Review: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (DMC #11)
Happy Valentine’s Day, Disnerds! Last night we watched the eleventh movie in the Disnerd Movie Challenge, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. It’s a bit of an odd pick for a Valentine’s week movie, we know, but hey, there’s a little bit of romance in there! Here’s a quick recap before we dive into our review.
Synopsis
Both segments of this film start out with scenes set within a library as each book is pulled off the shelf. In “The Wind in the Willows,” J. Thaddeus Toad, Esq., or Mr. Toad, is an “incurable adventurer” who is the wealthy occupant of Toad Hall. Mr. Toad’s wild adventures and mania have caused his estate to nearly go bankrupt. His friend and financial adviser, Angus MacBadger, does his best to help Toad keep his estate. MacBadger visits Toad’s friends Rat and Mole and begs them to persuade Toad to give up his current gypsy cart mania. They are unsuccessful—Toad sees a motorcar and a new mania takes hold of him. Toad’s friends put him under house arrest but this, too, fails, and Toad is later arrested for stealing a motorcar. At his trial, the defendants argue that the car was already stolen by a gang of weasels. Mr. Winky, the local bartender is called as Toad’s witness but falsely claims Toad tried to sell him the stolen car. Toad is found guilty and sentenced to prison. Later, the horse, Cyril, helps Toad escape from prison. Mac Badger discovers that Mr. Winky is the leader of the weasels, and they’ve taken over Toad Hall. Mr. Winky possesses the deed that would prove Toad’s innocence, so the group sneak into Toad Hall and retrieve the deed. The four friends later celebrate his exoneration, and while Toad’s friends believe he has reformed, Toad has found a new mania: airplanes.
The second segment is “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Ichabod Crane is a charming dandy who arrives in Sleepy Hollow, NY, to be the town’s new schoolmaster. He charms the town’s women and wins over his students. Brom Bones, the local hero, tries to undermine and bully Ichabod, who just shrugs it all off. Soon Ichabod falls for Katrina van Tassel, daughter of the richest man in town. While Ichabod appears to care for her, he’s more in love with the thought of marrying into such a wealthy family. Brom is also in love with Katrina and vies for her attention. Katrina toys with both men, pitting them against each other and encouraging their rivalry. Later, at a Halloween party hosted by the van Tassels, Ichabod dances with Katrina while Brom tries to break them up. Brom discovers Ichabod is superstitious and tells the tale of the Headless Horseman who travels one night each year to search for a new head and that the only way to escape him is to cross a bridge over a brook. Ichabod is terrified of the story, and that night while traveling home he is confronted by the Headless Horseman who chases Ichabod until he crosses the bridge and then tosses his flaming jack-o-lantern head at Ichabod. The next morning, Ichabod is nowhere to be found. Brom takes Katrina as his bride while rumors spread that Ichabod is alive and married to a wealthy widow a few towns over. However, the citizens of Sleepy Hollow believe Ichabod was spirited away by the Headless Horseman.
Thoughts Before Watching
Megan: While I was never one to like scary movies as a kid (I literally left the room when Maleficent came on screen whenever I’d watch Sleeping Beauty), the story of Ichabod Crane was one scary story that I truly enjoyed because it was scary. It was one of my top Halloween movies, and when my friends and I visited the real Sleepy Hollow in New York I was picturing this cartoon retelling of the tale the entire time. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen this, so I’m looking forward to it!
Mr. Toad, on the other hand, was never truly one of my favorites. I was a bit of a rule-follower as a kid, so the fact that Mr. Toad was the embodiment of chaos made me dislike him. I mean he went to prison! (“Wrongfully accused” was not something I fully understood as a kid.) Beyond the ride at Disneyland (which I’m also not really a fan of, but that’s more because they turn up the heat in “hell”), I haven’t revisited Mr. Toad in quite a long time. I’m curious to see if I still feel the same way about it.
Kevin: I only really remember Mr. Toad thanks to the Disneyland ride. As with many of the movies we’ve seen so far, I last saw this a few years ago, but I came away from “The Wind in the Willows” at that time feeling very uninterested. In contrast to Megan I’m more of a fan of the Disneyland ride (I mean, I don’t go out of my way to ride it but I genuinely enjoy it all the time). I also remember the song “Nowhere in Particular,” again thanks to Disney Sing Along Songs, but wasn’t that Mr. Toad riding a horse? Where and how does a car fit into this story if it’s part of the ride?
As for “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” I’m not a fan of scary movies to this very day (seriously, Megan’s and my go-to after something scary is a comforting Disney movie), but this story was never scary to me. I think I actually found the literary story more freaky than this. I think my earliest memory of that segment was as a movie preview for something else I was watching, because I distinctly remember them using a clip of the “Ichabod Crane” song.
Thoughts After Watching
Both: Not gonna lie, this was refreshing to watch after the previous several films!
