Good start, but then it gets ruined

Good concept, poorly executed.

Absolutely brilliant

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Widow Dorothy McGuire has to grab her three kids and leave their neat home for a dilapidated house in Maine. Cue songs and eight hundred weight of syrup as Hayley Mills, Burl Ives and co work out this Disney adaptation of Kate Douglas Wiggin's novel Mother Carey's Chickens. Yes a family film that is as safe as the house that Dottie and brood do up, yes I understand it's a kids film, and a musical to boot. But the screenplay from Sally Benson is as dull as dishwater and the cast are way too animated. Particularly Disney's safe card, Miss Mills. The songs from Robert and Richard Sherman are barely memorable, except for the Ives warbled Ugly Bug Ball. While the Technicolor looks off and not in keeping with the Disney stamp of quality.Harmless is fine, most musicals are just that. But there's a ream of far better harmless musicals than this one. Certainly ones that involve the audience all the way thru the running time. Whatever the age and sex of the viewer may be. 3/10

I remembered this one fondly from my childhood and I now have absolutely no idea why. What is the point of this movie? It has terrible, terrible songs sung by people with terrible, terrible voices (except for Burl Ives, but the songs he sings are still stupid). It is certainly not Polyanna all over again (which does hold up to a recent viewing) although they were clearly trying to capitalize on the success of that one when they fell for this sucker. Dorothy Maguire does nothing but smirk and simper. Hayley is just wasted. It is interesting to see Jimmy Mathers play the youngest child, his resemblance to Jerry Mathers, the Beaver, will be obvious to anyone. Deborah Walley is also nice always to see but she is given nothing at all to do.

this movie is so cute! i've always been a big fan of haylie mills so when i saw this movie i had to get it. it's always been one of my favorites because it's just so fun and you don't have to think when you watch it. it totally takes me out of my world and pulls me into nancy carrey's (mills). the songs are catchy, the cast play their parts extremely well, and this movie easily finds a place in your top favorites. this is definitely one of haylie's best films and i'm sure you'll enjoy it. i've watched it so many times and i can quote it all the way through, but i never get bored with it. you can tell that the actors and actresses had great chemistry together.

Excellent movie, if you liked Hayley Mills in PollyAnna, look no further. This movie exhibits family values and basic human kindness amid the traditional Disney music and humor. There's nothing wrong with some simplicity and optimism. Today we can use them. Burl Ives and Dorothy McGuire are absolutely wonderful. The story is endearing and the life lessons are timeless. This is a classic. Many thanks to the Hallmark Channel for bringing it to us. I don't recall seeing it when I was growing up, but at 45, its never to late to enjoy vintage Disney. Maybe today's Disney execs should review their history for future successes. I highly recommend it.