ActionAdventureFamilyWestern

Treasure of Matecumbe

- The richest adventure of them all

In post-Civil War Kentucky, young David Burnic becomes the unexpected heir to the family secret, a map leading to buried treasure on the Florida isle of Matecumbe.

Release Date : 1976-07-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Walt Disney Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Jim

Original Name : Robert Foxworth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lauriette

Original Name : Joan Hackett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Snodgrass

Original Name : Peter Ustinov

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spangler

Original Name : Vic Morrow

Gender : Male

Character Name : Davie

Original Name : Johnny Doran

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thad (as Billy Attmore)

Original Name : Billy 'Pop' Atmore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aunt Effie

Original Name : Jane Wyatt

Gender : Female

Character Name : Aunt Lou

Original Name : Virginia Vincent

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ben

Original Name : Robert DoQui

Gender : Male

Character Name : Skaggs

Original Name : Don Knight

Gender : Male

Character Name : Catrell

Original Name : Mills Watson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheriff Forbes

Original Name : Dub Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charlie (as Val DeVargas)

Original Name : Valentin de Vargas

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Gambler

Original Name : Dick Van Patten

Gender : Male

Character Name : Coahoma Sheriff

Original Name : George Lindsey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheriff Coffey

Original Name : Warde Donovan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paxton Farrow

Original Name : Jonathan Daly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Guide

Original Name : John Steadman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Informant

Original Name : Rex Holman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Flatboat Leader

Original Name : Clint Ritchie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Customer

Original Name : Ken Renard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roustabout

Original Name : Brion James

Gender : Male

Reviews

r96sk

@r96sk

2021-06-23

I found 'Treasure of Matecumbe' just about entertaining, helped by the impressive main cast. Peter Ustinov, after a poor showing in 1975's 'One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing', comes back strong with a top performance as Snodgrass. Joan Hackett is also enjoyable as Paxton, especially across the first act. Robert Foxworth fits in too, as he plays Uncle Jim. The two kid actors are Johnny Doran (Davie) and Billy Atmore (Thad), they aren't amazing but are at least likeable and are passable in what they give. The plot is where it becomes less interesting. The adventure elements are decent, but it does plod along at a number of moments. It doesn't really feel like a treasure hunt until the last knockings, which is disappointing - especially given the onscreen talent. Parts of it also haven't aged gracefully, while the vibe of the film changes from serious to fun too often; e.g. you have a KKK scene, but also a runaway bride bit. With all that noted, it is still a film I can say is good enough and one of Disney's better live-action releases from the 1970s.

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-06-03

I haven't seen this film for over 40 years and it has held up remarkably well. It's a simple tale of a pair of elderly spinsters who face losing their family home. Their only lifeline may come from a tale of buried US Civil War gold. Others have heard about this treasure too, so when two young boys (Johnny Duran & Pop Atmore) set off with the map in search of it, they are closely pursued by a sinister gang led by "Spangler" (Vic Morrow). They start on the riverboat where they meet the savvy Joan Hackett - who can out sharp the card-sharps; then they alight on the avuncular Peter Ustinov ("Ewing T. Snodgrass") who runs a dodgy medicine wagon and we have some fun adventures - his "Spoojoo Juice" seems as effective as an high explosive as it is as a cure for gout! Finally they rescue "Uncle Jim" (Robert Foxworth) and our intrepid team is now ready to face allcomers on their treasure trail. There is no jeopardy about any of this, the ending is pretty much written on the first page - but Ustinov is on good form and we have loads of shoot 'em ups; an explosive encounter with the KKK and even a barn-dance with fisticuffs. It does tend to limp along a bit at times, the greenscreen scenes are very basic (especially on the river) - and at just shy of two hours is half an hour too long. That said, it is a fun Disney action adventure that probably wouldn't be of much interest to kids now, but would have been in 1976.