I don't know how much of a "classic" this one really is, but truth is it was hard to fill the 1970s with titles that are both "great" and "suitable for families." I ended up casting a wide net to catch some family friendly movies and this was one of them.
Specs:
1 1/2 hours; rated G
Our family's average rating on a scale of 1-10:
7.5
More about the film and our reaction to it:
Everyone in the house enjoyed the film and I was pleasantly surprised by how well-made and charming it was. The film is set in the old West and opens with three children traveling on a train (we don't remember why) to the western town where they are adopted by this single guy (we don't remember why; maybe he was their uncle). The kids are a nuisance to him, and wander off on their own where they find a gold mine. Of course, then, bad people want to steal it from them. There are "real" bad guys and "silly" bad guys as well as good guys (consisting of the kids, their uncle and his love interest). It all ends well, though we don't remember exactly how.
As much as we don't remember about the plot, we definitely remember that we enjoyed this movie and found it very funny. Which I guess goes to show that good film is not always about plot! This film is a pleasant tale of adventure and family love and an even better tale of the hilarious comedy of Tim Conway and Don Knotts.
Iconic image:
