Following the poor box office performance of Bambi in 1942 it became quite apparent that the movie business was in decline due to the ongoing conflict of World War II. During this time Walt Disney pumped the breaks on his feature films and produced a variety of patriotic and propaganda films.
The film Victory Through Air Power was an unusual animated documentary that demonstrated Walt's fondness of aviation as well as his support for the country. Also during the war, Disney underwent a Latin American phase with the release of Saludos Amigos and The Three Cabelleros. These films received some Academy recognition however are hardly considered classics.
Following WWII, Disney Studios became understaffed and short on finances. They released a variety of live action films, short stories, and contemporary music films such as Make Mine Music, Song of the South, and Melody Time. Each of these films received some Academy recognition however yet again fell short of the critical acclaim that was achieved in the earlier fairy tales. It was not until 1950 that Disney was able to return to the top of the animation industry with the release of it's feature film, Cinderella. This era of Disney animators, known as the Nine Old Men, produced a string of successful films that went on to become iconic classics.
Cinderella
Release Date: 1950
Authorship: Cinderella by Charles Perrault (published in 1617; French)
Running Time: 75 minutes
Synopsis: Having lost both her parents, Cinderella works as a house-maid for her step-mother who treats her very cruelly. She is bullied by her two step sisters, who are jealous of her beauty. When an opportunity arises to attend a fancy ball hosted by the king, the three young women are excited at the idea of marrying the prince. However the wicked step-mother tells Cinderella she can only go if she finishes an impossible amount of chores and has a suitable dress to wear. Cinderella is able to finish the chores with the help of her mice friends, and re-fashion an old dress wore by her mother. However the dress is destroyed to shreds by her two sisters and Cinderella is left without a dress on the night of the ball. At this point her fairy godmother visits her and is able to magically restore her dress as well as transform her animal friends into coachmen. She arrives to the ball and instantly falls in love with the prince, however she must flee before midnight to return the magical dress. She however leaves her glass slipper behind which the prince is able to recover and search the land for this mysterious woman. The wicked step-mother realizes Cinderella is the mysterious woman and locks her in the attic. However when the prince visits their chateau, Cinderella's mice friends free her from the attic and she tries on the slipper to perfection. The film ends with her marrying the prince and living happily ever after.
Academy Accolades:
Significance: This theatrical film helped put Disney back on top and was their most profitable film since Snow White. It was the first film in which the Nine Old Men all worked on together, some of which had worked together on previous Disney films. The film was a success at the box office and also received critical acclaim.
My Review: Yet another classic that I had never seen from beginning-to-end until just this past Christmas. I had Philip, Shawnna, and the kids over for this one to watch and was also working on a Cinderella puzzle at the time. The film is definitely quite dated and no doubt caters more to a feminine viewership. I would consider Cinderella (along with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) perhaps the most quintessential format of fairy-tale romance. It is a rags-to-riches story where the beautiful fair maiden is able to aspire to something greater and finds a happily-ever-after ending as a princess. This film had some playful songs and magic however could have used a little more conflict in my opinion (even Snow White and Sleeping Beauty faced some proper villains). I still found this film to be quite familiar, and would give it a rating of 7 out of 10.
Alice in Wonderland
Release Date: 1951
Authorship: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol (Published in 1865; British)
Running Time: 75 minutes
Synopsis: A young girl stumbles into the magical world of Wonderland, where she meets many unusual fantasy characters, such as mad hatter, the march hare, the Chesire cat, and a wicked Queen of Hearts. She is able to escape her execution and returns to the door by which she entered the magical land at which point she awakes from what surely was a dream.
Academy Accolades:
Significance: The film was somewhat of a financial disappointment upon it's release and received mixed criticism on the portrayal of Lewis Carroll's iconic characters. However the film was later re-released on television and began to grow in popularity during the psychedelic era of the 1960s-1970s. The film was nominated by the Academy for it's musical score.
My Review: I wrote about Lewis Carroll's iconic children's novel last summer and am going to echo those feelings in this review. While I consider the work to be very significant due to it's popularity, I find the material to be far too nonsensical for my taste. The same goes for this adaptation by Disney, which produced some entertaining animated characters but the story simply did not awe-and-inspire. I would give this movie a 5 out of 10 rating.
