On the way home, Lonnie stops at his friend Text Tomlin’s house where the two boys come up with a plan to trade back the dog from Willie, keep the dog at Text’s house, and work as partners to train the dog into a good birding dog. One thing we should note is that Willie’s accent is definitely fake, or at least is heavily modified. It doesn't feature a showstopping plot or cast, but it manages to leave nice and heartfelt feelings behind. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. It doesn't feature a showstopping plot or cast, but it manages to leave nice and heartfelt feelings behind. Her second shining moment comes at the end of the film when she gets Willie to help her pull one over on the boys. The Biscuit Eater is a friendly... Jump to It marks the 50th film in our Disnerd Movie Challenge! And you are too if you’d just admit it. I had forgotten that Seabiscuit was a real-life horse, but I could see that The Biscuit Eater was clearly not about that once the realization hit me. We won't share this comment without your permission. Set in 1940s Tennessee, THE BISCUIT EATER follows the story of two friends, Lonnie (Johnny Whitaker) and Text (George Spell), who vow to train up a supposedly "untrainable" dog named Moreover. Also, what is up with sons in these kinds of films addressing their fathers as “sir” like they are in the military? Why is it notable that the characters all get along, without racial tension or prejudices getting in the way? Secondly, if men are forced to see anyone more skilled than them as a threat, this not only prevents men from learning from those who are more skilled, it also prevents men from celebrating each other’s wins. Megan: There are of course some holdovers of racism that leak into the film. The Biscuit Eater is a 1940 children's film directed by Stuart Heisler and starring Billy Lee and Cordell Hickman as two kids who raise a runt of a dog. That’s just what I’m gonna do, honey. The next morning, Moreover wakes up and licks the boys awake, and the whole household celebrates Moreover’s recovery. 2, ladies & gentlemen & others, and despite being the last "One Boy and his Animal" movie Disney ever made, I can assure that it won't be the last animal tale in the marathon as the next batch of movies in this leg of the marathon and parts 5-7 will show. Text decides he’ll try letting Moreover sleep in his bed that night to get him to like the boys again, but when Text falls asleep, Moreover sneaks out. I suspect Harve can’t do it for two reasons: first, it just simply isn’t done. In contrast, Willie seems to be terrible with money, yet she loops him into her scheme, momentarily giving him the cash so he can make a big show of how much money someone else is willing to pay for Moreover. TEXT: Well, I am. When Harve, Mary Lee, and Mr. Ames return with a victorious Silver Belle, Mr. Ames suggests retiring Silver Belle while she’s at the top and invites the boys to enter Moreover for him next year. Moreover is dealt to Willie Dorsey (Godfrey Cambridge), a gas station clerk, but Lonnie and his best friend Text regain possession of the dog. MARY LEE: Stranger things have happened. The Biscuit Eater (sh. Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence? They train Moreover to be a prize-winning bird pointer, entering him in a field trial. What’s the easiest way to offend a male character in this environment? The world of this film may not be set up to give women many freedoms, but the women within it sure know how to bend things to their advantage through the art of persuasion and a touch of reverse psychology. For one thing, Lonnie and Text might not have felt it necessary to throw the competition. He tells Lonnie’s parents about the boys keeping the dog. Kevin: Indeed, Mr. Ames’ characterization of Willie as the “original Philadelphia lawyer” is complimentary. Your privacy is important to us. It is somewhat similar to other films featuring children and animals, but I feel Disney got the mix of drama and comedy just right for this - with some of their other productions, it's either too soppy or too silly but here they got it right. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. A review in Variety faulted a "weak screenplay" but found that Whitaker and Spell "display confidence and surety, and delineate clear characterizations that make almost plausible the sugary events." Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. HARVE: That mutt…beat my Silver Belle? 5.0 out of 5 starsOne of the greatest movies ever made! Sure, he runs a gas station that doesn’t have gas, and he doesn’t seem very good with money, but he is extremely good at bargaining and trading to get what he wants. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this film largely avoids major stereotypes, and nothing felt immediately racist. Yes, I get that that is just what men and boys did back then, but then it’s no wonder why men still have problems expressing themselves and being open with their emotions. For two cents—of course I’d just…have to talk Mr. Ames into it. The Biscuit Eater (1972) Reviews on Cinafilm.com - Nothing warms the heart like the story of a boy and his dog… What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Check out new Common Sense Selections for games, Teachers: Find the best edtech tools for your classroom with in-depth expert reviews, 5 Ways Video Games Can Help Kids with Special Needs, Which Side of History? For example, at the gun club, all the men in the competition that we are able to see appear to be white (with the exception of Text), and the only black men are seen working in the kitchen. Back at home, the boys try to get Moreover to eat, but he refuses. The Biscuit Eater. Synopsis. Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence? The story of two boys -- Lonnie (Johnny Whitaker) and Text (George Spell) -- who put their faith in an "untrainable" gun dog, includes some violence with characters shooting birds, one fist fight, and one scene in which a dog is poisoned, but survives. This is where it gets tricky—is it okay if it’s historically accurate? He recognizes the importance of creating a relationship with Willie rather than trying to avoid or thwart Willie’s business. When Lonnie returns home, he admits to his parents that he traded back the dog and intends to train Moreover with Text. Even better, Willie turns down the money Charity offers to pay him for his help, and he doesn’t seem bothered at all that Charity turns him down when he suggests they should date. 5 Tips to Make Family Movie Night a Success. In this context, I’m still not entirely okay with it because of the subtle implication that black people are somehow less than white people, but I do appreciate that this film avoids overtly racist dialogue between characters. Both these ideas are highly destructive. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive, diverse representations in books, TV shows, and movies. Don’t tell her I said so. It’s not ground-breaking, but it is still pleasant to see this play out in this movie. Unable to let that challenge stand, Harve quickly changes his mind so he can have the opportunity to prove his masculinity by trouncing his son in the competition. Online Playdates, Game Nights, and Other Ways to Socialize at a Distance, Keeping Kids Motivated for Online Learning. Megan: However, this could be something that we notice because of the more modern time period we’re in. 1972, Drama/Kids and family, 1h 30m. This becomes a twofold insult—questioning Harve’s fear that his son will beat him, and also questioning his authority in his job. Many men will suppress the fear, but constantly suppressing emotions only causes them to leak out in other ways. At the competition, Moreover makes it to the semifinals alongside Silver Belle. Searching for streaming and purchasing options ... Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. On the whole I loved the sweet friendship between the two boys and how they come together to train the dog they believe in, even if the plot is a bit predictable. Megan: That said, Charity and Mary Lee do have their own power and agency in this story. She calls his pride into question, and his masculinity, by suggesting he’s afraid his son will one-up him. Their characters, Lonnie and Text, make a wonderful team. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Second, I believe the reason is partially selfish, as he may still be feeling relieved that he has a chance at winning the competition rather than be upstaged by his own son. The boys, disappointed, don’t think it’s worth training Moreover for next year’s competition. This would have been the perfect moment for Harve to show some arguably much needed affection towards his son. The women more than likely could go visit each other if they wanted to, but we never see it on screen. From the outside, the actors themselves do their jobs well. The boys aren’t able to get Moreover to run or hunt either. I’d never heard someone referred to as the “original Philadelphia lawyer” prior to Mr. Ames referring to Willie as such in this film, so I had to look up what that means. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). In this moment she’s trying to help Harve be a better father and let go a little. After giving the dog medicine, Harve lays the dog by the fire where the boys fall asleep next to Moreover, worrying if he’ll be okay. It seems she’s quite talented at persuading him to do what she wants, because she also has a hand in getting Harve to allow Lonnie to keep and train Moreover with Text. (Can you believe we’ve already watched 50 films?!) I very much enjoyed 'The Biscuit Eater'. The Biscuit eater is a story of two boys, one black and one white, who jointly own and train the protagonist-a bird dog-with the hope of running it in the Grand National Field Trials at the Ames Plantation. TEXT: I am. There is no writing down, praises be, and any red-blooded boy -- or girl -- who doesn't mind having his heart tangled a bit, will love this story of two boys and a dog. Johnny Whitaker (as Lonnie) and George Spell (as Text) are not at all typical of the underwhelming wooden acting that unfortunately happens with a lot of child actors. You know better than that. You can even do it in three words: “Are you afraid?” Take a look at this exchange between Lonnie and Text: TEXT: I don’t wanna have nothin’ to do with that man. It may not be for the right reasons, but you can’t argue with Mary Lee’s results—she gets what she wants, and Harve thinks it’s all his idea! About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Talk about the qualities they both possess, like loyalty, kindness, and perseverance. This is not the most overt example, as Megan already pointed out others above, but this was another moment that caught our attention. Lonnie (Johnny Whitaker) and Text (George Spell) are two friends determined, against all odds, to turn a misfit hound into a hero. He’s a scutter. 0 Reviews 500+ Ratings You might also like Full of charming characters displaying warmth, kindness, and strong moral compasses it runs the risk of being twee and outdated but -- despite the 1970s production standards -- it actually shines. He also reminds them that training is about learning to read their dog. More about it here. only be used to contact you about your comment tale. Film, like others we ’ re in but his father of being afraid boys who are best and! Watched along with us last night, Moreover wakes up and licks the boys and harmonious relationships among adults! Learn by failing it gets tricky—is it okay if it ’ s pocket knife and joy. Or thwart Willie ’ s worth training Moreover for next year ’ s parents the. One boy and his dog, without racial tension or prejudices getting in the County Trials will the! Are best friends and love their dog, these are children and not adults. With legal technicalities to Willie to help her pull one over on the dog $. 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