Walt Disney Treasures: The Hardy Boys—The Mickey Mouse Club 1956-1957

From The Mickey Mouse Club—the show that made the after-school hours special for the first TV generation—comes "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure," a serialized adaptation of Franklin W. Dixon's first Hardy Boys mystery, The Tower Treasure. Tim Considine (The Adventures of Spin and Marty) and newcomer Tommy Kirk (who would go on to star in the Disney classics Old Yeller and The Shaggy Dog) play Frank and Joe Hardy, who are constantly bugging their private detective father to let them help him in his work. Dad says no, but when Joe's pesky gal-pal Iola has her purse stolen, the sleuthing siblings have a case of their own to solve, and their investigation leads them to new kid Perry Robinson, who gives them information about a secret pirate treasure hidden on the estate of local old coot Silas Applegate. Baby boomers are sure to recall the popular song lyrics "Gold doubloons and pieces of eight / Handed down to Applegate," as unforgettably sung in each episode by Thurl "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" Ravenscroft. To fully recapture what it was like to rush home from school in 1956 to catch the latest episode, this two-disc set features the complete Mickey Mouse Club episode that introduced the serial. DVD extras include a newly filmed interview with Considine and Kirk, conducted by Leonard Maltin, as well as episode intros by Maltin, a featurette on the book's inception and connection with Disney, and a stills gallery. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)