Disney stands for movie memories that are burned into your memory forever. Anyone who has ever seen Baloo scrubbing himself on a tree in “The Jungle Book,” household objects serving food while he sings in “Beauty and the Beast,” or a sloth delivering information incredibly slowly in “Zoomania” will never forget.
But Disney has also shocked its audiences a lot: When movie fans talk about being traumatized by “Bambi,” “The Lion King” or “Pinocchio,” it might sound like a joke. But there is almost always a fair degree of seriousness involved. Also “His friend Jello“ is one of those films that left painful, beautiful scars – especially among different American generations.
The family film, which initially seems like a soft, rustic comedy, is virtually unknown in this country. But those who are curious can get a glimpse of the film, which has already caused widespread tears and thoughtful silence, on Disney+.
The wilderness, a rustic playground: “His friend Jello”
Texas in 1860: With their father forced to drive a herd of cattle across the country, 15-year-old Travis (Tommy Kirk) and his six-year-old brother Arliss (Kevin Corcoran) are tasked with protecting the family ranch. Travis becomes so involved in his task that he even considers a stray dog an intruder. Ultimately, he takes the dog into his heart and names him Jello.
Together, Travis and Jello undergo encounters with bears, wild boars and other wild animals. Travis’ mother Katie (Dorothy McGuire) has to deal with the bullies more than once, but soon after they find themselves in new dangers…
If you let go of the idea that Westerns have to be about snipers and shooting bad guys, you realize that “His Friend Jello” starts out as a Western comedy. Although the focus is on a boy and his animal friend, the film breathes the (romanticized) flair of the south of the US before the Civil War: Warm, sunny and dusty, but also with fascinating fauna and green spots.
Screenwriters William Tunberg and Fred Gipson portray this area primarily from Travis’ perspective: The whole world is a fun adventure playground for a boy who stands between naive innocence and a sense of responsibility. “Mary Poppins” director Robert Stevenson consistently underlines this in his production:
It shows the wilderness (filmed in California) in vibrant colors, creating pleasant islands of peace and quiet adventurous intermezzos with the right pinch of action to get young children excited. The older audience can marvel at the performance. When animals are hostile to each other, it seems really explosive thanks to cleverly chosen camera angles and precise editing!
The fun takes a dark turn
It’s this unexpected rawness that makes “His Friend Jello” stand out from the crowd. For example, when a mother bear suddenly jumps up and runs towards Travis at high speed, it is a shock for younger audiences! And when a wild wolf attacks our heroes, Stevenson captures it much more dramatically than you would expect from a family western full of sweet dialogue.
As soon as Travis, hands shaking, points his gun at the snarling menace, things become unsettling: Travis is noticeably worried about Jello and wants to save him from the attacker with a shot – but runs the risk of accidentally hitting his dog. This bitter dilemma will probably cause many a sweat to rise, not only among film fans who also have a dog. But the filmmakers don’t stop there!
That’s why this is now A SPOILER ALERT for anyone who doesn’t yet know how “His Friend Jello” ends. Below we cannot avoid explicitly discussing the tragic ending: Travis pulls the trigger – and for a moment it seems that he has hit both the wolf and Jello.
Then the boy can breathe a sigh of relief: he only caught the wild attacker. However, the joy is only short-lived. Jello got rabies from the wolf. Gradually the peaceful dog becomes aggressive, there is no way out! Jello must be put out of his misery – also to prevent him from becoming a danger in the future. A bitter duty that Travis tearfully takes into his own hands!
The iconic ending is quoted from The Simpsons from Breaking Bad
It would be a harsh ending in any movie, but for a Disney movie it’s downright shocking! In the United States, where “His Friend Jello” is extremely well known thanks to prominent TV broadcasts, it has been considered a prime example of fatally sad endings for generations. He is therefore also referred to in numerous films and series:
From the Jim Carrey comedy ‘The Mask’ to ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Family Guy’ to ‘Breaking Bad’. There, the dark protagonist Walter is advised to kill his chaotic, clumsy business partner Jesse in the same way Travis broke up with Jello. Much to Walter’s discomfort. And Now you know which actions of the Disney protagonist will make you feel uncomfortable even in the nasty world of “Breaking Bad”!