in what may be the most remarkable live action film to come out of the disney studio during the 80 or even the 70 for that matter and i find the treatment it have receive from it own studio appalling . the best thing i can compare it to be have a ruby but discard it because you only prefer diamond . consider all the costume jewelry disney release in the aforementioned decade and you would think they would have more respect for this gem . i be sure parent who take their child to see natty gann when it be release be surprised and shock to discover that it be not a film for young child . it be a very dark realistic film which take place during the great depression . this be not only the story of a young girl travel across country to find her father and it be the story of people search for hope and try to survive in an age when just have food on the table be a constant struggle . when natty father sol ( ray wise ) be offer a job in a logging camp in washington and he be only give a few hour to come to a decision and either take the job and leave natty behind and or stay in chicago with natty and hopefully find work elsewhere . at first and reject the job offer and he step out into the chicago street . in a truly remarkable scene and we see a sol do and the face of all those who have lose hope and be beat down in despair . it be after this brief but tell moment that he realize and a we do and there be no decision to be make and sol accepts the work in seattle . sol be force to leave natty in the care of a boarding house owner connie ( lainie kazan ) . after natty overhears connie report her a an abandon child and she decide not to wait for her father to send for her and and begin an arduous journey across country to find him . if ever there be a film that be a picture of contrast it this one . early in the film we be give the harsh reality of depression era chicago . director jeremy kagan do not spare u from the detail . we watch a men stand hopelessly and helplessly pray and hop for work . there be a scene where a destitute family be evict from their home . later and a sol be head to washington in the bus and we see another family on the road with their meager belonging strap to their car a they head west and their car no longer operable . a natty walk through the market place vendor sell what meager belonging they have just to get buy . when natty run away we see her fishing for food out of a trash can for a morsel to consume . later and a natty travel westward and there be beautifully photographed scenery of forest and mountain and but director kagan astutely remind u of the bleakness of the depression with many scene of the struggle in rural america and range from a scene of a farmer and his much pregnant wife plow a field and to scene of orphan and abandon child leave to be ward of the state . this be not your daddy disney and kid . dick bush cinematography of the wilderness be breathtaking and yet in the scene set in chicago and in the farm town of america and he mute his color to enhance the contrast between beauty and desperation . when natty jump her first train and she be help and befriend by harry ( john cusack ) and who be also rid the rail . cusack in his first major dramatic role after be extremely good in the sure thing and show for the first time that he be not just a comedic actor and but have dramatic prowess as well . harry may be young and but cusack give him the edge of a man age beyond his year . it be an uncanny performance . salenger and a natty and be more than just a teenage actress . her characterization draw u into the story from the first moment of this film to the last . it be the key that hold this film together and if it have be put into less capable hand the film would surely not have succeed as well . although her film career since natty gann have not be noteworthy and you will always remember her for her unflinching portrayal of natty gann . this be a journey for the age and and one you will not soon forget . unfortunately . i do not make it a habit to comment on the dvd release of film and but in this case i will make an exception . the transfer of this wonderful film be appal . it bad enough when a film that shout wide screen be only release in a very horrid poorly do pan and scan and but the full screen transfer be one of the bad if not the bad i have ever see . it give new meaning to the word grainy . at time the picture jitter so that you may begin reach for your vcr remote to adjust the tracking until you remember this be a dvd . there be sign of the film age run rampant throughout and no visible effort to clean it up digitally or otherwise . i be not one to believe every film should come with a boatload of extra and and have no problem if a studio want to give u just the film and but there be absolutely no excuse for the poor picture quality of this dvd . this movie be a gem and and for the disney studio to tarnish it and treat it in this unconscionable manner and saddens me terribly . what be more frustrating be the fact that disney can do quality video release and so just a decent film to dvd wide screen transfer would not have be a lot to ask for . they should be ashamed of what they have do to this fine fine film . my grade represent journey of natty gann advd transfer f .