The Journey of Natty Gann

Director: Jeremy Kagan Jeremy Kagan

Overview

"Jeremy Kagan's family-friendly adventure drama The Journey of Natty Gann comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that fails to preserve the original theatrical aspect ratio of the film. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. There are no subtitles, but the soundtrack is closed-captioned. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, marking this as a pedestrian release from Disney/Buena Vista that will be of little interest to anyone other than a genre enthusiast."

Product Details

Release Date:	05/21/2002
UPC:	0786936178159
Original Release:	1985
Rating:	PG
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00

Special Features

Dolby Digital Surround Sound; Full-screen (1.33:1)

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Meredith Salenger	Natty Gann
John Cusack	Harry
Ray Wise	Sol Gann
Scatman Crothers	Sherman
Lainie Kazan	Connie
Barry Miller	Parker,Guard,Railroad Deek
Verna Bloom	Farm Woman
Bruce M. Fischer	Charlie Linfield
John Finnegan	Logging Boss
Jack Rader	Employment Agent
Matthew Faison	Buzz
Jordan Pratt	Frankie
Zachary Ansley	Louie
Campbell Lane	Chicago Moderator
Max Trumpower	Chicago Worker
Doug MacLeod	Chicago Worker
Gary Chalk	Chicago Worker
Dwight McFee	Chicago Worker
Peter Anderson	Unemployed Worker,Parker's Gang Member
Hagen Beggs	Policeman,Policeman
Ian Black	Hoboe
Ray Michal	Hoboe
Clint Rowe	Bullwhip
Frank C. Turner	Farmer
Jack Ackroyd	Grocery Clerk
Walter Marsh	Interrogator,Interrogator
Kaye Grieve	Matron
Gabrielle Rose	Exercise Matron
Marie Klingenberg	Dormitory Matron
Robert Clothier	Railroad Official
Don Davis	Railroad Brakeman
Alex Diakun	Station Master
Sheelah Megill	Lady at Mill
Jeff Ramsey	Logging Driver
Gary Hendrickson	Logger
Wally Beeton	Logger
Doug Boyd	Logger
Bryan Couture	Logger
Al MacIntosh	Logger
Lorne LaRiviere	Logger
Tom Heaton	Railroad Deek,Railroad Deek
Jennifer Michas	Parker's Gang Member
Ian Tracey	Parker's Gang Member
Gary Riley	Parker's Gang Member
Grant Heslov	Parker's Gang Member
Bob Storms	Logger
John Hock	Actor
Paula-Marie Moody	Actor
Corliss M. Smith, Jr.	Bus Driver
Scott Andersen	Parker's Gang
Hannah Cutrona	Twinky
James Horner	Composer

Technical Credits

Andrew Bergman

Jeanne Rosenberg

Jeremy Kagan	Director
Paula-Marie Moody	Stunts
John Hock	Stunts
Michael Lobell	Producer
Andrew Bergman	Screenwriter
Jeanne Rosenberg	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

A family-oriented adventure, The Journey of Natty Gann follows the Disney formula, but does not let sentiment get in the way of a good story. Natty (Meredith Salenger) and her father, Saul Gann (Ray Wise), lovingly survive together in Depression-era Chicago, both fighting for the underdog. When he leaves for work out west, she goes out on her own to find him. Along the way, she befriends a lot of misfits and narrowly escapes the manipulative adults who try to catch her. Salenger plays Natty as quick and determined, fortunately not as a smart aleck or overly precocious. She is tough enough to eat a wild rabbit for food, but still cringes when she has to gut it with her pocket knife. Natty forges a bond with a wolf, who acts as her companion and protector. This relationship sometimes sinks into Disney mush territory, but overall, it makes narrative sense. Especially impressive is Harry (John Cusack), a kindred spirit who teaches Natty the art of riding the rails. With his Humphrey Bogart-style appearance and delivery, Cusack makes a perfect team with Salenger's Natty. For the most part, The Journey of Natty Gann is a coming-of-age tale that is rooted in Disney simplicity, but rare in its portrayal of a strong and gentle protagonist on a quest for family connection.