Il tesoro di Matecumbe

I haven't seen this film for over 40 years and it has held up remarkably well. It's a simple tale of a pair of elderly spinsters who face losing their family home. Their only lifeline may come from a tale of buried US Civil War gold. Others have heard about this treasure too, so when two young boys (Johnny Duran & Pop Atmore) set off with the map in search of it, they are closely pursued by a sinister gang led by "Spangler" (Vic Morrow). They start on the riverboat where they meet the savvy Joan Hackett - who can out sharp the card-sharps; then they alight on the avuncular Peter Ustinov ("Ewing T. Snodgrass") who runs a dodgy medicine wagon and we have some fun adventures - his "Spoojoo Juice" seems as effective as an high explosive as it is as a cure for gout! Finally they rescue "Uncle Jim" (Robert Foxworth) and our intrepid team is now ready to face allcomers on their treasure trail. There is no jeopardy about any of this, the ending is pretty much written on the first page - but Ustinov is on good form and we have loads of shoot 'em ups; an explosive encounter with the KKK and even a barn-dance with fisticuffs. It does tend to limp along a bit at times, the greenscreen scenes are very basic (especially on the river) - and at just shy of two hours is half an hour too long. That said, it is a fun Disney action adventure that probably wouldn't be of much interest to kids now, but would have been in 1976.

This is slightly slow and the plot is a bit convoluted...however...it's a heartfelt adventure film. The film allows Disney to re-inforce the importance of education and just as important show society's disgust at racism when the klan members are set in fire (I have to admit I definitely chuckled here). It was slightly disappointing to see their handling of Native American culture, but I don't believe ill intent was meant. It is overall a film to enjoy for what it is and not take to serious any perceived slights. The medicine show portrayed in the film while cringey and offensive today, is accurate for that time(1800's). A talking point for families to discuss and move on.

I first watched this movie when I was about 7 or 8 and I watched it over and over again it was so good. I wish I could see it again, but the DVD is still very hard to come by. The movie deals with a young boy and his companion who are forced to flee from their home in search of a treasure. Jim and Ben end up meeting lots of different people who can help them along the way, but they also have a lot of things happen to them that either slows them down or simply gets in their way, but none the less it's a very entertaining movie and has a good plot to it. It's a good show to see as a kid or even adult if you like stories that entail treasure hunting. It actually has a good story to it unlike some movies today that are just filled with special effects. So if you want to see a good old fashioned treasure hunting flick then you have found it.

This is one of those Disney flicks from the '70s that you may or might have enjoyed as a kid and while it retains some charm when you watch it as an adult, you notice some plot holes you didn't notice or were willing to overlook when you were younger. I'm 38 and this is my first time seeing Treasure of Matecumbe which I'd been meaning to watch for 20 years but somehow didn't get to. Anyway, it concerns two boys looking for a treasure in the Florida Keys. Along the way, they encounter a bride escaping from her husband to be, a medicine man, and an uncle of one of them as he's about to be lynched by the Ku Klux Klan! I'll stop right here and mention some of the players: Robert Foxworth, Joan Hackett, Peter Ustinov, Dick Van Patten, Dub Taylor, George 'Goober' Lindsey, and Jane Wyatt who died at 96 a couple of weeks ago, bless her soul. The plot is pretty entertaining though it takes a while to get going. Best sequences involve a hurricane and some pirates led by Vic Morrow. Like I said, this might be more enjoyable for kids than adults so watch it with them if you can.

Yes, this is the only Disney film to feature the Klu Klux Klan.

But, horrible racist morons aside, this film can be very enjoyable if you remember seeing it as a child. I remember my father taking me to see this in the theatre when I was very young, and, now that he's no longer with us, it an opportunity to relive some childhood magic. Even if it's just for a moment.

Peter Ustinov is wonderful as always.

And the opening theme music is very cheesy but COOL in a silly 70's sort of way.

If you enjoy the vibe of Disney films like "Child of Glass", you'll probably dig this one too.