GUS

US, 1976, 96 minutes, Colour.
Edward Asner, Don Knotts, Gary Grimes, Tim Conway, Dick Van Patten, Bob Crane, Harold Gould, Tom Bosley, Liam Dunn.
Directed by Vincent Mc Eveety.

Gus is a live action film from the Disney Studios in the mid-1970s. During the 1970s the emphasis on Disney films was live action and Vincent Mc Eveety (who had made the western Fire Creek with Henry Fonda, but who generally worked in television) directed many of these films: Million Dollar Duck, Charlie and the Angel, Superdad, The Castaway Cowboy, The Strongest Man in the World, Treasure of Matacumbe, Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo. However, he continued his career in television, making quite a number of the Disneyland features as well as quite a number of the Colombo films during the 1990s.

The film is very much a Disney feature – a team is losing at football, makes its mascot, a donkey, Gus, part of the team – he can kick a thousand yards – and of course they are on the up and up. However, the donkey is kidnapped by a pair of incompetent crooks. The film is a slapstick comedy, with eccentric comic characters like Tim Conway and Don Knotts. It is undemanding entertainment – usually called family entertainment.

1. An entertaining Disney production? The mark of Disney productions In terms of entertainment, plot, hero and villains, romance and comedy?

2. The particularly American tone of the film? Audience knowledge of football and football promotion, competition and crowds? The particular ballyhoo about football, the commentators, Gus Day? The bond between America and Yugoslavia?

3. The colour photography? The use of rear projection and other studio effects? Music? The importance of the football sequences, the comedy pieces, especially with the two criminals? The capturing of Gus, of Andy? The importance of such sequences as the hospital and the X-ray skeletons, the chaos in the supermarket, the finale? Gus's kicking and the effects of this?

4. The basic humour of the plot? The European dream about football hero? The fantasy of wonderful animals who can do super-human things? The American atmosphere and American dream, the small team and its goals of victory? The American crooks and double-dealings? Romance?

5. How enjoyable a character was Gun? The presentation an almost human? Audience sympathy, interest, support?

6. Andy and his relationship with Gus? His awkwardness especially at the beginning? The attitude of his father and mother? The contrast with his hero brother? The importance of the TV interview and his father's talking about a hero only with his finger? The heroism theme and its repercussions on Andy and Debbie? Andy and his becoming a hero? Contrived -suitable for this kind of film?

7. The gallery of American characters, Cooper and his anxiety about the team? Charlie and his double-dealings - his henchmen, especially the two criminals and their release from jail and the various antics? Debbie an the attractive heroine, her jealous boy-friend? The various members of the team?

8. The various high points of the film and audience entertainment? The games, TV interview, kidnappings?

9. The themes of American way of life? Sport? The deeper theme of Andy and his being true to himself and heroics? Good entertainment value, with some themes for reflection, for family audiences?