The Apple Dumpling Gang *** (1975, Bill Bixby, Susan Clark, Don Knotts, Tim Conway) – Classic Movie Review 8468

An exceptionally friendly cast jollies up director Norman Tokar’s well above-average 1975 Walt Disney children’s live action comedy Western adventure The Apple Dumpling Gang about a confirmed bachelor gambler called Russel Donavan (Bill Bixby) and the three orphan siblings he has to take care of striking gold in the old West in 1878 California.

The Apple Dumpling Gang is much enlivened by entertainingly broad, slapstick comedy from Don Knotts and Tim Conway as daffy, knockabout villains, outlaws Theodore Ogelvie and Amos Tucker. Don Tait‘s screenplay in based on Jack M Bickham’s book.

Also in the excellent cast are Susan Clark, David Wayne, Slim Pickens, Harry Morgan, John McGiver, Don Knight, Clay O’Brrien, Brad Savage, Stacy Manning, Iris Adrian, Fran Ryan and Jim Boles.

It was very successful, grossing $36,853,000, and a Disney sequel followed in 1979: The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, with the popular Tim Conway and Don Knotts returning.

Tim Conway died on 14 May 2019.

Funny man Tim Conway died on 14 May 2019, aged 85. He won the 1976 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor – Television for The Carol Burnett Show. He also appeared in Disney’s The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973), Gus (1976), The Shaggy DA and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8468

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