Top Movie Gifts for the Disney Fan

Disney fans are usually easy to please with gifts around the holidays or other occasions. There are countless movies made by the corporation that have become instant classics. However, most true Disney fans have copies of their blockbuster hits like "The Lion King", "Aladdin", or "Beauty and the Beast". There are some older and less popular Disney films that get left out of a great deal of Disney fans' collections.

"Pete's Dragon" (1977)
"Pete's Dragon" was quite the cutting edge movie when it was released in 1977. The story is about a young boy named Pete who escapes his adoptive parents with his invisible dragon Elliott. It's a charming movie that includes both Shelley Winters and Mickey Rooney in its live-action cast.

"The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad" (1949)
This DVD was released and contains two tales for the price of one. First is Disney's version of "The Wind in the Willows" which tells the story of Mr. Toad. Mr. Toad is a frog fascinated with invention and anything new and exciting. Oftentimes, it gets him in trouble as the plot continues. The second is Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". Both cartoons really show how innovative Disney was in his animation so early on if you consider that they were made in 1949 long before a good deal of us were even though of.

"Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (1971)
Another classic from Disney, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" features Angela Lansbury before her "Murder She Wrote" days. The storyline is centered around an apprentice witch, three children, and a conman who are searching for the missing piece of a magic spell.

"Robin Hood" (1973)
"Robin Hood" is probably one of my favorite Disney cartoons. Naturally, it is the re-telling of the famous Robin Hood legend. Disney's spin on it features animals as the main characters. (Robin and Maid Marion are foxes and Little John is a bear.) It features several good chase scenes as Prince John tries to capture Robin Hood for robbing the rich to feed the poor.

"Darby O'Gill & the Little People" (1959)
This movie was widely known as one of Walt Disney's pet projects. The story, set in Ireland, is about Darby O'Gill, an old man who is an estate caretaker. Darby spends too much time telling tall tales about leprechauns and ends up being replaced as caretaker by a younger man (played by a very young Sean Connery). Jobless, Darby is worried about his family's future. Darby then captures King Brian, the king of the leprechauns. It's a cute film with special effects that are very progressive for 1959. The icing on the cake? Sean Connery actually sings in the film.

"The Sword in the Stone" (1963)
"The Sword in the Stone" is definitely a favorite of fans of medieval times, even with its extensive inaccuracies in portraying the time period. The story follows Arthur, nicknamed Wart, who is taken under the forgetful wizard Merlin's wing. Merlin realizes that Wart is destined for greatness and tries to instill in him the importance of an education. The scenes in which Merlin changes Wart into a fish and a squirrel are the most entertaining.

"Mary Poppins" (1964)
Super-nanny "Mary Poppins" is one of the most beloved of all Disney tales, although oftentimes forgotten about with all of their new releases. Starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, it is another anamorphic film. The story is about Mary Poppins the nanny of the Banks' children. She leads them on incredible adventures like jumping into a sidewalk drawing (drawn by Van Dyke's character). This film was the only Disney film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar until "Beauty and the Beast" received a nomination in 1991. The infectious songs, like "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Step In Time", will have you humming long after the end credits roll.