The Journey Of Natty Gann
1984
Set in Chicago during the depression of 1935 it follows the adventures of the courageous young Natalie Gann. Read more
| Starring | Meredith Salenger, John Cusack, Ray Wise |
|---|---|
| Director | Jeremy Paul Kagan |
| Genres | Children, Drama |
loading...
The Journey Of Natty Gann
Set in Chicago during the depression of 1935 it follows the adventures of the courageous young Natalie Gann.
| Starring | Meredith Salenger, John Cusack, Ray Wise |
|---|---|
| Director | Jeremy Paul Kagan |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 37 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Children, Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 19 Apr 2004 Production year: 1984 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (3)
View all -
Set during the Depression, this Disney road movie is a kind of Homeward Bound: the Incredible Journey with people. Meredith Salenger is so good in the role of the 14-year-old who walks 2,000 miles in search of her lumberjack father that it beggars belief that she hasn't gone on to become a major star. John Cusack did progress to bigger things and he also impresses here, as a drifter convinced the open road is no place for a girl. But when you've got a wolf as a bodyguard… There's plenty of action, but the film scores best for its depiction of the hardships many children were forced to face in the 1930s.
-
A kind of human Lassie Come Home: doggedly watchable but not inspiring, especially since it was shot in Canada.
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Forgotten Disney Film
When Natty's father Sol(Ray Wise) is offered a job in a logging camp in Washington, he is only given a few hours to come to a decision, either take the job and leave Natty behind, or stay in Chicago with Natty and hopefully find work elsewhere. At first, rejecting the job offer, he steps out into the Chicago streets. In a truly remarkable scene, we see as Sol does, the faces of all those who have lost hope and been beaten down in despair. It is after this brief but telling moment that he realizes, as we do, there is no decision to be made and Sol accepts the work in Seattle. Sol is forced to leave Natty in the care of a boarding house owner Connie(Lainie Kazan). After Natty overhears Connie reporting her as an abandoned child, she decides not to wait for her father to send for her, and begins an arduous journey across country to find him.
-
Most recent members' review
View all -
A minor gem
The great depression movie is a genre Hollywood doesn't quite know what to do with, there is no clear good guys and bad guys and pretty much everybody had a hard time of it in America so it doesn't make many of them and they tend, like this, to deal with children overcoming adversity. Natty Gann however transends this limitation and depicts the disposed of the era with great insight and style.
Meridith Salenger is engaging as the tomboy Natty who journeys cross country from Chicago to Washington state to join her father but it is the world and people she encounters that transfixes, including a young John Cusack demonstrating the prodigeous star talent he had even then. Jed the wolf also scores highly.
Much more than just for the kiddies. -
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 20
Related user collection
Feel Good Movies (21)
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
- The Journey Of Natty Gann
- DVD: £3.93
Free Delivery - RRP £15.79 (you save: 75%)
Set in Chicago during the depression of 1935 it follows the adventures of the courageous young Natalie Gann.... -