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History Series / DavyCrockett1954

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* HistoricalBeautyUpdate: Fess Parker was 6'5" with leading man good looks. The real Davy Crockett was about 5'8" - slightly above average for his time, but still. And in RealLife he was not unpleasant looking - he was known to have [[WhatBeautifulEyes particularly attractive blue eyes]] - but as a hard-living frontiersman it was highly unlikely he had leading man good looks.
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* CompilationMovie: As noted above.

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* CompilationMovie: As noted above.above the series was released as the two movies,''Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier'' and ''Davy Crockett and the River Pirates''.
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* BadButt: Mike Fink is both the most respected and most feared riverman in the territory. The first time his IAmGreatSong plays, people react with terror to him coming into their town for some business and carousing. Women are riding out of town and storekeepers are boarding up their windows to match with the lyrics in his song. However, the worst he does onscreen is make boasts, drink, lightly kick the ButtMonkey of his crew now and then, and get into bar fights that xan be destructive but don't live up to the level of terror he inspires.

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* BadButt: Mike Fink is both the most respected and most feared riverman in the territory. The first time his IAmGreatSong plays, people react with terror to him coming into their town for some business and carousing. Women are riding out of town and storekeepers are boarding up their windows to match with the lyrics in his song. However, the worst he does onscreen is make boasts, drink, lightly kick the ButtMonkey of his crew now and then, and get into bar fights that xan can be destructive but don't live up to the level of terror he inspires.
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* AscendedExtra: In [[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37925/37925-h/37925-h.htm the real-life Crockett's autobiography]], George Russell is briefly mentioned as a skilled woodsman who Crockett chose to accompany him into Creek territory. In fact, George's father Major Russell is mentioned more.

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* AscendedExtra: In [[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37925/37925-h/37925-h.htm the real-life Crockett's autobiography]], George Russell is briefly mentioned as a skilled woodsman who Crockett chose to accompany him into Creek territory. There's no mention of him working with Crockett beyond that. In fact, George's father Major Russell is mentioned more.
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* BadButt: Mike Fink is both the most respected and most feared riverman in the territory. The first time his IAmGreatSong plays, people react with terror to him coming into their town for some business and carousing. Women are riding out of town and storekeepers are boarding up their windows to match with the lyrics in his song. However, the worst he does onscreen is make boasts, drink, lightly kick the ButtMonkey of his crew now and then, and get into bar fights that xan be destructive but don't live up to the level of terror he inspires.
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** Davy is the very last one to die, swinging Old Betsy at the enemy.

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** Davy is the very last one to die, swinging Old Betsy at the enemy.enemy, and with a Mexican soldier just finishing climbing up the ladder behind him, implying that this is the soldier that kills him.

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* NiceHat: Davy's coonskin cap, of course.


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* SignatureHeadgear: Davy's coonskin cap, of course.
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/davy_crockett_king_of_the_wild_frontier_1955.jpg]]

->''The country was big when it was new\\
The best men was big and their yarns was too\\
Their tallest tales folks believed was true\\
So the more they were told, the more they grew''
-->-- '''The Ballad of Davy Crockett''' (from ''Davy Crockett and the River Pirates'')

A five-part serial on the ''[[Series/WaltDisneyPresents Disneyland]]'' television program, from 1954 to 1955, featuring Creator/FessParker in the lead role and Creator/BuddyEbsen as his sidekick George Russel. The original serial was only in three parts, the success convinced them to make the remaining two parts. The serial was rereleased as two {{Compilation Movie}}s, ''Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier'' and ''Davy Crockett and the River Pirates''. The two movies have been released on DVD, and the serial was released unedited as part of the ''Creator/WaltDisney Treasures'' line.

The Disney version proved ''insanely'' popular in the early [[TheFifties 1950s]] USA, with Davy Crockett [[TheMerch merchandise]] greatly in demand among kids, and is arguably the first modern children's media cultural phenomenon of its type. In terms of crazes it and other westerns would only succumb to science fiction media derived from UsefulNotes/TheSpaceRace, a fact that became a major plot point in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'''s backstory.

