“The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” is a film split down the center, with the first half telling the story of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and the other recounting “The Wind in the Willows.” These two stories are nothing alike and indeed, the pairing of them seems like a mismatch, but they are both enjoyable stories and there’s nothing at all wrong with watching them together.
Bing Crosby provides the narration for the first portion, which is “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” He also croons just a little bit, for what would be the point of having Bing be a narrator without also having him sing?
As the show begins, we meet Ichabod Crane, a tall, gangly fellow with a huge nose but a tiny neck, huge feet but tiny legs, and a giant Adam’s apple sticking out of his scrawny neck. He is the schoolteacher for the town of Sleepy Hollow, and he is madly in love with the fair Katrina. So is the rest of the male population of the town, including Brom Bones, the bully. Brom takes exception to the fact that Katrina has shown some special attention to Ichabod, and so he decides to chase the schoolteacher out of town once and for all.
It’s the night of the Halloween party. Brom waits until it’s dark outside, then tells the assembled guests the story of the Headless Horseman, who rides in the forest late at night and terrifies any who come his way. If you can make it past the bridge, you’ll be safe, because that’s where his power ends, but if he catches you before you reach the bridge, you’re done for. After filling Ichabod’s head with such nonsense, Brom goes out to hide in the woods and finish up his plot.
Ichabod’s trip through the forest is by far my favorite part of the story. His old horse is just about as scrawny as he is, and together they make quite a pair. While riding through the forest, the interplay in personalities between the two is priceless, especially in regards to the cattails. You’ll need to watch the scene for yourself; it’s hysterical.
The remainder of the movie tells us the story of Toad, who is always looking for a new adventure. We first see him driving along at break-neck speeds in his wagon, singing at the top of his lungs and going “merrily on our way to nowhere in particular.” He’s run over personal property and caused all sorts of damage, and his friends Mole, Rat, and Badger are called in to talk some sense into him. But they are too late – by the time they arrive, he has seen a motor car, and must have one. This all-consuming passion lands him in jail, from which he stages a daring escape, aided by his faithful horse.
While the first portion of the movie may be a little too scary for younger viewers, I recommend this film as a lot of fun for ages 7 and up.
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