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Online Store - Johnny Shiloh
![Johnny Shiloh]()
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Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Video
Starring: Brian Keith, Kevin Corcoran, Darryl Hickman, Skip Homeier, Edward Platt
Directed By: James Neilson
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300275706
Format: NTSC
ISBN: 6300275701
Label: Buena Vista Home Video
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Buena Vista Home Video
Release Date: 1987-01-27
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1963-01-20
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Also known as Johnny Clem
Comment: THE STORY: This wonderful Walt Disney film is the civil war adventure/historical drama loosely based on the true story of Johnny Clem, the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga. They call the film Johnny Shiloh due to the Shiloh battle in the movie. In the film, it is 1861 and little Johnny Clem has run away to become a drummer boy at the age of 10 for the "Blue Marauders" platoon of the Union Army. He can't stand them going to war without him since he has drilled with them as their mascot drummer in his home town for so long before getting their orders move out. He is too young to serve at 10 and he is returned home, only to run back again. The next strategy of the union army is to wear him down by treating him like a real soldier, but his heart just won't give up. He is allowed to stay on as a real drummer. After showing incredible bravery on the battlefield as a drummer during a fierce battle, and saving his seargents life by shooting a confederate officer that is about to strike him down, Johnny gets promoted to a seargent and assigned as a messenger to for the general. He is captured by the confederates and must escape to deliver valuable information to his general that could affect the outcome of the next big battle.
BEHIND THE SCENES & TRIVIA: The true story of Johnny Clem is exciting enough, and well worth reading about. Disney naturally made some Hollywood changes to the original story and it sticks to only about 2 years of his life. It is based on the non-fiction book by James A. Rhodes and Dean Jauchius. Jonny became a career officer in real life, retiring as a brigadier general in 1916, and passed on in 1937. He really was injured on the battlefield twice, captured by confederates, and promoted to sergeant by 12 years of age. Walt Disney was involved when this film was made and his influence is evident in the storytelling and his selection of the huge cast and crew. There are over 80 speaking parts in the movie! The irrepresible Kevin Corcoran is Johnny (one of Disney's most prolific stars, whose famous credits include Swiss Family Robinson, Toby Tyler, The Shaggy Dog, Old Yeller, and its sequel Savage Sam, Pollyanna, Babes in Toyland, A Tiger Walks, Bon Voyage, in addition to many television appearances including The Adventures of Spin and Marty)and Brian Keith is his sergeant (the versatile actor was in many Disney productions for theatre and TV himself included Parent Trap, 10 Who Dared, Moon Pilot, Scandalous John, Those Calloways, Savage Sam, A Tiger Walks, Bristleface, The Tenderfoot, and an episode of Elfego Baca).
Walt stuck to experiance for his behind the camera picks. Directed by James Nielson whose own Disney direction credits include The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, The Moonspinners, Moon Pilot, Bon Voyage, Summer Magic, and The Adventures of Bullwip Griffin. Bill Anderson was the producer. Set design was by long time Disney man Emil Kuri, who designed an authentic set. The music score was by Disney studio composer Buddy Baker, while the Sherman Brothers contributed the title song. The production was huge indeed and needed the valuable logistical guidance of a Disney veteran producer, Bill Walsh. There are hundreds of costumes, props, dozens of horses, many battlefields, hundreds of extras and as I mentioned before over 80 speaking parts. The big outdoor battle scenes were filmed at the Disney Studio's Golden Oak Movie Ranch. The existing western town on the main studio's backlot was redecorated and used for the various outdoor town scenes. The railroad station scenes were actually filmed indoors, even the moving train bits, right on a Disney soundstage. Unbelievably, the entire two episodes were shot in less than a month.
The film as released on VHS is actually edited together from 2 episodes of the "Wonderul World of Disney" television show, airing the first time on January 20 & 27, 1963. It re-aired on May 5 and 12, 1968. The two episodes were re-edited together as a theatrical release for the overseas market in 1965 and that is the film you see today. As a sidebar, this story is also intersting in the parallel with Walt Disney's personal story, who as a teen tried to join the army during World War I but was refused due to his age. He attmpted to sneakt to Canada and join there, but was caught by his mother. At 16 years of age, he joined the ambulance corps of the Red Cross by lying about his age, but on reaching France the War was over. All in all, great clean family fare with humour and drama.
Customer Rating:
Summary: "Drummer Boy Clem, reporting for duty!"
Comment: Ever since I was a little kid this has been one of my favorite Disney films. I'm a Civil War fanatic & I've spent years trying to collect every Civil War movie that's available! Unfortunately, this gem has gone out-of-print but you can still buy it used from a dealer. I e-mailed Disney recently asking them to release this classic on dvd but they replied (with courtesy) that they currently have no plans to do so. This is based on the true story of "the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga", Johnny Clem, who ran away from home to enlist in the 22nd Michigan Infantry at the age of 11(!). Despite the fact that the movie portrays Johnny Clem as a hero at the battle of Shiloh, the fact is that Clem wasn't mustered in until five months after the battle. That's okay, though, the scene is very entertaining. Johnny Clem really was captured & brought to Confederate Gen. Joseph Wheeler, although their meeting wasn't as friendly as in the movie. In reality, when the general saw Johnny Clem, Wheeler said,"What are you doing here, you damn little Yankee scoundrel?" Johnny Clem looked the general square in the eyes & replied,"General Wheeler, I am no more a damn scoundrel than you are, sir." Such was the fighting spirit of young Clem. Johnny Clem shot & killed a Confederate colonel at Chickamauga & thus was promoted to sergeant. He continued to serve honorably & retired in 1916 with the rank of Major General. This is not a masterpiece but simply good, clean entertainment for the whole family as only Disney can deliver. One word of advice, however, on buying this from a dealer: make sure you order this only from a dealer with a high customer rating! I first ordered this back in May but never recieved it (I won't mention the crooks name). I recently ordered it from a different dealer who has a high rating & recieved a great copy in no time. Learn from my mistake! One more thing, if you want to learn more about Union drummer boys I recommend Dennis M. Keesee's outstanding book "Too Young to Die: Boy Soldiers of the Union Army".
Customer Rating:
Summary: Johnny Shiloh
Comment: I always loved this movie as a child. It was one of my favoirte.
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