Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

boblipton There's a lot of fun in this movie, including players Walter Brennan, Buddy Ebsen, Lesley Ann Warren, and a very early appearance by Goldie Hawn, and a fine concluding musical number. However the pacing is erratic -- caused, no doubt, from its initial expansion from something intended from the Disney TV show to a theatrical release, then extensive cutting, reportedly because the management of Radio City Music Hall insisted it be cut by a third; camerawork that suggested extensive cribbing from THE SOUND OF MUSIC; and a libretto by the usually delightful Sherman twins that sounds like they were largely cribbing from OKLAHOMA! Only two or three of their songs are fist-rate, and the rest are carried by charm and orchestration. Walt Disney's death fifteen months before its release couldn't have helped.The story centers around the family of Buddy Ebsen and Janet Blair, who pull up stakes to move to the Dakotas during the election of 1888, while the territories were applying for statehood. Considering the bitterness of the election -- if you think 2016 was bad, you have no idea! -- it's a sweet-tempered affair, more a fable than a serious story.

mike48128 If I did "see" it, it was on Walt Disney Presents and it wasn't on a color TV. A fabulous cast: Janet Blair, Buddy Epsen, Walter Brennan, John Davidson, Lesley Ann Warren, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Richard Deacon, Wally Cox, and others. A few "humable" Sherman Bros. songs. One song-after-another in the first 20 minutes may put you off at first, but stay with it. The family band wants to sing at the Grover Cleveland rally in St. Louis, but instead ends up resettling in The Dakota Territory. A somewhat predictable plot involving romance between Lesley and John and some family political disagreements. The last 30 minutes of the movie really "click" and thus I "upgraded" my initial rating from 8 to 9. A rousing full cast "dance" number followed by a "brawl" in which nobody really gets hurt, Disney-style. (Walt Disney died before the film was completed and it was released 18 months after his death.) Perhaps the last live action musical Disney Studios film until the very recent Beauty and The Beast? Walter Brennan does an outstanding job and "holds" the movie together!

bkoganbing For purposes of abbreviation I'll just refer to this one of the longest titled films around as Family Band. It was one of the last attempts at an original musical from Hollywood, I can only think those two Julie Andrews films Star and Darling Lili that are both later and fall in that category.The film refers to the Bower Family who have music in their blood as everyone plays an instrument and sings and dances. They are also opinionated politically, but their opinions do differ. Buddy Ebsen father of the clan is a Republican, but usually keeps it to himself as to not get into arguments with his father Walter Brennan who lives with them and is a dyed in the wool Democrat. Mother Janet Blair has a hard and fast rule, no politics be discussed when they enter the house. It's all saved for the barn where the kids also practice. In fact Brennan has whipped up a campaign song for Grover Cleveland in his re-election bid in 1888. Listening to the pleas of John Davidson talking about the wonders of Dakota Territory, the Bowers move and eldest daughter Lesley Ann Warren is moved by Davidson as well romantically. But politics and the election of 1888 between Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison threaten everybody's happiness.Family Band holds up well today as a fine family film and one gets a little history lesson thrown in for the bargain. The score written by the Sherman team of Richard M. and Robert B. contains no song hits, but its serviceable and the numbers are nicely staged. I'd highly recommend it for today's audience.

capricorn9 Back in the 60's two films from the Disney Studios featured newcomers John Davidson and Leslie-Ann Warren : The Happiest Millionaire and this one. When Milionare was released it didn't do well and only recently has been restored to it's full Roadshow version. That put a damper on other films to follow and this is one. It's too bad this one didn't come out first as in my opinion it's a better film. The story is more believable and human. Even though you have splendid sets and costumes in Millionaire you have the splendid exteriors here. The only real names in this are Buddy Ebsen and Walter Brennen, although Janet Blair is a name to some. They bring humanity to the roles they play and you don't have them mugging for the cameras like Fred MacMuray and Tommy Steele in the other.Being a family of musicians there are more entertaining large numbers in this film, especially the one at the end that can be said to be the first time Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn appeared in a film together.This film as also cut before the release but the VHS copy I have is 130 minutes, so I am hoping it is the full one. (This database lists it as 110 minutes)The only DVD I have seen is in full screen, so let's hope that the Disney vaults are opened again and a proper release of the original version is available to us.