mark.waltz While Katherine Hepburn made some obscure theatrically released movies in her time, they are of a mixed bag. 1956's "The Iron Petticoat" is a cold war comedy so bad that even Kate refused to acknowledge it. 1973's film version of "A Delicate Balance" is an artistic curiosity, definitely for fans of Edward Albee but maybe not for fans of Kate and Spencer. Then, there's "Olly Olly Oxen Free", a barely released children's adventure tale where the great Kate takes on the challenge of aiding some adorable kids in creating a hot air balloon which gets lost and ends up in the most precarious of locations.Kate is the only name in this film which didn't even get big screen releases in New York or Los Angeles and which many people have probably never heard of. It had a VHS release in the 1990's which had customers at the video store I worked at in shock because they hadn't been aware of its existence. What it turns out to be is a fun popcorn style movie that might seem ridiculous in plot, but enjoyable not only for her presence, but also the chemistry between her and the kids, the adventures they encounter, and a surprise ending that may have your eyes rolling in spite of the fact that you are entering it into your log of guilty pleasures.

Lee Eisenberg As I was watching the eye-rolling "Olly, Olly, Oxen Free", I got the feeling that Katharine Hepburn felt uncomfortable in it. The role probably embarrassed her. It's just a big attempt to be cute, one that comes out irritating. The Pixar movie "Up" did a far better and cleverer job with the topic. I haven't seen all of Hepburn's movies, but I'll go out on a limb and say that this was probably her worst. To riff on the movie's tag-line, if this is what dreams are made of, then there are only nightmares. Having gotten released in the same year as "The Deer Hunter", "Coming Home", "Who'll Stop the Rain", "Animal House", "The Boys from Brazil", "Every Which Way But Loose" and "Superman" only further weakens the movie. Just avoid it.

bkoganbing Olly, Olly, Oxen Free finds Katharine Hepburn cast as an eccentric spinster probably not too different from Kate the Great herself in real life who befriends two boys and helps them on their project.Quite the project it is too. One of the boys discovers an old balloon in with the family discards and finds out his grandfather who died the year before was an accomplished balloonist who used to entertain at aerial carnivals years ago and was billed as The Great Sandusky. Kevin McKenzie decides that the best tribute to grandfather is to float this balloon again and he and friend Dennis Dimster embark on the project.Helping them along is Kate who is a spinster who runs a junkyard and who can't bear to sell her junk. But to give it away on an adventurous project like this, she's definitely down with that.Kate Hepburn never did a film project that was strictly for children and she was a soul who'd try anything once. Olly, Olly, Oxen Free is a nice family film and it depends considerably on the personality of Kate Hepburn to sell the film.For kids and fans of the great Kate.

Bill Peterson My children & I got to see it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Katherine Hepburn is marvelous, and the two kids are wonderful.The scenes with the hot-air balloon are really fun to watch. The relationship between Ms. Hepburn's relationship with the young boys is touching as it grows.The scenes over and in the Hollywood Bowl are great... I enjoyed the way the scenes were shot and staged.My children, (boy & girl), loved the old car that Ms. Hepbrun drove, as well as the old English Sheepdog that was the boys' companion.To top it off, the film boasts of a great music score!