Kevin: I’ll discuss that a bit more later, but after I finished watching this, one of my first thoughts was how even the title feels different from previous films. It just sounds like you’re about to see an epic tale surrounding two buddies or something like that, so if you didn’t know the whole story then it’s almost surprising that it’s another package film. I also thought it was interesting that the title lists Ichabod first and then Mr. Toad, but the order of their stories in the whole film is switched around. I think I realize now why the Headless Horseman is the most memorable thing about this, and it’s not because he’s scary. Instead, it has a lot to do with his mystique as a character. We never really get insight into who or what the Horseman is. He just… is. And it’s that enigmatic quality that makes him timeless and memorable.
Megan: I’m actually a bit surprised, because I came away from this film liking it much more than I thought I would—yes, even Mr. Toad! Is it because we just watched so many films with little to no plot or character development? Perhaps. But I also feel these stories on their own are much stronger.
Disney brings in star power.
Kevin: Now while I don’t really remember who did the voices of previous characters in the Disney franchise, I do know that in the early days of the studio’s filmmaking they cast relatively unknown folks. I don’t think that was a marketing decision so much as it was a coincidence. By the time the ‘90s rolled around, Disney was using more well known Hollywood stars. As we move from the end of World War II into the 1950s we start seeing a bit of that transition. “The Wind in the Willows” is narrated by English actor Basil Rathbone, well known for playing Sherlock Holmes in various films, and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” features American singer Bing Crosby at its narrator.
Megan: Wait…that was Bing Crosby?!?! No wonder I liked the sound of his voice.
Kevin: Yep! These are certainly not the only big names, just that they were some of the first ones I recognized. But I think this leads straight into the next point.
You can tell men made this.
Megan: Now, I was an English major in college, and yes, unfortunately many women were barred from publishing (or even learning how to read or write) way back when all the “classics” were written. However, when every interstitial library scene in this film rattles off a long list of male characters from works of fiction written by men I’m a bit put off by it. These great “heroes” were all created by white men, and thus even when they’re personified animals they’re still showcasing a white male perspective. The truth is that works by women and people of color do exist from this time, but for whatever reason the (white male) writers/creators chose to omit them from the vast library shown to viewers.
Is Toad a commentary on mental illness?
Megan: When describing their friend Toad and his various obsessions, the animals refer to each as a new “mania.” According to the dictionary, “mania” is defined as (1) excitement manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood; specifically: the manic phase of bipolar disorder; (2a) excessive or unreasonable enthusiasm; and (2b) the object of such enthusiasm. So, by this definition, it seems to me that Toad has some form of mental illness and that is why he is uncontrollably overtaken by these mania. Yet, in “treating” their friend’s mania, Rat and Mole choose to lock Toad in his bedroom against his will and hope the mania subsides (which of course fails because Toad escapes out the window). Obviously today’s world of medicine knows more about mental illness than people did when the original The Wind in the Willows was written, or even when this film was made, but there are still stigmas surrounding mental illness that tend to mark people as “mad” or “crazy.” On the whole, I’m not sure that this cartoon does much to change such opinions about mental illness. However, I do appreciate that even when Toad’s illness brings heaps of trouble to those closest to him, his friends still stand by him. Rat and Mole still think kindly about him when he’s imprisoned. Cyril visits him in prison and helps him escape. Even Angus MacBadger, who initially doesn’t believe Toad, quickly turns to helping him prove his innocence once he realizes his mistake.
Kevin: I also don’t think this segment will do much to change the public’s view of mental health, but on the whole we’ve come a very long way in understanding the topic that even seeing it addressed in an animated film this old is a good thing. It was more common to hide this back then, especially considering the social stigmas surrounding mental illness. The segment isn’t without some faults, as it plays mental health off in a comical way until it lands Toad in trouble. But they could’ve also had Toad’s friends leave him to deal with his troubles on his own, and that they don’t is a good touch, even if it’s not quite perfect.
Katrina finds power in an otherwise powerless position.
Megan: For being the singular object of male desire throughout the Sleepy Hollow segment, Katrina sure knows how to work that to her advantage. She never speaks a word of dialogue throughout the whole thing (one of the many reasons this film fails the Bechdel test), but it is clear that she has sway over the men in the town. From the moment she comes on screen she toys with them, charmingly ordering them to set up her picnic first on this hill, then on that hill over there. The men literally fall over themselves to obey her every whim in hopes of winning her affections. While other animated characters in this position are often portrayed as oblivious to the effect they have on the men around them, Katrina knows full well what she’s doing. And, I’d argue, she’s enjoying it. I personally don’t think she ever had any interest in Ichabod. I argue that she merely sees him as a pawn that she can use to make Brom jealous. Does she even really like Brom? The narrator does tell us that she thinks the way he clears the playing field takes all the fun out of toying with the men in town, and that she wishes someone would challenge him. But is that because she wants to make Brom work to win her over? Or because she would prefer a different suitor? At this point we can only speculate, but in the end she does marry Brom, and it seems unlikely that someone who holds so much sway over men would settle for less than her first choice.