Peter Pan
Release Date: 1953
Authorship: Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie (Published in 1904: British)
Running Time: 76 minutes
Synopsis: The young girl Wendy has a wonderful imagination and tells her younger brothers fantasy stories about pirates. However her father grows frustrated with this and scorns Wendy for being too old for make belief. At nighttime the children are visited by the magical Peter Pan and his fairy Tinkerbell, who teach them how to fly. They journey to Neverland where they encounter pirates, including Peter Pan's arch-nemesis Captain Hook. Whilst Peter Pan must do battle with Captain Hook, he must also convince Wendy that it is alright to never grow up. When Wendy awakens from her dream, she is able to share her experiences on a pirate ship which ultimately settles her father's scorn.
Songs:
Significance: Similar to Alice in Wonderland this British adaptation received mixed criticism. It also would later receive criticism for it's racial portrayal of the native Americans. The film was the last produced by the RKO Radio Pictures before Disney established his own distribution company. It was not nominated for any Academy Awards.
My Review: I found this movie to be very enjoyable and recently watched it with me nephews and dad over the holidays. I think the message of the story is quite clear and that is to cherish one's childhood. I think the character of Peter Pan, with his rebellious American voice and persona, demonstrated to children and adults alike that it is okay to use one's imagination and stay young at heart forever. I would give this movie a rating of 6 out of 10.
Lady in the Tramp
Release Date: 1955
Authorship: "Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog" screenplay by Ward Greene (American)
Running Time: 76 minutes
Synopsis: A romance between a domesticated dog named Lady and a street dog named Tramp. Lady finds her world turned upside down when her owners plan to have a baby. She finds solace in Tramp the street dog who explains to her that she needs to learn to fend for herself. However Lady is captured and imprisoned in a dog-pound and blames Tramp for the terrible experience. After Lady is released from the pound and returned to her owners she tells Tramp to leave her alone. However later-on a terrible rat threatens the owner's new born child, and Tramp is able to kill the rat and rescue the baby. He is eventually adopted by Lady's owners, and the two have puppies of their own.
Songs:
Significance: Having broke ties with RKO Radio Pictures, this was the first animated film released by Disney's newly established Buena Vista Distribution company. It was also the first animated film shot in widescreen format. The story was conceived by a Cosmopolitan journalist and became a profitable box office success for Disney. Although it was not nominated for any Oscars it is considered today as one of Disney's most famous animated films.
My Review: I remember watching this film as a kid with a fond memory of Lady and the Tramp's past dinner. This romantic scene of the two dogs sharing a plate of spaghetti-and-meatballs at an Italian restaurant has become one of the most iconic scenes in all of Hollywood. I also especially enjoy the scene/song of the mischievous Siamese cats. I consider this film among my top ten all time favorite animated films and would give it a 7 out of 10.
Sleeping Beauty
Release Date: 1959
Authorship: Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault
Running Time: 75 minutes
Synopsis: The King and Queen have a grand ceremony to welcome their new child Princess Aurora, after many infertile years. However the evil fairy Maleficent is insulted that she was not invited to the ceremony and puts a curse on the child on her 16th birthday. Afraid that the curse might become a reality the king and queen send their daughter to hide in the countryside with three good fairies. Aurora grows up to be a beautiful young lady and falls in love with a dashing young prince named Philip. However the evil Maleficent is able to find Aurora and tricks her into touching the spindle of a spinning wheel that sends Aurora into a deep spell. Maleficent also abducts the Prince Philip so that he cannot break the spell of the sleeping beauty. The three good fairies realize Maleficent has kidnapped Philip and courageously are able to free him from her castle. Philip must then defeat the wicked Maleficent who has transformed into a dragon with a magical sword and shield. Philip is victorious in killing Maleficent and is able to break the curse of the sleeping beauty by kissing Aurora.