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!!''Davy Crockett'' provides examples of:

* AdaptedOut: "Busted Luck", the non-English speaking Indian that Davy and the others meet on their way to The Alamo, was completely removed from the comic book adaptation and the record version of ''Davy Crockett at The Alamo'', [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VMn2YrXtdmU/maxresdefault.jpg although he's still featured on the album's cover]]
* AscendedExtra: In [[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37925/37925-h/37925-h.htm the real-life Crockett's autobiography]], George Russell is briefly mentioned as a skilled woodsman who Crockett chose to accompany him into Creek territory. In fact, George's father Major Russell is mentioned more.
* TheBard: Georgie is often seen playing a lute and singing songs about Davy. He also published an exaggerated novel about Davy's exploits, leading to his reputation as "King of the Wild Frontier."
* BearsAreBadNews: The theme song claims that Crockett killed a bear when he was three years old.
* BloodlessCarnage: The final scene at the Alamo, when all the heroes are killed.
* BrandishmentBluff: Crockett and Russel scare off an entire Creek war party by [[RefugeInAudacity making enough noise to convince them they're a much larger force]]. It helps that the scene takes place in heavily wooded areas and that they're both crack shots.
* BraggingThemeTune: This series had one of television's earliest examples:
-->Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee\\
Greenest state in the land of the free\\
Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree\\
Killed him a bear when he was only three\\
Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier!
* BringHelpBack: Before Davy and his friends arrived at the Alamo, people have been sent to other towns to get reinforcements. None of them have ever made it past the Mexican army or returned alive. Eventually, Georgie becomes the next person to volunteer for the mission, and while he survives both ways, he doesn't succeed.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: By the time Crockett becomes a congressman, his reputation as a larger-than-life hero with many comically unlikely accomplishments to his name is already well established. He's happy to play to the stereotype.
* CatchPhrase: George's "Give 'em what for, Davy!", which are also his last words.
* ChronicHeroSyndrome: Crockett has this in spades. After the Creek War is over, he and Russel move to a new territory and just want to settle down. However, when he finds that a local posse of [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain Politically Incorrect Villains]] has been running Indians off their land, he makes it his business to stand up to them and get them locked up. Then, he's convinced to run for Congress to prevent a lawyer sympathetic to said posse from becoming the next representative. ''Then'', after leaving Congress and having nothing left to do, he finds the nearest worthy cause (the Texas Revolution), joins it, and ultimately dies for it.
* CompilationMovie: As noted above.
* CoolClearWater: Often seen in the series.
* CowardlyLion: Thimblerig, the riverboat gambler who signs on with Davy and Georgie to go to Texas. He's given a chance to escape the Alamo before the final battle, but ultimately chooses to stay.
* DawnOfTheWildWest: The battle of the Alamo takes place in 1836, placing the series in this era.
* DefeatMeansFriendship:
** Mike Fink becomes friends with Crockett after he beats them in a river race.
** Also between Davy and Red Stick during the Indian Wars.
** Thimblerig decides to join Davy and Russel after Davy sees through his trick.
** The Native American they dub "Busted Luck" attacks Davy out of a misunderstanding but is subdued and joins their party.
* DownerEnding: The end of the movie is the Alamo.
* DrugsAreBad: In ''River Pirates'', George gets drunk with Mike Fink, gets his head dunked in a horse trough, and swears never to drink again. According to Disney Family Album #19, Buddy Ebsen was concerned about backlash for depicting a drunk character on a Disney show. Walt Disney answered that it was okay for a character to get drunk so long as he shows remorse for it.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: ''Everyone'' at the Alamo.
** Russel gets shot several times while trying to light a cannon to fire at the invading soldiers.
** Jim Bowie is lying in bed, sick. When enemy soldiers bust down his door, he fires two pistols at them, grabs a third and stabs him with a knife before dying.
** Davy is the very last one to die, swinging Old Betsy at the enemy.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Davy's is killing a bear with a knife. He's actually introduced trying to ''grin down'' a bear, as per the legend. When Major Norton angers the bear, Davy has no choice but to kill it with a knife. Since the entire scene is concealed by bushes, there's no way to know whether he ''actually'' tried to grin him down or whether he and Russel are just messing with Norton... but that's their story and they're sticking to it.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: Mike Fink's reaction to meeting Davy.
* Main/ExpositoryThemeTune: The show's opening theme, ''The Ballad of Davy Crockett'', recaps both the previous episodes and briefly covers what's about to come in the current episode.
* ForegoneConclusion: When you find out he's going to the Alamo, you know what's going to happen.
* GrimyWater: Davy, Russel, and Busted Luck drink from a pond with algae growing in it. Thimblerig is a bit reluctant to join them.
