Davy Crockett


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

From Wikipedia:

Davy Crockett aired on ABC in five episodes on the Disneyland series, the series stars Fess Parker in the title role and Buddy Ebsen as Georgie Russel, aired in five episodes on the Disneyland series.

The first three episodes of the miniseries were edited together as the 1955 theatrical film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. The series and film are known for the catchy theme song, "The Ballad of Davy Crockett".  The series was filmed in color at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, entrance.

The series began with "Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter" (December 15, 1954): Crockett seeks a truce with Indians who assaulted a military outpost. He and Russell fight in skirmishes under the command of General Andrew Jackson, portrayed by Basil Ruysdael. Along the way, Crockett kills a bear armed only with his knife.

The second episode is "Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" (January 26, 1955): Crockett, with his companion Russell, travels to Tennessee, where he learns of the death of his wife, Polly Crockett, played by Helene Stanley. He wins a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives and later the United States House of Representatives.

The third episode is "Davy Crockett at the Alamo" (February 23, 1955): Crockett and Russell join a gambler named Thimblerig, played by Hans Conreid, who urges them to go to Texas, where they arrive to battle Mexico's General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at the fortress, the Alamo. Although Crockett and all the defenders perished at the Battle of the Alamo, two other segments followed.

In "Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race" (November 16, 1955), Crockett and Russell are fur trapping in Kentucky when they meet Mike Fink, known as the best boatman around and portrayed in the miniseries by Jeff York. Fink challenged Crockett to a keelboat race to New Orleans.

In "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates" (December 14, 1955), Crockett and Fink team up with Russell to catch pirates posing as Indians.

Written by

Norman Foster

Thomas W. Blackburn

Directed by Norman Foster

Starring

Fess Parker

Buddy Ebsen

Composer(s) George Bruns

No. of episodes 5

Producer(s) Bill Walsh

Editor(s)

Stanley Johnson

Chester Schaeffer

Cinematography

Charles P. Boyle

Bert Glennon

Broadcast

Original channel ABC

Original run December 15, 1954 – December 14, 1955

Highlights
Fess Parker on Davy Crockett portraying "Crockett's" transition to public life and politics
02:00
Fess Parker on his favorite scenes from Davy Crockett, and on the impact the show had on Disney Studios and Disneyland
04:33
Fess Parker on promoting Davy Crockett with Buddy Ebsen, and on how children reacted to him as the character
07:12
Fess Parker on the challenges of playing "Davy Crockett"
02:28
Fess Parker on learning about Davy Crockett after he was cast in Davy Crockett
04:46
Fess Parker on the end of Davy Crockett at the Alamo
02:33
Who talked about this show

Buddy Baker

View Interview
Buddy Baker on orchestrating Disney's Davy Crockett
03:13

Peter Ellenshaw

View Interview
Peter Ellenshaw on working as a matte artist on Davy Crockett
01:23
Harrison Ellenshaw on his father working on Davy Crockett
03:27

Fess Parker

View Interview
Fess Parker on meeting Walt Disney and being cast in Davy Crockett
07:55
Fess Parker on learning about Davy Crockett after he was cast in Davy Crockett
04:46
Fess Parker on the challenges of playing "Davy Crockett"
02:28
Fess Parker on the challenges of playing "Davy Crockett," and on the themes of the show
05:39
Fess Parker on the portrayal of Native Americans in Davy Crockett
02:41
Fess Parker on Helene Stanley as "Polly Crockett" on Davy Crockett, and on how he played "Davy Crockett"
03:15
Fess Parker on his input into the scripts for Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, and on the accuracy of the shows
04:01
Fess Parker on Buddy Ebsen as "George Russel" on Davy Crockett, and the rest of the cast of the show
04:17
Fess Parker on the costume he wore for Davy Crockett, including the iconic coonskin cap, and on where the show was shot
01:46
Fess Parker on promoting Davy Crockett with Buddy Ebsen, and on how children reacted to him as the character
07:12
Fess Parker on being recognized from Davy Crockett
06:06
Fess Parker on who Davy Crockett was in real life, and on what the series showed of the man
05:26
Fess Parker on Davy Crockett portraying "Crockett's" transition to public life and politics
02:00
Fess Parker on the end of Davy Crockett at the Alamo
02:33
Fess Parker on ideas he has had to bring back Davy Crockett
09:48
Fess Parker on the merchandizing of Davy Crockett
03:42
Fess Parker on the merchandizing of Davy Crockett, and on the music from the show
05:47
Fess Parker on his favorite scenes from Davy Crockett, and on the impact the show had on Disney Studios and Disneyland
04:33
Fess Parker on the legacy of Davy Crockett, and on his longstanding association with the character
03:59
Fess Parker on Davy Crockett portraying "Crockett's" transition to public life and politics
02:00

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