucky Jackson (Presley) is a singing race car driver. He does not have much money and his car does not have an engine. He and his mechanic, Shorty (Nicky Blair), arrive in Vegas to compete in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Lucky meets rival Count Elmo Man- cini (Cesare Danova), who drives a Ferrari, and soon-to-be sweetheart Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret). Presley made 31 films in a 13-year period. He was not much of an actor and the plot is weak, but the music soars. Between Presley and Ann-Margret, the film fea- tures singing and dancing a-plenty. Songs include “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” “The Lady Loves Me, “C’mon Everybody,” “I Need Somebody to Lean On,” and the title song (performed three times). Bonuses include a 40-page book of rarely-seen photographs and promotional materi- als from the picture’s theatrical release, commentary about Presley’s Hollywood career, and the featurette “Kingdom: Elvis in Vegas.” “Locke” (Lionsgate) stars Tom Hardy as Ivan Locke, a man at the top of his game. A dedicated husband and father and a star employee at a high-powered construction firm, he is the model of cool professionalism, with a talent for managing complex situations. Driving home on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career, Locke makes a sudden choice to confront the only situation in his life that cannot be neatly handled. He quickly learns the high cost of becoming a better man. This is a gimmick film. A one-character film is risky (continued on Crossword page)