ICHABOD
US, 1950, 68 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Jack Kinney.
Ichabod was half of the Disney feature released in 1950 as Ichabod and Mr Toad. The Mr Toad was based on Kenneth Grahame's 'The Wind in the Willows' Ichabod was based on 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving.
The film is narrated by Bing Crosby in his easygoing way. It is a focus on eccentric schoolteacher Ichabod Crane and his arrival in Sleepy Hollow. He falls in love with Katrina van Tassel and is confronted by Bron Bones, the burly man of the town. He discovers that Ichabod is superstitious and tells the tale of the Headless Horseman. lchabod's imagination runs riot and on. his way home he sees the Headless Horseman pursuing him. This, of course, is the climax of the Disney animation for this short feature. it is an enjoyable piece of Americana.
1. The popularity of Disney animation Ichabod story with that of Mr Toad? The Ichabod story in itself?
2. The popularity of the story of Sleepy Hollow? Washington Irving? History and legend? A piece of Americana?
3. Bing Crosby and his easygoing narration, singing? The familiar tones?
4. The quality and style of the animation: American, the characters, music and songs, comic and serious, pace, the dance, the nightmare and the chase?
5. Sleepy Hollow and Ichabod, his arrival, teaching, people's reaction? his infatuation with Katrina? The clashes with Brom Bones?
6. Ichabod and his age, teaching, self-centred, his comic style superstition? Getting meals? Teaching the girls? One-upmanship? The infatuation with Katrina, the Halloween dance? His charm? Listening to the story of the Headless Horseman? His going home, the vividness of the chase and the Headless Horseman? His disappearance?
7. Bram, his place in the town, defeat by lchabod, telling the story?
8. Katrina as the heroine? The Halloween party? The telling of the story?
9. The vividness of the horseman and the chase, the horse, the lights, the voices, crickets and frogs? Colour, light and darkness?
10. An enjoyable animated fable?
