101 Dalmatians (DVD)

101 Dalmatians



LENGTH: 79 minutes
ORIGINAL FILM RELEASE DATE: January 25, 1961
VIDEO RELEASE DATE: April 1992
DIRECTED BY: Wolfang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske and Clyde Geronimi
PRODUCED BY: Walt Disney
WRITING CREDITS: Bill Peet (story), Dodie Smith (novel)
MUSIC BY: Mel Leven, George Bruns
SONGS BY: Mel Leven




--~-- The ...
...everybody knows the story of 101 Dalmatians.

It all starts off with a dog named Pongo on a search for mates for him at his owner Roger (although the story is narrated from the dogs' point of view, and so the adults are seen as the pets). The lovable rogue after spotting a potential mate, takes his owner to the park, were he tries his hardest to get them to notice each other. It's not an easy task. And after several failed attempts ... more

101 Dalmatians

LENGTH: 79 minutes
ORIGINAL FILM RELEASE DATE: January 25, 1961
VIDEO RELEASE DATE: April 1992
DIRECTED BY: Wolfang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske and Clyde Geronimi
PRODUCED BY: Walt Disney
WRITING CREDITS: Bill Peet (story), Dodie Smith (novel)
MUSIC BY: Mel Leven, George Bruns
SONGS BY: Mel Leven

--~-- The Story --~--

Well, I think everybody knows the story of 101 Dalmatians.

It all starts off with a dog named Pongo on a search for mates for him at his owner Roger (although the story is narrated from the dogs' point of view, and so the adults are seen as the pets). The lovable rogue after spotting a potential mate, takes his owner to the park, were he tries his hardest to get them to notice each other. It's not an easy task. And after several failed attempts they end up tied up to each other, and in the lake.

The next we know, they are getting married; then they are happily married six months on. Everything is going just fine, until Cruella turns up. Then as all Disney movies have, there is a musical spot. This comes in the form of Roger placing new lyrics to his new song:

Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil
If she doesn't scare you no
evil thing will
To see her is to take a
sudden chill
Cruella, Cruella

The curl in her lips
The ice in her stair
The innocent children better be ware
She's like a spider waiting
for the kill
Look out for
Cruella De Vil

At first you think Cruells
is a devil
But after time has worn
away the shock
You come to
realize you've
seen her kind of eyes
Watching you from
underneath a rock

This vampire bat, this
inhuman beast
She ought to be locked up
and never released
The world was such a
wholesome place until
Cruella, Cruella De Vil

At first you think Cruells
is a devil
But after time has worn
away the shock
You come to
realize you've
seen her kind of eyes
Watching you from
underneath a rock

Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil
If she doesn't scare you no
evil thing will
To see her is to take a
sudden chill
Cruella, Cruella

The curl in her lips
The ice in her stair
The innocent children better be ware
She's like a spider waiting
for the kill
Look out for
Cruella De Vil

What a song. This is one of those songs that children and adults alike will remember forever. It is just one of those definitive, timeless melodies.

It then becomes clear that Cruella's intentions are not good, when she starts to seek out the new born puppies. The birth of the puppies themselves is a lovely moment, with a grand total of 15 puppies presented. One thing has always confused me, and that is how Roger brings the still born puppy back to life by rubbing it. Do tell me if you know. This puppy is called lucky, reflecting his living situation.

The story then carries on Cruella's quest to claim the puppies, so she can make a new fur coat. As she says earlier she "lives for fur".

As the story develops, new characters emerge with I find interesting as they are all different and unique.

I find the story timeless and, although it isn't without its clichés, it is mostly an original story. The continuity is good, although there are some slight hiccups if you pay close attention. There are many cases of lack of continuity with the time of day, and other insignificant things.

Here are a few bloopers I found

(Courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/disneynutt00/101dalm.html)

Continuity Error: In the park, Roger is dragged away from the park bench where his hat is sitting, but is shown wearing it seconds later.

Continuity Error: In the park, Anita's hat switches between black and beige.

Continuity Error: When Anita is pulled from the pond, the book she was carrying has become a handbag.

Continuity Error: During final car chase, Jasper and Horace see the moving truck approaching the intersection from their right, but when the vehicles collide, the moving truck has come from their left.

--~-- The Characters --~--

• Pongo: The main character in this story. Father to the puppies and a herioc figure in the story.

• Perdita: Pongos wife and mother of the puppies. She is also see as heroic and brave.

• Roger: Pongos owner and a life long batchelor, obsessed with his music and complacent with his simple life until he meets Anita.

• Anita: Perditas owner and wife of Roger. She is associated with Cruella De Vi. She is also an artist.

• Cruella De Vil: The villainess of the film; an eccentric rich woman who drives the vilanous hunt in the story. She lives for fur, and it is her wild obsessive goal to have the puppies, so they can be skinned to create a new fur coat.

