Disney's 1949 feature is actually two short segments about two of the "most fascinating characters in English (and American) literature," J. Thaddeus Toad, the star of Kenneth Grahame's book, "Wind in the Willows" and Ichabod Crane, star of Washington Irving's short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
The Mr. Toad segment is about J. Thaddeus Toad, the reckless owner of Toad Hall and his desire to get a motorcar, despite his friend's ardent objections. Unfortunately, his foolish desires land him in jail for attempted theft. Luckily, his friends help him out.
The Ichabod segment is about Ichabod Crane, a young schoolteacher who teaches in Sleepy Hollow, New York. He is smitten with the young Katrina Van Tassell, and is a rival with Brom Bones. This pursuit leads to a terrifying encounter with the sinister Headless Horseman.
The Mr. Toad segment is a hilarious story, and is filled with plenty of slapstick scenes and humorous one-liners. The Ichabod segment starts out charming and funny, but ends with one of the most memorable frightening scenes in Disney history. Together these two shorts make up one of Disney's most underrated and under appreciated gems.
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Characters:
For Mr. Toad:
J. Thaddeus Toad
He is the wild reckless devil-may-care master of Toad Hall and he jumps from one mania to another. His current love is motorcars, and he wants one so bad he will beg, borrow, or steal one.
VA: Eric Blore
Rat
He is a proper stuffy water rat and is Toad's neighbor. Quite often, he lectures Toad about the proper way of living (which of course goes in one ear and out the other), and seems to worry over Toad's influence over Mole.
VA: Claud AllistairMole
Rat's and Toad's shy friend is very friendly and loyal to Toad. He appears to somewhat admire his more wild friend.
VA: Colin Campbell
Angus McBadger
A neurotic fretful badger that Toad hired to care of his financial affairs. McBadger often worries that Toad's antics will be the ruin of Toad Hall.
VA: Campbell Grant
Cyril Proudbottom
Toad's talkative horse is also his sidekick in danger and comes up with clever schemes to get Toad out of trouble, like having him dress as a woman to get out of jail.
VA: Pat O'MalleyWinkie
A sly wily bartender that Toad uses as a witness to his buying a motorcar. In reality, he tricks Toad into giving him Toad Hall.
VA: Ollie Wallace.The Weasels
Winkie's partners in crime move into Toad Hall after Toad is arrested.
VA: Leslie Denison and Edmond StevensonNarrator
He tells the story.
VA: Basil RathboneFor Ichabod:
(Note: All voices are provided by the narrator Bing Crosby, none of the characters speak for themselves)
Ichabod Crane
He is the protagonist in the story, a well-read, extremely superstitious schoolteacher who falls in love with Katrina Van Tasell.
Katrina Van Tassell
She is the pretty coquettish eighteen-year old daughter of the richest man in town. She has many male suitors and loves playing them off of each other, particularly Ichabod and Brom.
Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brundt
He is the loud slightly bullying prankster "hero of the town." He also loves Katrina and this puts him at odds with Ichabod.
The Headless Horseman
He is the stuff of local legends and nightmares. He is the ghost of a Revolutionary War soldier who was beheaded and every night he looks for a new head instead of his pumpkin substitute.
Gunpowder
Ichabod's borrowed horse is as cowardly as he is.Myner Van Tassell
He is the richest man in town as well as Katrina's father.Brom's admirer
She is a short pesky dark haired woman who pursues Brom to no end at the dance.
Favorite Scenes:
1. For Mr. Toad:
The trial scene stands out with many hilarious comments made by Cyril and Toad and I love how poor Toad's behavior goes from supremely confident, to angry, to petulant.2. For Ichabod:
Well naturally the chase of the Headless Horseman is a true classic. It should stand out as the scariest scene in Disney history, particularly when Ichabod accidentally lands on the Headless' horse and looks inside and all you hear is demonic laughter, also the shattering pumpkin. Yeesh!~ Auburn Red
Favorite quotes:
From Mr. Toad:
Cyril: So, he sought to get his car the only way, the honest way.
Prosecuter: And what is the honest way?
Cyril: I don't expect you would know that sir.Rat: And God bless Mr. Toad
Mole: and let him get off for good behavior.From Ichabod:
Narrator (Ichabod is thinking of Katrina) : Ahh, Katrina who could resist your grace your charm and who could resist your father's farm? ….That place is a gold mine and I ain't talking hay! All 14 karats….. Oh, Katrina, don't worry dear I'll protect you. Lotta lettuce in those hills….. Katrina, Papa's little treasure. Papa? Well, the old man can't take it with him and when he cuts out that's when I cut in!
~ Auburn Red
Favorite links:
Nowhere in Particular: A Mr. Toad Homepage
A great website about Toad and the rest, includes pictures, the story, the script, and a link to saving Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.Rick Hyland's Sleepy Hollow Page
~ Auburn Red
Another good website devoted to the Irving story, the Disney movie, the other film versions, and a nice look at the real town itself.
