Hacksaw (Dir: Larry Lansburgh, 1971).
Originally screened in two parts on NBC's The Wonderful World of Disney in September 1971. Hacksaw is a handsome outdoor adventure with a leading role for former teen heartthrob Tab Hunter. Rarely seen since its original broadcast, it has recently been made available to view on the Disney+ streaming service.
Hacksaw, a wild stallion is captured by Canadian cowboy Tim Andrews (Hunter) and friend Susan (Sue Curtis). Hacksaw's speed and strength see the stallion and Tim engaged by an aging rancher (Ray Teal) to ride on his behalf at a championship chuck wagon pull at the famed Calgary Stampeed.
Shot on location in the Canadian province of Alberta and the Rocky Mountains, Hacksaw boasts some spectacular scenery. The beautiful photography belies the movie's made for TV origins, although it does fall neatly into two distinct haves as Wonderful World of Disney features often do.
Tab Hunter and character actor Ray Teal both make appealing late career appearances and add a little weight to a cast of largely unfamiliar faces. Director Larry Lansburgh was an old hand at this type of animal action. He elicits naturalistic performances from both humans and horses which lends the film an atmosphere of a docudrama. The climactic chuck wagon race conveys as much gentle excitement as you would expect from a chuck wagon race.
Originally screened in two parts on NBC's The Wonderful World of Disney in September 1971. Hacksaw is a handsome outdoor adventure with a leading role for former teen heartthrob Tab Hunter. Rarely seen since its original broadcast, it has recently been made available to view on the Disney+ streaming service.
Hacksaw, a wild stallion is captured by Canadian cowboy Tim Andrews (Hunter) and friend Susan (Sue Curtis). Hacksaw's speed and strength see the stallion and Tim engaged by an aging rancher (Ray Teal) to ride on his behalf at a championship chuck wagon pull at the famed Calgary Stampeed.
Shot on location in the Canadian province of Alberta and the Rocky Mountains, Hacksaw boasts some spectacular scenery. The beautiful photography belies the movie's made for TV origins, although it does fall neatly into two distinct haves as Wonderful World of Disney features often do.
Tab Hunter and character actor Ray Teal both make appealing late career appearances and add a little weight to a cast of largely unfamiliar faces. Director Larry Lansburgh was an old hand at this type of animal action. He elicits naturalistic performances from both humans and horses which lends the film an atmosphere of a docudrama. The climactic chuck wagon race conveys as much gentle excitement as you would expect from a chuck wagon race.
If there is any particular criticism of Hacksaw it is that there is little narrative thrust. It is not the most densely plotted of movies, but its easygoing nature accounts for much of the picture's charm.
Hacksaw will undoubtedly appeal most to horse lovers. Kids raised on flashy franchises such as Star Wars and The Avengers alone may find it a little underwhelming. But many will find it easy to warm to this laidback, goodnatured drama. With its rugged locales and beautiful horses, this Disney obscurity is lightweight but likeable entertainment.
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