Thanks to our friends at Digital Bits, I've just read of some pretty exciting news for DVD collectors.

The upcoming Vault Disney collection DVDs (Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, Swiss Family Robinson, Old Yeller, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Love Bug) are going to be a lot more extensive in terms of extras than anyone thought. Here's a look at what to expect. The information below comes directly from the DVD producer on these projects, Eric Young.

"Each title is a 2-disc set - the first disc contains the movie, a cast and filmmaker commentary and a cartoon. The second disc in each set contains substantial supplemental material as follows:

Old Yeller (Due May 7, 2002)

Old Yeller - the original documentary, Old Yeller: Remembering a Classic with new interviews with Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran (rare), Bob Weatherwax (son of dog trainer) and T. Beck Gipson (son of the author). Other new features include Conversations with Tommy Kirk, Lost Treasures: Ranch of the Golden Oak, a featurette entitled Dogs!, 1957 studio album (retrospective), Inside the Disney Archives Tour (extensive bios and galleries), a script excerpt, film archives including Best Doggone Dog in the World and audio archives.

Pollyanna (Due May 7, 2002)

Pollyanna - the original documentary, Pollyanna: Making of a Masterpiece with exclusive interviews, a feature entitled Recreating Pollyanna's America, a featurette entitled 1912, Lost Treasures: Walt Disney TV Introductions, the 1960 studio album, Inside the Disney Archives (bios and galleries), film archives including Promoting Pollyanna (merchandising piece), A Day in the Life of an Actress (Nancy Olson) as as well as a section devoted audio archives (songs and a multi angle feature called Sound Studio that allows the viewer to hear the various discrete soundtrack elements of a scene).

Swiss Family Robinson (Due May 7, 2002)

Swiss Family Robinson - the original 55 minute documentary, Adventure in the Making, a featurette entitled Pirates, Conversations with James MacArthur, 1960 studio album, Inside the Disney Archives (galleries, bios), film and audio archives (including excerpts from the 1940 version of Swiss Family Robinson).

The Parent Trap (Due May 7, 2002)

The Parent Trap- the original documentary Caught in the Act: The Making of The Parent Trap, a featurette entitled Let's Get Together, The Sherman Brothers' Music Magic, Lost Treasures: Who's the Twin, 1961 studio album, Inside the Disney Archives Tour and sections devoted to the film and audio archives.

Young continues," We've also included never-before-seen footage from the private collections of David Swift (for Parent Trap and Pollyanna) and James MacArthur (Swiss Family Robinson). On Swiss Family we also have footage of the opening of the Swiss Family Treehouse Attraction at Disneyland (not ever seen by the public) with commentary by Hayley Mills.

We've included extensive bios, photo galleries, sound archives pieces and more. I've been working on these projects and can't possibly list all the material in a few paragraphs. They have been a major labor of love that will permit fans and the general public alike a rare and comprehensive look at everything associated with these titles. There are hours of supplemental materials painstakingly researched and uncovered on each disc.

And you're in for a real treat with the forthcoming 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In addition to myself, I've enlisted the work of David Skaal (Universal Monsters Series) and Disney Archivist Les Perkins, along with film historian Rudy Behlmer and collectors Bob Burns and Larry & Paul Brooks to create the ultimate fan's dream: over three hours of original, extensive supplements. I've discovered substantial behind-the-scenes footage from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea missing for almost 50 years as well as a few other surprises.

We're also completing Love Bug for 2003 with archival footage and the participation of Buddy Hackett and Dean Jones, to name a few."

News that proves that you can't keep a good mouse down ~ Rorschach