Academy Accolades:
My Review: I had not seen this film from beginning-to-end until just a couple months ago and consider it one of the three classic Disney fairy tale princess stories (with Snow White and Cinderella). One thing I was most impressed with in this story was the wicked element of Maleficent, who was able to transcend the story from fairy tale to a dramatic fantasy. The climatic scene in which Maleficent turns into a dragon and the courageous Philip must defeat her to save the princess is the quintessential stuff of an epic-romantic-fantasy. I found the dramatic fantasy element of this film to be quite entertaining and overall would give this classic a 7 out of 10.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Release Date: 1961
Authorship: The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Doddie Smith (published in 1956; British)
Running Time: 79 minutes
Synopsis: A couple with two dalmatian dogs have 15 puppies and are approached by a former associate, Cruella De Vil who wants to buy the puppies. The owners do not trust Cruella however and refuse to sell her the puppies. She later hires some henchmen to kidnap the puppies as she intends to use them for fur coats. The puppies are brought to Curella's estate that houses 84 other puppies that have been kidnapped. Meanwhile the owners and parents of the puppies enlist all the help they can get to find their missing puppies. The puppies are eventually freed by a street cat, a mouse, a horse, and a sheepdog named Colonel. Cruella de Vil is defeated and the owners adopt all the puppies and raise all 101 of them on a farm.
Songs:
Significance: The film was a success at the box office and became quite profitable for Disney as it was produced on a rather low budget. Although it did not receive any Oscar nominations it still received favorable reviews.
My Review: I found this film to be quite entertaining, and do remember watching it as a kid. It has the typical Disney elements of good-natured talking animals (however is somewhat lacking in musical songs.) I did enjoy the urban setting of London where the bachelor songwriter finds a female mate, and together they raise their family in an apartment. Perhaps the most iconic character from the movie is the villainous Cruela de Vil. I would give this movie an overall rating of 6 out of 10.
The Sword in the Stone
Release Date: 1963
Authorship: The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White (Published in 1938; British)
Running Time: 79 minutes
Synopsis: A young orphan named Arthur is discovered by the magical wizard Merlin and is taught in the arts of magic. Merlin takes him on various adventures which include transforming into a fish and a bird, and later doing battle with the wicked witch Mim. Arthur later joins his foster father and brother to a jousting tournament in London. When Arthur misplaces his brother's sword, he searches all over town to find a replacement. He finds a sword sitting in a stone and is able to pull it out, much to the surprise of all the townspeople. The sword is a magical sword in which whomever pulls it out of the rock is to rule over England. Arthur is thus chosen as the rightful king of England and keeps Merlin nearby as his counselor.
Academy Accolades:
Significance: It was a success at the box office yet received mixed criticism for it's heavy dose of humor and lack of dramatic quality. This was the first of many Disney films in which the Sherman Brothers wrote songs for. The music score composed by George Burns was nominated for an Oscar.
My Review: I enjoyed watching this film as a kid and found it's humorous use of magic to be quite entertaining. It had some elements of a classic Disney fairy tale; a young hero in a medieval setting aided by a powerful wizard, however was lacking in any significant romance or drama. The wicked witch Mim, was an antagonist of note, however to whimsical and brief to be considered a proper villain. All-in-all this film had a light and humorous tone to it, of which I would give an overall rating of 6 out of 10.
The Jungle Book
Release Date: 1967
Authorship: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (Published in 1894; British)
Running Time: 78 minutes
Synopsis: A baby child named Mowgli, is abandoned and under the guidance of a black panther Bagheera, is adopted by a pack of wolves. Mowgli is raised by wolves and learns how to survive and fend for himself in the deep jungles of India. However he is later discovered by an evil man-eating Bengal tiger named Shere-Khan and must find refuge. The wolves agree that Mowgli must leave the jungle and find a human village for his own safety. He is escorted by Bagheera, however the two are later separated after a fight and Mowgli meets and befriends a sloth bear named Baloo. Mowgli and Baloo establish a fun-loving, laid-back lifestyle and Baloo promises Mowgli he will look after him and that he does not have to return to the man-village. However Mowgli is later kidnapped by a group of monkeys and after he escapes has another fight with Baloo. He must later confront Shere-Khan with the help of vultures and Baloo. At the end Baloo and Bagheera escort Mowgli to the man village, and all agree that it is in everyone's best interest.
Academy Accolades:
Songs:
Significance: This was the last film Walt Disney produced before his death at the age of 66. It was an instant box office success and celebrated for it's popular music soundtrack written by the Sherman Brothers. The famous iconic song of "Bear Necessities" written by Terry Gilkyson, was nominated for an Oscar. The film become one of Disney's most profitable releases of it's time, much ado to the recent passing of the innovator himself Walt Disney.
My Review: I found this film to have a good balance of light-tone humor with also some more mature dramatic tones. The young Mowgli lives a very free-spirited life in the jungle with his animal friends but must accept that he does not belong there. The wicked tiger Shere-Khan serves as a proper villain that drives the plot. It is thru this conflict that Mowgli is able to overcome his fears and with the help of his friends find a safer life. I especially enjoy the songs I Wan'na Be Like You and of course Bear Necessities which has become a theme song at the Indianapolis Indians games. I would consider this among the Disney classic animated films and would give it a 6 out of 10.
The Aristocats
Release Date: 1970
Authorship: The Aristocats screenplay by Tom McGowan and Tom McRowe (American)
Running Time: 79 minutes
Synopsis: Set in 1910 Paris a wealthy madam decrees to hand over her fortune to her Duchess cat and three kittens. Much to the dismay of her loyal butler, he is to be 2nd in line for her inheritance, behind the cats. Infuriated by this insult the butler decides to abandon the cats deep in the countryside. There the cats meet a feral cat named O'Malley who helps them return to Paris. O'Malley demonstrates to the fancy cats the free-spirited jazzy side of life. However the Duchess and her kittens chose to return to their madam. The butler however insistent to receive the madam's inheritance places the cats in a package to be shipped to Timbuktu. However the house moues informs O'Malley of his evil plot, who in turn brings forth his gang of cats to fight off the wicked butler. In the end the butler is sent of to Timbuktu and O'Malley is adopted to live in the madam's estate with Duchess and her kittens.
Songs:
Significance: The film performed well at the box office and with critical reception. Although it was not nominated for any Oscars it is considered one of Disney's more successful classics. The song "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" has become an iconic Disney melody.
My Review: Just like Jungle Book, I found this film to have a good balance of humor with drama. Like many Disney films it consists of talking animals as the driving characters, where the butler plays a proper villain. I also enjoyed the setting of Paris both the urban side as well as the countryside. The playful tune of "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" was a favorite of mine as a kid. I would give this film an overall rating of 6 out of 10.
Robin Hood
Release Date: 1973
Authorship: The Legend of Robin Hood (British)
Running Time: 83 minutes
Synopsis: The wicked Prince John has levied a harsh tax on the townspeople of Nottingham. Robin Hood the fox and his companion Little John the bear go on an escapade to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Robin Hood later takes part in an archery contest to win a kiss from the lovely Maid Marian. However the Sheriff of Nottingham discover the Robin Hood is the villain they are after and a battle ensues. Robin Hood, Little John, Maid Marian, and their friends are able to escape to a nearby forest and make a mockery of Prince John. Infuriated by the townspeople's mockery Prince John triples his tax which sends the town into a severe depression. All those who cannot pay the tax are arrested by the sheriff of Nottingham. Robin and Little John devise a plan to free the prisoners and steal all of prince John's money. A battle ensues within the kingdom walls and Robin Hood and Little John are able to escape with all the money and prisoners. King Richard later returns to England and has Little John arrested, while Robin Hood and Maid Marian get married.
Academy Accolades:
Songs:
Significance: The film was yet another box office success with positive reception. This was voice actor, Phil Harris' third return to a Disney film, having voiced the characters of Baloo the Bear, O'Malley the Cat, and Little John. This was also George Burns 4th Oscar nomination for a musical score and his last contribution to Disney films.
My Review: I remember watching and enjoying this film as a kid. I loved the British medieval setting and the rebellious hero of Robin Hood. I also found the romantic element between Robin Hood and Maid Marian to be quite special, especially with it's song, "Love". The story had a great balance of humor and dramatic quality which I believe are essential Disney animated films. These are the types of stories both children and adults can enjoy together. This one has a very nostalgic value to me and I feel it is one of Disney's more underrated films which I give a 7 out of 10.
Following WWII, Disney Studios became understaffed and short on finances. They released a variety of live action films, short stories, and contemporary music films such as Make Mine Music, Song of the South, and Melody Time. Each of these films received some Academy recognition however yet again fell short of the critical acclaim that was achieved in the earlier fairy tales. It was not until 1950 that Disney was able to return to the top of the animation industry with the release of it's feature film, Cinderella. This era of Disney animators, known as the Nine Old Men, produced a string of successful films that went on to become iconic classics.
Cinderella
Release Date: 1950Authorship: Cinderella by Charles Perrault (published in 1617; French)
Running Time: 75 minutes
Synopsis: Having lost both her parents, Cinderella works as a house-maid for her step-mother who treats her very cruelly. She is bullied by her two step sisters, who are jealous of her beauty. When an opportunity arises to attend a fancy ball hosted by the king, the three young women are excited at the idea of marrying the prince. However the wicked step-mother tells Cinderella she can only go if she finishes an impossible amount of chores and has a suitable dress to wear. Cinderella is able to finish the chores with the help of her mice friends, and re-fashion an old dress wore by her mother. However the dress is destroyed to shreds by her two sisters and Cinderella is left without a dress on the night of the ball. At this point her fairy godmother visits her and is able to magically restore her dress as well as transform her animal friends into coachmen. She arrives to the ball and instantly falls in love with the prince, however she must flee before midnight to return the magical dress. She however leaves her glass slipper behind which the prince is able to recover and search the land for this mysterious woman. The wicked step-mother realizes Cinderella is the mysterious woman and locks her in the attic. However when the prince visits their chateau, Cinderella's mice friends free her from the attic and she tries on the slipper to perfection. The film ends with her marrying the prince and living happily ever after.
Academy Accolades:
- Oscar Nominee for Best Song, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"
- Oscar Nominee for Best Music Score by Oliver Wallace
- Oscar Nominee for Best Sound
- A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes
- The Cinderella Work Song
- Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
Significance: This theatrical film helped put Disney back on top and was their most profitable film since Snow White. It was the first film in which the Nine Old Men all worked on together, some of which had worked together on previous Disney films. The film was a success at the box office and also received critical acclaim.
My Review: Yet another classic that I had never seen from beginning-to-end until just this past Christmas. I had Philip, Shawnna, and the kids over for this one to watch and was also working on a Cinderella puzzle at the time. The film is definitely quite dated and no doubt caters more to a feminine viewership. I would consider Cinderella (along with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) perhaps the most quintessential format of fairy-tale romance. It is a rags-to-riches story where the beautiful fair maiden is able to aspire to something greater and finds a happily-ever-after ending as a princess. This film had some playful songs and magic however could have used a little more conflict in my opinion (even Snow White and Sleeping Beauty faced some proper villains). I still found this film to be quite familiar, and would give it a rating of 7 out of 10.
Alice in Wonderland
Release Date: 1951
Authorship: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol (Published in 1865; British)
Running Time: 75 minutes
Synopsis: A young girl stumbles into the magical world of Wonderland, where she meets many unusual fantasy characters, such as mad hatter, the march hare, the Chesire cat, and a wicked Queen of Hearts. She is able to escape her execution and returns to the door by which she entered the magical land at which point she awakes from what surely was a dream.
Academy Accolades:
- Nominated for Music Score by Oliver Wallace
Significance: The film was somewhat of a financial disappointment upon it's release and received mixed criticism on the portrayal of Lewis Carroll's iconic characters. However the film was later re-released on television and began to grow in popularity during the psychedelic era of the 1960s-1970s. The film was nominated by the Academy for it's musical score.
My Review: I wrote about Lewis Carroll's iconic children's novel last summer and am going to echo those feelings in this review. While I consider the work to be very significant due to it's popularity, I find the material to be far too nonsensical for my taste. The same goes for this adaptation by Disney, which produced some entertaining animated characters but the story simply did not awe-and-inspire. I would give this movie a 5 out of 10 rating.
Peter Pan
Release Date: 1953
Authorship: Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie (Published in 1904: British)
Running Time: 76 minutes
Synopsis: The young girl Wendy has a wonderful imagination and tells her younger brothers fantasy stories about pirates. However her father grows frustrated with this and scorns Wendy for being too old for make belief. At nighttime the children are visited by the magical Peter Pan and his fairy Tinkerbell, who teach them how to fly. They journey to Neverland where they encounter pirates, including Peter Pan's arch-nemesis Captain Hook. Whilst Peter Pan must do battle with Captain Hook, he must also convince Wendy that it is alright to never grow up. When Wendy awakens from her dream, she is able to share her experiences on a pirate ship which ultimately settles her father's scorn.
Songs:
- A Pirate's Life
- What Made the Red Man Red?
- Never Smile at a Crocodile
Significance: Similar to Alice in Wonderland this British adaptation received mixed criticism. It also would later receive criticism for it's racial portrayal of the native Americans. The film was the last produced by the RKO Radio Pictures before Disney established his own distribution company. It was not nominated for any Academy Awards.
My Review: I found this movie to be very enjoyable and recently watched it with me nephews and dad over the holidays. I think the message of the story is quite clear and that is to cherish one's childhood. I think the character of Peter Pan, with his rebellious American voice and persona, demonstrated to children and adults alike that it is okay to use one's imagination and stay young at heart forever. I would give this movie a rating of 6 out of 10.
Lady in the Tramp
Release Date: 1955
Authorship: "Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog" screenplay by Ward Greene (American)Running Time: 76 minutes
Synopsis: A romance between a domesticated dog named Lady and a street dog named Tramp. Lady finds her world turned upside down when her owners plan to have a baby. She finds solace in Tramp the street dog who explains to her that she needs to learn to fend for herself. However Lady is captured and imprisoned in a dog-pound and blames Tramp for the terrible experience. After Lady is released from the pound and returned to her owners she tells Tramp to leave her alone. However later-on a terrible rat threatens the owner's new born child, and Tramp is able to kill the rat and rescue the baby. He is eventually adopted by Lady's owners, and the two have puppies of their own.
Songs:
- Bella Notte
- La La Lu
- The Siamese Cat Song
Significance: Having broke ties with RKO Radio Pictures, this was the first animated film released by Disney's newly established Buena Vista Distribution company. It was also the first animated film shot in widescreen format. The story was conceived by a Cosmopolitan journalist and became a profitable box office success for Disney. Although it was not nominated for any Oscars it is considered today as one of Disney's most famous animated films.
My Review: I remember watching this film as a kid with a fond memory of Lady and the Tramp's past dinner. This romantic scene of the two dogs sharing a plate of spaghetti-and-meatballs at an Italian restaurant has become one of the most iconic scenes in all of Hollywood. I also especially enjoy the scene/song of the mischievous Siamese cats. I consider this film among my top ten all time favorite animated films and would give it a 7 out of 10.
Sleeping Beauty
Release Date: 1959
Authorship: Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault
Running Time: 75 minutes
Synopsis: The King and Queen have a grand ceremony to welcome their new child Princess Aurora, after many infertile years. However the evil fairy Maleficent is insulted that she was not invited to the ceremony and puts a curse on the child on her 16th birthday. Afraid that the curse might become a reality the king and queen send their daughter to hide in the countryside with three good fairies. Aurora grows up to be a beautiful young lady and falls in love with a dashing young prince named Philip. However the evil Maleficent is able to find Aurora and tricks her into touching the spindle of a spinning wheel that sends Aurora into a deep spell. Maleficent also abducts the Prince Philip so that he cannot break the spell of the sleeping beauty. The three good fairies realize Maleficent has kidnapped Philip and courageously are able to free him from her castle. Philip must then defeat the wicked Maleficent who has transformed into a dragon with a magical sword and shield. Philip is victorious in killing Maleficent and is able to break the curse of the sleeping beauty by kissing Aurora.
Academy Accolades:
- Nominated for Music Score by George Burns
- Once Upon a Dream
- I Wonder
My Review: I had not seen this film from beginning-to-end until just a couple months ago and consider it one of the three classic Disney fairy tale princess stories (with Snow White and Cinderella). One thing I was most impressed with in this story was the wicked element of Maleficent, who was able to transcend the story from fairy tale to a dramatic fantasy. The climatic scene in which Maleficent turns into a dragon and the courageous Philip must defeat her to save the princess is the quintessential stuff of an epic-romantic-fantasy. I found the dramatic fantasy element of this film to be quite entertaining and overall would give this classic a 7 out of 10.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Release Date: 1961
Authorship: The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Doddie Smith (published in 1956; British)
Running Time: 79 minutes
Synopsis: A couple with two dalmatian dogs have 15 puppies and are approached by a former associate, Cruella De Vil who wants to buy the puppies. The owners do not trust Cruella however and refuse to sell her the puppies. She later hires some henchmen to kidnap the puppies as she intends to use them for fur coats. The puppies are brought to Curella's estate that houses 84 other puppies that have been kidnapped. Meanwhile the owners and parents of the puppies enlist all the help they can get to find their missing puppies. The puppies are eventually freed by a street cat, a mouse, a horse, and a sheepdog named Colonel. Cruella de Vil is defeated and the owners adopt all the puppies and raise all 101 of them on a farm.
Songs:
- Cruella deVille Song
Significance: The film was a success at the box office and became quite profitable for Disney as it was produced on a rather low budget. Although it did not receive any Oscar nominations it still received favorable reviews.
My Review: I found this film to be quite entertaining, and do remember watching it as a kid. It has the typical Disney elements of good-natured talking animals (however is somewhat lacking in musical songs.) I did enjoy the urban setting of London where the bachelor songwriter finds a female mate, and together they raise their family in an apartment. Perhaps the most iconic character from the movie is the villainous Cruela de Vil. I would give this movie an overall rating of 6 out of 10.
The Sword in the Stone
Release Date: 1963
Authorship: The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White (Published in 1938; British)
Running Time: 79 minutes
Synopsis: A young orphan named Arthur is discovered by the magical wizard Merlin and is taught in the arts of magic. Merlin takes him on various adventures which include transforming into a fish and a bird, and later doing battle with the wicked witch Mim. Arthur later joins his foster father and brother to a jousting tournament in London. When Arthur misplaces his brother's sword, he searches all over town to find a replacement. He finds a sword sitting in a stone and is able to pull it out, much to the surprise of all the townspeople. The sword is a magical sword in which whomever pulls it out of the rock is to rule over England. Arthur is thus chosen as the rightful king of England and keeps Merlin nearby as his counselor.
Academy Accolades:
- Nominated for Music Score by George Burns
- That's What Makes the World go Round
- The Most Befuddling Thing
- Mad Madam Mim
Significance: It was a success at the box office yet received mixed criticism for it's heavy dose of humor and lack of dramatic quality. This was the first of many Disney films in which the Sherman Brothers wrote songs for. The music score composed by George Burns was nominated for an Oscar.
My Review: I enjoyed watching this film as a kid and found it's humorous use of magic to be quite entertaining. It had some elements of a classic Disney fairy tale; a young hero in a medieval setting aided by a powerful wizard, however was lacking in any significant romance or drama. The wicked witch Mim, was an antagonist of note, however to whimsical and brief to be considered a proper villain. All-in-all this film had a light and humorous tone to it, of which I would give an overall rating of 6 out of 10.
The Jungle Book
Release Date: 1967
Authorship: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (Published in 1894; British)
Running Time: 78 minutes
Synopsis: A baby child named Mowgli, is abandoned and under the guidance of a black panther Bagheera, is adopted by a pack of wolves. Mowgli is raised by wolves and learns how to survive and fend for himself in the deep jungles of India. However he is later discovered by an evil man-eating Bengal tiger named Shere-Khan and must find refuge. The wolves agree that Mowgli must leave the jungle and find a human village for his own safety. He is escorted by Bagheera, however the two are later separated after a fight and Mowgli meets and befriends a sloth bear named Baloo. Mowgli and Baloo establish a fun-loving, laid-back lifestyle and Baloo promises Mowgli he will look after him and that he does not have to return to the man-village. However Mowgli is later kidnapped by a group of monkeys and after he escapes has another fight with Baloo. He must later confront Shere-Khan with the help of vultures and Baloo. At the end Baloo and Bagheera escort Mowgli to the man village, and all agree that it is in everyone's best interest.
Academy Accolades:
- Nominated for Best Song, "The Bare Necessities" by Terry Gilkyson
Songs:
- Trust in Me
- Colonel Hathi's March
- The Bare Necessities
- I Wan'na be Like You
- That's What Friends are For
- My Own Home
Significance: This was the last film Walt Disney produced before his death at the age of 66. It was an instant box office success and celebrated for it's popular music soundtrack written by the Sherman Brothers. The famous iconic song of "Bear Necessities" written by Terry Gilkyson, was nominated for an Oscar. The film become one of Disney's most profitable releases of it's time, much ado to the recent passing of the innovator himself Walt Disney.
