Conversations with Tommy Kirk (Walt Disney's Old Yeller Bonus Content)

[@kevinanderson3849]

I grew up in the 60's watching his films...the one that touched me most was "Old Yeller", I never forgot it. I like the way he talks in this interview, so honestly . It just goes to show the kind of person he was, a good man.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Never knew too much about him,, about a decade before my time, but what a great interview that was. So intelligent and well spoken with a sincere heart. Would have loved to know him as an older gentleman such as in this.. The wisdom that seemed to be behind those eyes..

[@keepingwaltindisney]

@@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary What a beautiful comment!! He was a genuine, lovable person and we are blessed to enjoy his talent!!

[@jubalcalif9100]

Well said and well put! Totally agree!

[@ronbooiman7906]

To,my is a great guy. Always enjoyed his movies.

[@bargemouvier]

What an intelligent, well spoken and humble person

[@jubalcalif9100]

I heartily concur ! Sadly, he passed away in Sept of 2021 at the age of 80.

[@bargemouvier]

@jubalcalif9100 I know I wish I could have met him

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@bargemouvier Me too. Seems like such a kind, sweet & gentle fella. I didn't even know he'd passed away til I started watching this video and began wondering. Opened another window on my laptop and looked it up. Thanks for sharing !

[@djpalindrome]

What a great, humble, articulate and based guy.

[@jubalcalif9100]

My sentiments exactly !!

[@mortonvizner5263]

Wonderful. What fine insights he had about his career and about himself.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Indubitably. He comes across as a very intelligent, thoughtful, perceptive & articulate gentleman.

[@larry811]

I haven't seen Yeller in 50+ years. I know I'll cry all over again

[@keepingwaltindisney]

@@larry811 😭😭😭

[@amandasteele6443]

I had a secret crush on him when I was younger ❤️

[@finchrest]

Always liked him and this was excellent. Long and happy healthy life to you, Mrs. Kirk! Just re-watched SFR tonight. Loved that book and loved that movie when I was a young girl.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Sadly, he passed away in Sept of 2021 at the age of 80.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Tommy mentioned how "The Shaggy Dog" was two episodes of Disney's tv show that the studio put together & released as a movie. They did the same thing in the 70s. I went to see a re-release of "Swiss Family Robinson" and the second feature (yep, they still had second features at the time!) was a couple of episode of TV's "Zorro" stiched togther to make an hour and a half movie.

[@kevinanderson3849]

TV's Zorro with Guy Williams was a classic among kids in the late'50s and early '60s. Unforgettable.

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@kevinanderson3849 Indubitably! Good ol' Zorro certainly made his mark in those days! I noticed the GRIT TV channel shows reruns of that classic 50s TV series each weekday.

[@kevinanderson3849]

@ - Fatso Seargent García was a real funny character !

[@jubalcalif9100]

@ Actor Henry Calvin was wonderful as Sgt. Garcia! He also was quite funny as Oliver Hardy in a 1963 episode of TV's "The Dick Van Dyke Show", wherein Dick played Stan Laurel.

[@jasongibson3496]

I still love to watch Swiss Family Robinson. One of the best Walt Disney films ever made.

[@jubalcalif9100]

It's indeed a wonderful film! I rate it right up there with 1966's "Billy the Kid vs Dracula".

[@jasonthewatchmansson8873]

He was a great actor. I wish that Disney would release, or that someone could find, the footage of him reporting for the Mickey Mouse Club from the 1956 Democratic and Republican conventions. That's a piece of Americana.

[@keepingwaltindisney]

I would love to see those reports with Tommy!

[@amberhuff9810]

And you know why his career was ruined, right?

[@privateprivate1865]

Walt Disney was a visionary .. but on another level. How does anyone acheive so much in so little time? Because my life doesnt work that way?

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

Rip Tommy !

[@DaveAdams-k7f]

I had the biggest crush on Tommy as a tween.

[@lyndakorner2383]

Thankfully, Tommy Kirk was named a Disney Legend and inducted into the pantheon among the other people who made especially significant contributions to the Disney organization. It's a shame that he was not able to continue his career because of the taboos against homosexuality at the time. Tommy was under contract at The Walt Disney Studios when he turned 18, and, at the time, he was in a relationship with another teenager who was 16 or 17. The mother of the other teenager didn't approve, so she went to the company and threatened to make the relationship public. Walt Disney let Tommy Kirk fulfill his contract and make two more films for the studio, but that contract was not renewed. Instead, Kirk made beach movies with Annette Funicello for a very small studio that was not directly affiliated with Disney. Disney did release the soundtracks to those musical films on the company's Buena Vista Records label, however.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Yea for Tommy!

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@jamesmiller4184 Tommy was the MAN !

[@badcompany-w6s]

I won't watch ole Yeller. I read the book and cried my eyes out! No way I could watch the movie.

[@keepingwaltindisney]

@@badcompany-w6s You should just for the sake of seeing Tommy’s incredible acting!! Since you know what happens it might not affect you. I think you’re missing out on classic!

[@777poco]

I watched the movie once and that was enough for me, so very sad

[@chrisobrien6254]

Old Yeller Swiss family Robinson Shaggy Dog Babes in Toyland Absent minded professor Savage Sam

[@keepingwaltindisney]

@@chrisobrien6254 Love all his movies! Son of Flubber, Moon Pilot, and even his TV films like Escapade in Florence and The Horsemasters. The Misadventures of Merlin Jones and The Monkey’s Uncle are all great, too!!

[@jubalcalif9100]

After his Disney contract ended, Tommy went on to appear in a couple of those low budge independently produced "beach" movies.

[@edmondscott7444]

Please remove dreadful background noise ruins the video.

[@keepingwaltindisney]

@@edmondscott7444 Must be on your end. I’m not hearing any background noise. What time stamp specifically?

[@edmondscott7444]

Awful music. Good otherwise.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Right On! It's distracting. I am here to listen to Tommy's comments, not to any background music.

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@edmondscott7444 Indeed. The background music in incredibly annoying!

[@brentstantonfun]

It’s funny How much Tommy was a part of my youth. And today, my career over the last three decades has been working in film and Tv behind the scenes. Hollywood was as far away as the moon growing up. I was captivated by how it all worked as a kid. Nearly ready to retire, I’m so glad I got to work in this medium when I did. Before it changed and lost its real charm.

[@Jebbie1976]

Those were the days; when Disney made fantastic films. Like most things though, they've become "woke" & film quality has suffered because of it (imo). Old Yeller & Pollyanna are my all time favorite live-action Disney films. My favorite cartoon film from Disney is The Jungle Book.

[@keepingwaltindisney]

Pollyanna and Jungle Book are mine! Great picks! I don’t really concern myself over “wokism”…I used to, but I’ve found it makes me too negative and distracts from my enjoyment of classic Disney! Those films are just so special, fantastic as you say!!!

[@Jebbie1976]

​@@keepingwaltindisney They really are good, family friendly masterpieces. I've been collecting Disney films, both VHS & DVD, since my kids were born (now 24 & 23) & even though you can stream lots of them these days I wouldn't take anything for them & I still love watching them. I appreciate all the great stuff you put on your channel. Greetings from Alabama. ♥

[@lyndakorner2383]

What are you talking about? "Pollyanna" is "woke." The whole movie is about a poor orphan going going to live with her rich and miserable aunt who controls the town and even owns the church. The core of the film is an argument against fire-and-brimstone religious fundamentalists.

[@jerrygottlick4614]

Terrible what Disney Studio did to him!

[@keepingwaltindisney]

@@jerrygottlick4614 What happened, happened. Tommy got over it, and so should all of us so we can focus on the treasures he left us!

[@drbonesshow1]

It's too bad when these actors get all the girls and yet they are a homosexual.

[@keepingwaltindisney]

@@drbonesshow1 Or we can just focus on all the great film and tv moments they’ve left us. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jaengen]

Too bad for whom? It’s not all about people like you.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Beloved Tommy! A great heart and so-equally was as an actor. Oh, how be brightened up so many lives and does still. As @raymondyorysh7401 proclaimed only a day ago "Tommy Kirk's in a better place now."