The Legend of Lobo (1962)
Our legend lived and roamed somewhere in the region of the southwestern
part of North America. It was a place
that looked very much like Arizona, probably because that is where it was
filmed. Perhaps the Ten Who Dared were traveling the Colorado river as Lobo the wolf traveled
the mountain sides engaging in his legendary escapades. He was born to a legend
himself the wolf known as El Feroz. He grew up more curious and spirited then
his brothers and sisters, easy falling into adventures. During the course of
his formative years he goes into battle with turtles, rattle-snakes and a band
of bandit racoons. He befriends his mortal enemy, an antelope and in true
Disney fashion watches as his mother is gunned down by a rancher. All these events lead him to take over a
rival wolf pack and lead raids on killing and taking down walking beef. This
upsets the ranchers and cattleman who try and capture or kill him only to
constantly fail like Elmer Fudd trying to capture the wabbit. Reward posters start to pop up seeking Lobo’s
life.
Brining life to this simple G-rated look at R-rated nature is the
Disney narrator cowboy Rex Allen. He was the voice of choice when it comes to narrating
Disney animal lives within the realm of cinematic storytelling. With Allen
comes the legendary Sherman Brothers and the Sons of the Pioneers singing about Lobo’s
life. All in all it is a very well put
together film with fine performances by the wolves. The cows are especially
well acted really portraying cattle bothered by hungry wolves. The movie just sort of ENDS. But not until
Lobo stages a daring rescue of his wolf wife that is quite interesting to
watch.
Especially interesting is that the Legend is based on a real
legend. Author Ernest Thompson Seton’s 1898 book ‘Wild Animals I have Known’
contains the short story "Lobo - The King of Currumpaw,’ which the movie
is based on. He based the story on his own experience of hunting wolves in the
Southwestern United States. The movie takes the realistic approach to telling
the story. Would a animated telling be able to tell the same story? Maybe? I can see parts of it working but then
no Rex Allen or singing cowboys. The
Legend of Lobo reminds me of other Disney themed animal adventures, especially
the True Life adventures which at this point in my Disney viewing I haven’t
seen yet. But if yIou like Disney animal adventures this is worth watching.
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