THE TREASURE OF MATECUMBE

US, 1976, 117 minutes, Colour.
Robert Foxworth, Joan Hackett, Peter Ustinov, Vic Morrow, Johnny Doran, Billy ‘Pop’ Atmore, Jane Wyatt, Vincent Van Patten.
Directed by Vincent Mc Eveety.

The Treasure of Matecumbe is a boys’ own adventure, Disney style. Set in the 19th century, in the south, it is an interesting presentation of friendship between a black boy and a white boy. Their adventures are reminiscent of those of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

The film was quite explicit in its stand on racism. It is very strong for the African Americans, critical of the Ku Klux Klan and its attitudes.

However, the important thing for the film is the treasure hunting, the friendship between the two boys, the pressures on the adults, the villains led by Vic Morrow, and a British conman played with his usual aplomb by Peter Ustinov. Peter Ustinov had also been in the Disney film One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing and in the 1960s had been Blackbeard the Pirate.

The film was directed by Vincent McEveety? whose CV during the 1970s seems to indicate that he directed most of the Disney features of that period ranging from The Castaway Cowboys and Superdad to The Strongest Man in the World as well as Gus and two of the Herbie films let alone a great number of programs for the Disney television show.

1. A good Disney film? Expectations of Disney films, expectations?

2. The boys adventure ingredients of the film? A film designed for boys, family audiences? The tone of the opening song?

3. Atmosphere of the nineteenth century, America, especially the emphasis on the south? The emphasis on race relationships? The pro-black, anti-Ku Klux Klan tone?

4. Response to films about treasure, heroes and villains, boy heroes? Chase structure? The importance of the comic ingredients with Dr Snodgrass?

5. The establishing of the setting, the old colonial home, the escaped black, his talk of treasure, his death? Spangler and the villains? The genteel household, the aunts and their nephew? The need for money and the selling of the old home to the carpetbaggers?

6. The atmosphere of adventure and the ingredients of the adventure episodes, the bride stowing away on the river boat, adventures on the boat and the stealing of the money and falling off? The experience in jail and the escape? All the experiences with Dr Snodgrass, in himself, his demonstrations? The continued pursuit of Spangler?

7. Peter Ustinov’s contribution to the comedy ingredients? A British character, international conman? The humour of the villagers and his medicine? His demonstrations etc?

8. The serious overtones especially in the encounters with the Ku Klux Klan?

9. The personalities of the boys? The black and the white and their sharing together? Resourcefulness, their oath not to reveal the whereabouts of the treasure? The encounter with Laurette? On the boat, her tricking the gambler on the boat, the robbery and falling off, her taking him to prison, the importance of her getting the sheriff to Dr Snodgrass? Her rescuing them on the edge of the cliff from Spangler? Her involvement in the adventures? Trying to find their Uncle, his about to be hanged? His being left behind when they escaped in the boat and Dr Snodgrass’s boat exploded? Uncle Sam to the rescue and leading them to safety?

10. Spangler as typical villain? His men? Cruelty? Their comeuppance as they were sent over the cliff? Their finally being taken as slaves?

11. The importance of the various plot twists and the continual pursuit by Spangler?

12. The transition to Florida, the Everglades, the animals, the beauty and the danger? The betrayal by the boatman?

13. The finding of the treasure? The build-up to the hurricane sequence and the danger and suspense? The disappearance of Dr Snodgrass?

14. The final climax with the Cougar Indians? The group hiding, the battle with Spangler and their being captured?

15. Appropriateness of the happy ending and the return of Dr Snodgrass?