Wishbone's Dog Days of the West

This episode is based off the book the Prince and the Pauper (written by Mark Twain), it's about how a poor boy who looks just like the prince. When he meets the prince they have a little fun and decide to switch paces, but after they get switched since no one knows who the real prince is it makes quite a predicament. In Oakdale Joe's frustrated about losing a baseball game and thinks he would be a better coach. His wish comes true when he becomes coach for a T-Ball team and finds out coaching's not as easy as it looks. I don't think I have read the original Prince and the Pauper but I have read the Wishbone version and watched the episode because it's entertaining and got me in the mood to read the original book. You need to add this classic tale in your Wishbone collection too.

These days I only buy VHS tapes if I have no other choice and this film is not on DVD so I recommend getting the less expensive used copy. The quality was fine. That said, I enjoyed the full length feature more than I expected. I've read O.Henry short stories but didn't know he had written any western ones. In Wishbone fashion the author shines through this adaption. It is very very funny and has that typical O.Henry twist. This Wishbone is, as usual, brilliant in its creativity. SPOILER ALERT: Wishbone and O.Henry ride off together on their horses at the end. Absolutely wonderful.

Gift

I grew up watching Wishbone on the Public Broadcasting Network. I always enjoyed the episodes and how they could give the basis of the plot without being too complicated for young children to understand. For me, that was a tremendous asset since I never understood the plot of the BBC or Masterpiece Theatre classics when I was seven or eight years of age. The Wishbone episodes provided me with the opportunity to understand the major focuses of the greatest works of English and American literature (although some episodes include a work of literature from ancient Rome, Greece, or Africa.) Some of MY most memorably episodes are: "Pantin' in the Opera", "A Bone of Contention," "Paw Prints of Thieves" (released on DVD), and "Dog Days out West" (released VHS). This Wishbone episode is relatively interesting (at least for a child who enjoys literature). However, like all Wishbone episodes, it is geared towards children. As a 19-year-old English and Political Science major, the episode (and all Wishbone episodes) seem very simple. For example, the Wishbone version of "The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain leaves out the character of Miles Miles Herndon and his evil brother Sir Hugh. It also simplifies the major themes of "injustice" and "poverty" to leave the remaining theme of "be careful what you wish for" since Tom Canty (played by Wishbone) dreams of being Edward Tudor, the Prince of Wales (also played by Wishbone), and Edward Tudor also wishes to live Tom Canty's life for a day. Back in Oakdale, for the modern-day comparison, Joe and David gets their wish to coach a tee-ball team and discover it is not as easy as they thought especially with Leon King (played by a different and younger actor than in "Dog Day's Out West") insisting that winning is ALL that matters. In short, I enjoyed Wishbone episodes as a child since they acquainted me with great works of literature (especially the pronunciation of names). As an adult, the episodes appear very short and elementary.

see my previous review of Wishbone series.They were done for PBS years ago andt they are wonderful, fun, enlightening and very well done.

Kids love Wishbone!

I was the costume designer on this film and had never seen it. Found it on Amazon and have enjoyed it immensely.

Great!