Kevin: This is true and it should be noted. I’m still uneasy about Ichabod and Brom reducing themselves to fools fighting over a woman, but seeing Katrina at least play them both in order to get what she wants is a noteworthy departure from previous depictions.
I don’t think we’re supposed to like Ichabod.
Megan: Allow me to be the nerdy writer for a sec, but I really don’t think we’re supposed to be rooting for Ichabod in this story. First off, he’s described as looking like an apparition. Initially you think, fine, he must be the underdog we’re here to root for. However, as the narrator continues to introduce him we find that he schedules his entire social calendar around the women of the town—not so he can woo them, but so he can eat their food. He’ll continue to string them along as long as there’s food in the bargain. Even as a teacher we find that his love of food keeps him from being an effective disciplinarian because he will not reprimand the boys if their mothers are good cooks. As the story goes on, he also shows he’s not much of a teacher at all when he allows his infatuation with Katrina to overtake him during the school day. His love-sickness would almost be forgivable…except that it turns out he has more love for the wealthy and profitable farm Katrina’s father owns than for Katrina herself. His day dream may start with Katrina, but it quickly turns to fanciful imaginings of the day when Katrina’s father dies and Ichabod can take over his wealth, his farm, and his daughter. In the end, when Ichabod meets his presumed end, we’re not too broken up about it. He didn’t exactly deserve it, but no one in the audience is going to shed a tear for him. And what’s more, Katrina marries Brom at the end, not Ichabod, the presumed hero of this tale.
Nor are we supposed to like Brom.
Kevin: I would also say we’re not supposed to like Brom. He’s the predecessor of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast; both play the role of the town hero, vying for the attention of a single beautiful woman despite other available women. One main difference is that while Belle is never once swayed by Gaston, Katrina certainly has feelings for Brom. Brom is not innocent, however. He’s certainly a bully and his behavior towards Ichabod is completely violent up until the party. There’s also nothing to really suggest that he loves Katrina for anything other than her beauty, and Brom even reacts with disgust when he receives attention from another woman whom he finds completely unattractive, and whose affections he subsequently exploits for personal gain.
Kevin: Come to think of it, this scene is really offensive. This particular female character seems like she was purposely created to be a joke. That her major scene involves her being comic relief is even worse, especially after Brom throws her into a closet. Seriously, she deserves better than Brom. Ichabod wants to marry for wealth and good food, and Brom apparently wants to marry for beauty (it’s worth noting here that the movie description on Disney+, which you can read yourself at the top of this page, describes Ichabod in a more positive light when he doesn’t deserve it). While Katrina’s portrayal is definitely a small step in a better direction, the men in this story are just as shallow as those in earlier stories.
When Disney returns to stories based on books, things get better.
Megan: I think the reason The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad are so easy to remember is because these cartoons are based on stories that have withstood the test of time: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Wind in the Willows. Looking back on the history of the Disney studios, I get the sense that many of the creators were artists first and had to learn how to become storytellers. I suspect that is why some of the cartoons we saw in Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, Fun and Fancy Free, or Melody Time were not quite up to the storytelling standard we’ve come to expect from Disney after watching decades of high quality films from their later years. When the artists could instead rely on existing stories (intellectual property or IP if you’re in the biz), they were able to craft better animated films.
Kevin: As I prepared my thoughts for this review I looked into the making of this film, and I learned that Walt Disney had apparently intended to make individual full-length features out of both of these stories. Those ideas were, of course, not realized given the results. After coming away from this recent viewing, it actually makes a lot of sense that Disney wanted to do it. I think we can see what the creators had in mind. Something that’s always been fascinating to me is how art builds upon what came before it. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is another package film and unfortunately suffers from the story elements not being fully realized, a trait that the films immediately before this one shared. Still, in this last package film, we can really see how the artists and the studio were aching to get back to the richer storytelling they left off with Bambi. That doesn’t make this film more noteworthy, but it’s appreciated a little bit more than some of the previous entries in the Disney library. It’s a return to a form that’s been sorely missed.
Verdict
Kevin: 3
Megan: 3
Final Score: 3
P.S. Who is the Headless Horseman?
Megan: Watching this movie as a kid (after I knew that ghosts weren’t real), I always imagined that Brom dressed up as the Headless Horseman to chase Ichabod away so that he could marry Katrina. Some insist the Headless Horseman is indeed a spook or his own character.
Kevin: Agreed that Brom acted as the Horseman. There’s even a similarity between the Horseman’s horse and Brom’s, lending credibility.
Where do you stand? Does the Headless Horseman exist or is it someone in costume pranking Ichabod?
