ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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A post-Walt bit of Disney Studios fluff, starring a young Kurt Russell (before movies like "Big Trouble in Little China" and "The Thing" proved Russell could act).

He's a college kid who (somehow) develops a computerized brain and poses a threat to a real-nasty-gangster played by Cesar Romero.

Also starring Joe Flynn, William Schallert ("Colossus: The Forbin Project"), Alan Hewitt, Richard Bakalyan, and more familiar Disney bit players than you could shake your Mouska-Ears at. Directed by Robert Bulter.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Kinda of a fun, lighthearted Disney film.

Brilliant young scientists Dexter would also go on to develop invisibility in another film, and super strength in yet another.

Oddly, the poster for the film showing Dexter doesn't look much like Russell does it?

[Bud Brewster]

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The trailer actually temps me to watch this! It looks like it might be pretty funny.

____________COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Released on December 31, 1969.

First of the "Dexter Riley" trilogy movies produced by Walt Disney Studio. The others are "Now You See Him, Now You Don't" (1972), which has Dexter becoming invisible. "The Strongest Man in the World" (1975) has Dexter gaining super-human strength.

The animated title sequence reproduces the look of contemporary computer graphics using stop-motion photography of paper cutouts. This is called "computational kitsch."

The campus for Medfield College as seen outside of the window in the Dean's office is a photograph of the Walt Disney Studios.

Medfield College is the same name used in "The Absent-Minded Professor," and "Son of Flubber."

Kurt Russell's real-life father, Bing Russell, plays one of the henchmen of mobster A. J. Arno (Cesar Romero).

Remade as a TV-movie in 1995 starring Kirk Cameron. A very decent remake at that. IMDB

[Bud Brewster]

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I'm such a big fan of Kurt Russel that I almost wish I had Disney+ so could watch some of those movies.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Michael McGreevy (Riverboat) played Dexter's friend Schuyler in this movie. He first met Kurt on this production and they became good friends and even roommates for a time. Here are his recollections of making this film.

"The film marked my return to Disney after an absence of six-years and we had a lot of fun making it. The director, Bob Butler, was probably the best I ever worked with. He later went on to win Emmy awards for directing such great T.V. series as Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele and Moonlighting. Bob was so creative and very attentive to the actors. He was also a nice guy and created a very relaxed and fun atmosphere on the set."

"This was also my first film with Kurt Russell and the beginning of a friendship that still exists today."

"The character of Schuyler is one of my all-time favorites. He's so different from any other character I've played. He's the ultimate innocent who is constantly amazed and surprised by what life throws at him. He's a grab-bag of contradictions: stupid one moment, brilliant the next; totally unique, but the ultimate everyman; a coward, with a hero's heart."

"Joe Flynn (McHale's Navy) became my 'funny' mentor on those films. I was constantly asking his opinion on how to approach my scenes, asking questions about timing, delivery, reactions, etc. I would also study Joe's work and learn tons of tricks about comedy from just watching him. Joe was also extremely funny in real life and kept myself, the rest of the cast, and the entire crew laughing throughout the filming of all the movies."

Walt Disney &, Recollections of the Disney Studios: 1955 - 1980 by Charles Tranberg.

[Pow]

DYK? The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes was originally shot as a two-part television movie for the World of Disney. It turned out so well that it was decided to release it as a theatrical movie. Walt Disney &, Recollections of the Disney Studios: 1955 ~ 1980.

[Bud Brewster]

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Kurt Russel has a great role in several of the movies in phenomenally successful Fast and Furious series. Kurt plays a powerful (and cool) intelligence official whose name is Mr. Nobody.

He gives the F&F team several missions, pitting them against a very evil, intelligent woman called Cipher — played by Charlize Theron.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)