The Incredible Journey (film)
Three pets journey 300 miles through Canadian wilderness to return home.
The Incredible Journey is a 1963 adventure film directed by Fletcher Markle and produced by Walt Disney Productions. Based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Scottish writer Sheila Burnford, the film follows the journey of three animals—Luath the Labrador Retriever, Bodger the Bull Terrier, and Tao the Siamese cat—as they travel 300 miles through the Canadian wilderness to return home. Released on November 20, 1963, by Buena Vista Distribution, it was the final film scored by longtime Disney composer Oliver Wallace, who died two months before its release.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Fletcher Markle
- Writer
- James Algar
- Based On
- The Incredible Journey · Sheila Burnford
- Producer
- James Algar / Walt Disney
- Starring
- Émile Genest / John Drainie / Tommy Tweed / Sandra Scott
- Narrator
- Rex Allen
- Cinematography
- Kenneth Peach
- Editing
- Norman R. Palmer
- Music
- Oliver Wallace
- Studio
- Walt Disney Productions
- Distributor
- Buena Vista Distribution
- Released
- 20 November 1963
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film's plot begins when bachelor John Longridge, caring for three pets while their owners are away, leaves a note about letting them out for a morning run. The cat Tao accidentally destroys the note, and after Longridge departs, the animals decide to travel west to their home. Their journey takes them through forests, rivers, and mountains, facing dangers such as a mother black bear, a lynx, and a porcupine that quills Bodger. Along the way, they receive help from humans including a hermit, a Finnish girl named Helvi, and hunter James Mackenzie and his wife Nell. The animals eventually reunite with their family, including the elderly Bodger who arrives last.
Reader's Guide
The Incredible Journey is significant as a classic Disney adventure film that showcases animal determination and loyalty. It was the final film scored by Oliver Wallace, a longtime Disney composer. The film's success led to a 1993 remake titled Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, which updated the story with voice actors and changed the setting to the Sierra Nevada mountains. The original film remains notable for its realistic portrayal of animal behavior and its use of actual animal actors—Muffy the Bull Terrier, Rink the Labrador Retriever, and Syn Cat the Siamese cat—under the care of three handlers. Its legacy endures as a beloved family film that introduced audiences to the concept of animals undertaking a perilous journey to reunite with their owners.
Did You Know?
- The film was based on a 1961 novel by Scottish writer Sheila Burnford.
- The film received $4.2 million in overall rentals.
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