* HateSink: Major Norton, especially during Davy's Congress storyline. Though Andrew Jackson and various wealthy land speculators are ultimately responsible for the Indian Bill, Norton is the most prominent advocate of the bill in the storyline and most directly involved in manipulating Davy. Even during his epic speech denouncing the bill, Davy expresses respect for Jackson right after punching Norton in the face.
* HeroicSacrifice: As history dictates.
* HeroicBSOD: A toned down version when Davy gets a letter telling him that [[spoiler:his wife is dead]].
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Davy and Georgie. Thimblerig and Busted Luck also show signs of developing this kind of relationship, although it's tragically short-lived.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Not quite heroism, but the Red Sticks are portrayed in a much better light than history shows. They were actually a bunch of racists who attacked ''other'' Creeks that they deemed insufficiently pure, and massacred civilians gladly.
** Andrew Jackson is also dubiously absolved of his part in the Indian Bill and maintains Davy's personal respect, which is in ''stark'' contrast to actual history and how the real historical Davy viewed the real historical Jackson.
** Averted with Davy Crockett. He really was a good guy who argued vehemently against the Indian Removal Act.
* ICallItVera: Davy calls his gun Betsy. Although it's never mentioned in the show, it was named after Davy's sister.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Red Stick's "promises no good. White government lie" is tragically borne out by the Indian Removal Act, much to Davy's disgust.
* KilledOffscreen:
** Davy's beloved wife, Polly, dies from fever while he's away.
** The last we see of Davy himself is him fighting to the last at the Alamo.
* KnightInSourArmor: Thimblerig, who complains and grumbles as he fights alongside the other Alamo defenders.
* LargeHam: How Mike Fink is portrayed in the series. And if the stories about him are true, it's pretty accurate, too.
* MeaningfulName: Thimblerig is named after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_game the scam game that he plays]].
* MildlyMilitary: Crockett, Russel, and all the Tennessean militia in the Creek Indian War, have a ''very'' loose relationship with the chain of command. Somewhat justified in that they're volunteers, not regular military.
* MountainMan: This version of Davy is arguably a TropeCodifier.
* NiceHat: Davy's coonskin cap, of course.
* NobleSavage: The series' portrayal of Native Americans.
* PatrioticFervor: Plenty of examples. But eloquently summed up when Davy suggests going to Texas, which is in the middle of a revolution:
-->'''Russel:''' Texas?'' Why we've got the whole damn country to choose from, and you've got to pick... Well there's nothing there but a heap of trouble!\\
'''Crockett:''' ... Americans in trouble.
* PointyHairedBoss: Major Norton.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Crockett and his friends when they get to the Alamo. A former Congressman and Indian fighter, another Indian fighter, a disgraced riverboat gambler, and an exiled Comanche warrior.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: The alligators.
* ShadesOfConflict: Davy, along with his companions and friends throughout the years as well as all the fighters at the Alamo are of the white morality. Congress, of course, is a grey area, as are the American Indian tribes, including Red Stick. The rest, not so much.
* ShirtlessScene: Georgie gets one.
* Main/ShortLivedBigImpact: The series only consisted of five one-hour long episodes, but managed to spark a national (and international thanks to countries like England and Japan) craze that lasted from 1954 to early 1956. Allegedly, Walt Disney himself once said "had I known that (the Davy Crockett episodes) would be so popular, I wouldn't have killed him in the third episode."
* TheSiege: The Alamo
* SleazyPolitician: Norton, after becoming Andrew Jackson's political adviser.
* TallTale: Davy Crockett has become accrued with legends that sometimes stray into Tall Tale territory.
* TooDumbToLive: Major Norton is this during the Creek War.
-->'''Norton''': ''[on a boat where he'd be a sitting duck if attacked, on a river that marks the edge of enemy territory]'' CROCKETT!!! CROCKETT, DAAAAAAVY CROCKEEEEEETT!!! ''[sees Russel desperately motioning him to silence]'' WHERE'S CROCKETT?! SPEAK UP, MAN! ''[reaches Russel, but [[NoIndoorVoice barely lowers the volume]]]'' WHERE IS HE? ''[Russel silently points at some bushes, from which growling is emanating]'' WHAT'S HE DOING IN THERE?!\\
'''Russel''': ''[quietly]'' He's tryin' to grin down a b'ar.\\
'''Norton''': GRIN DOWN A-- YOU BACKWOODS BUFFOONS THINK THE REST OF US'LL BELIEVE ANYTHING, DON'T YOU? ''[storms over to bushes]'' CROCKETT, CAN'T YOU HEAR ME?! COME OUT OF THERE, MAN! I'VE GOT A MESSAGE--
** Then there's the occasion when he ignores Davy's warnings and follows a trail...a trail that, naturally, the Creeks use. His unit gets attacked and has to be bailed out, of course.
* WhatTheHellHero:
** Depending on your view of the U.S. government, Crockett's incendiary speech opposing the Indian Removal Act is either this or a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
** He occasionally gets these from Russel, most especially at the Alamo when Russel discovers that Crockett knew about the ammunition shortage all along and declined to tell him.
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