• Jasper and Horace Badun: Cruella's henchmen who carry out the kidnapping. Jasper is tall and thin, while Horace is short and fat; otherwise, they are obviously twin brothers. They argue often. Horace is the more intelligent of the two, but is absolutely intimidated by Jasper, who has the more volatile personality and speaks his mind, even if there is nothing worth speaking. Both enjoy watching a weekly television programme called "What's My Crime?", wherein the misdeeds of lawbreakers are guessed by a panel of contestants. One of the guest stars of this programme, Percival "Meathead" Faunsquater, is an acquaintance of theirs.

• Nanny: Roger and Anita's maid. Very maternal and fussy. She also detests Cruella, and is very proper. She is the one who cares for the puppies and also acted as the midwife during the puppies birth.

• Patch and Lucky: Two of the origional Dalmatian puppies. Patch has a black eye; Lucky is obsessed with TV and has a horseshoe-shaped pattern of spots on his back. Their favourite television serial features a police dog named Thunderbolt, who while quite alone fights and captures a fat thief known as Dirty Dawson. Patch is often told to watch his language.

• Cadpig: In the book and TV series, she is the runt dalmatian who nearly dies immediately after being born. In the film, however, Cadpig's role is played by Lucky. He is given the name "Lucky" because of being revived by Roger, who thawed him out by means of friction.

• Rolly: Another puppy; always hungry. His rotund figure gets them in trouble slightly as he cannot escape in a hurry through small gaps.

• Freckles: Another puppy; has a pattern of spots over the bridge of the nose resembling freckles on a human child.

• The Colonel, the Captain, and Sergeant Tibbs: A dog, a horse, and a cat who help mastermind a rescue mission to save the puppies from Cruella. They are portraid as members of Scotland Yard, the real life head of police agency. All scenes involving them are very humerous.

The characters are all different and possess their own unique personalities. This alone helps the story to be an all time classic. I personally love the puppies, each with their own personal traits. It reminds me of the other Disney classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Rolly is just lovable from the beginning, and I think you will agree; with his constant hunger and (mind the pun) puppy dog eyes.

Here a few other film extras which I found interesting

(Courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/disneynutt00/101dalm.html)

6,469,952 animated Dalmatian spots appear in the movie, each one drawn by hand. (Pongo has 72 spots, Perdita 68, and each of the 99 puppies 32)
Several of the characters from Lady and the Tramp (1955) can be seen in a pet shop window during the twilight bark sequence.

At one point Jasper and Horace's TV set features Disney's award-winning cartoon short Flowers and Trees (1932).

When the Baduns are talking on the phone to Cruella, they are holding a newspaper. The only headline on the front page (apart from the dog napping) is CARLSEN SPEAKS, and a picture of a capsized ship. This helps us to date the story, since the Carlsen in question is Kurt Carlsen, captain of the freighter Flying Enterprise, which sank after a prolonged struggle in the Atlantic. This was the media event of the year in 1952.

First film to use "Xerography," a method of reproducing the animators' drawings directly to cells, instead of having human artisans trace them with fine brushes.

First animated feature to gross over $10 million on initial release. (The film has since grossed well over $200 million worldwide. Its 1985 release alone earned $32.1 million)

I find this astonishing, and this alone shows it is one of the classics. This is just one of those Disney videos that will be around forever. And this, being one of the first Disney animation films made, (based on a book) was made whilst Mr Walt Disney himself was still alive, and not cryogenically frozen haha.

--~-- The Animation --~--

The utmost quality isn't to be expected, as it was first created in 1961. It has since then been recreated several times. Recently you may have noticed many Disney classics are being digitally remastered for DVD, but I have the original on video, along with many other Disney videos. I personally like the original, which was brought out on video in 1992. The slight quirks make the film seem genuine and I for one won't be purchasing the remake, which basically has improved the quality of the colour, and has removed any frame skips or fuzziness.

Although I do like my originals, the new remakes are good quality and the animation is flawless. They are ideal for younger children, who may appreciate the bright colours more.

--~-- Overall --~--

As you may have guessed, I love this movie.

There is no denying that with the strong storyline, featuring individual and humorous characters, it's a winning combination.

I also feel that this is a nice, feel-good movie, which features mainly happy moments. Of course there are a few sad moments, but as a whole it is mostly comprised of laughs and good times. The adventurous themes along with the sense of friendship I think is very good for children and families.

If you have this at the back of a dusty shelf, or you suspect it is somewhere in the loft hiding beneath 3 inches of dust, get it out and watch it with the family, the dog, the cat, or just by yourself.

Go on, it's a classic. =]

(And if you can't find it buy the new version on DVD)

xx  

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