My Review: I found this film to have a good balance of light-tone humor with also some more mature dramatic tones. The young Mowgli lives a very free-spirited life in the jungle with his animal friends but must accept that he does not belong there. The wicked tiger Shere-Khan serves as a proper villain that drives the plot. It is thru this conflict that Mowgli is able to overcome his fears and with the help of his friends find a safer life. I especially enjoy the songs I Wan'na Be Like You and of course Bear Necessities which has become a theme song at the Indianapolis Indians games. I would consider this among the Disney classic animated films and would give it a 6 out of 10.
The Aristocats
Release Date: 1970
Authorship: The Aristocats screenplay by Tom McGowan and Tom McRowe (American)
Running Time: 79 minutes
Synopsis: Set in 1910 Paris a wealthy madam decrees to hand over her fortune to her Duchess cat and three kittens. Much to the dismay of her loyal butler, he is to be 2nd in line for her inheritance, behind the cats. Infuriated by this insult the butler decides to abandon the cats deep in the countryside. There the cats meet a feral cat named O'Malley who helps them return to Paris. O'Malley demonstrates to the fancy cats the free-spirited jazzy side of life. However the Duchess and her kittens chose to return to their madam. The butler however insistent to receive the madam's inheritance places the cats in a package to be shipped to Timbuktu. However the house moues informs O'Malley of his evil plot, who in turn brings forth his gang of cats to fight off the wicked butler. In the end the butler is sent of to Timbuktu and O'Malley is adopted to live in the madam's estate with Duchess and her kittens.
Songs:
- Scales and Arpeggios
- Thomas O'Malley Cat
- Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat
Significance: The film performed well at the box office and with critical reception. Although it was not nominated for any Oscars it is considered one of Disney's more successful classics. The song "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" has become an iconic Disney melody.
My Review: Just like Jungle Book, I found this film to have a good balance of humor with drama. Like many Disney films it consists of talking animals as the driving characters, where the butler plays a proper villain. I also enjoyed the setting of Paris both the urban side as well as the countryside. The playful tune of "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" was a favorite of mine as a kid. I would give this film an overall rating of 6 out of 10.
Robin Hood
Release Date: 1973
Authorship: The Legend of Robin Hood (British)
Running Time: 83 minutes
Synopsis: The wicked Prince John has levied a harsh tax on the townspeople of Nottingham. Robin Hood the fox and his companion Little John the bear go on an escapade to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Robin Hood later takes part in an archery contest to win a kiss from the lovely Maid Marian. However the Sheriff of Nottingham discover the Robin Hood is the villain they are after and a battle ensues. Robin Hood, Little John, Maid Marian, and their friends are able to escape to a nearby forest and make a mockery of Prince John. Infuriated by the townspeople's mockery Prince John triples his tax which sends the town into a severe depression. All those who cannot pay the tax are arrested by the sheriff of Nottingham. Robin and Little John devise a plan to free the prisoners and steal all of prince John's money. A battle ensues within the kingdom walls and Robin Hood and Little John are able to escape with all the money and prisoners. King Richard later returns to England and has Little John arrested, while Robin Hood and Maid Marian get married.
Academy Accolades:
- Nominated for Best Song, "Love" by George Burns
Songs:
- Whistle Stop
- Oo De Lally
- Love
Significance: The film was yet another box office success with positive reception. This was voice actor, Phil Harris' third return to a Disney film, having voiced the characters of Baloo the Bear, O'Malley the Cat, and Little John. This was also George Burns 4th Oscar nomination for a musical score and his last contribution to Disney films.
My Review: I remember watching and enjoying this film as a kid. I loved the British medieval setting and the rebellious hero of Robin Hood. I also found the romantic element between Robin Hood and Maid Marian to be quite special, especially with it's song, "Love". The story had a great balance of humor and dramatic quality which I believe are essential Disney animated films. These are the types of stories both children and adults can enjoy together. This one has a very nostalgic value to me and I feel it is one of Disney's more underrated films which I give a 7 out of 10.
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