Harry, Natty and Wolf
Even though 80s Disney movies were generally a little too sugary-sweet for the taste of some people, this one was quite different (and in a good way at that). Actually I was even surprised at the foul language in the film; the Disney censors were probably on lunch break during the filming of this one. Also, Michael Vick would have enjoyed the dog-fighting that made an appearance towards the beginning of the film, too.
The setting for the story is the Great Depression, and we meet Sol and Natty Gann (who are father and daughter, respectively). Sol is trying to find work in the dirty streets of Chicago. Unfortunately, nothing pops up, except for a position out west in Seattle; but he only has an hour to take the job. Plus, he is unable to find Natty so he can let her know. All out of options, he takes the job and leaves Natty in the hands of Connie, the keeper of the inn where they were staying. He tells Connie that once he gets money, he will then send it for Natty so she can use it for a train ticket. However, Connie reports Natty as an abandoned child. So, in true Disney form, Natty can’t wait, and makes up her mind to ride the rails (which means jumping on trains illegally) to Seattle.
Danger is everywhere (or as dangerous as Disney can make it without giving the audience too much reality), including train police, a bunch of thieving tramps and a nasty old man who picks her up when she is hitch-hiking just to make a pass at her. (Thankfully she does have Wolf, who acts as her guardian and her friend, to protect her from the situation involving the truck driver.)
Along the way, she meets a decent fellow named Harry (played by Cusack) who is also riding the rails West in search of work. He later confesses to Natty that his father was trampled and killed by a mob of jobless people who were vying for four open positions. Nonetheless, the audience gets the sense that deep down, he aches for some sort of family and he finds it in the likes of Natty Gann and Wolf.
Scenes from the movie
