Popcorn Nights :: 5 Forgotten Disney Live-Action Comedies That Are Perfect For Family Movie Nights

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Summertime is for lazy days and late nights watching great films as a family. In my house, we pile up on the couch with pillows, snacks, and lots of laughter. If you and your family are looking for some great movies to watch together, here’s a list of our top 5, often forgotten, family favorites straight from our couch to yours.

The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit

A classic Disney live-action film starring Dean Jones, the story follows a marketing executive who’s been hired to develop a successful ad campaign for a new product by tomorrow. While he’s figuring that out, his daughter who loves horses and is taking riding lessons, wants to buy her own horse. Innovative Dad decides to combine his two worlds by purchasing a horse for his daughter to ride in competitions, and name the horse after the new product. Of course, for the idea to work, the horse has to win the competition. Thus ensues a riotous path of missteps and success that’s fun for the whole family. As unique as its title suggests, this heartwarming tale will be one the whole family will enjoy.

 

The Apple Dumpling Gang

Three orphan children are sent to live with their distant relative, a gambler named Russel Donovan. After a tumultuous arrival, it’s discovered that the children have inherited a large fortune in gold, which attracts the attention of a string of greedy people to town trying to cash in. The children try to protect their money by selecting two lovable outlaws, played by Tim Conway and Don Knotts, as the keepers of their gold. There’s only one problem: the gold is locked away in a bank vault. Hilarity from start to finish, this side-splitting comedy will have everyone in stitches.

Movie clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFv57wptS38

 

The Million Dollar Duck

Everyone wants a goose that lays a golden egg. But what if you really got one — a goose, that is? That’s what happens to the scientist in this film, played by Dean Jones. Accidentally discovering a formula that turns regular goose eggs to gold, a family tries to keep their new fortune under the radar amidst the prying eyes of nosey neighbors and greedy FBI agents that try to cash in on the golden goose.

Movie clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpioRPKH-uw

 

No Deposit, No Return

Two children of a wealthy grandfather grow tired of their summer in his mansion, so they devise a plan to make enough cash to go see their mom who is on a business trip in China — only the plan involves hiring bumbling burglars (played by Don Knotts and Kim Richards) to kidnap them and demand a ransom check. All goes according to the children’s plan, until the burglars and children become friends and start to forget the original arrangement.

Movie clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp4NVxJwej8

 

The Ugly Dachshund

Dog lover, anyone? This is the story of the ugly duckling, only in this case, the odd man out is the odd dog out when a great dane puppy gets raised by a family of prized show-level dachschunds. Tales reminiscent of what would happen if the comic strip Marmaduke came to life, this family caper follows the life of a huge great dane that believes it’s a dachschund and discovers it’s the size of your heart and not your paw print that really matters.

Movie clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLQMQYx4y4s

 

Whichever one you choose, everyone from oldest to youngest will laugh and enjoy the stories. Movie nights can be a great way to round out a day of swimming and fun in the sun. All of these titles are available in full on YouTube, and many are on Netflix or Amazon Prime for $3 or less. 

Enjoy!