The Magical World Of Disney #358: Top 100 Disney Movies, Part 28

46. Dumbo (1941)

Dumbo is an American animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions and premiered on October 23, 1941, by RKO Radio Pictures. Sound was recorded conventionally using the RCA System. One voice was synthesized using the Sonovox system, but it, too, was recorded using the RCA System.

Dumbo, the fourth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, is based upon the storyline written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl for the prototype of a novelty toy (“Roll-a-Book”). The main character is Jumbo Jr., a semi-anthropomorphic elephant who is cruelly nicknamed “Dumbo”. He is ridiculed for his big ears, but in fact he is capable of flying by using his ears as wings. Throughout most of the film, his only true friend, aside from his mother, is the mouse, Timothy – a relationship parodying the stereotypical animosity between mice and elephants.

It was a deliberate pursuit of simplicity and economy for the Disney studio, and at 64 minutes, it is one of Disney’s shortest animated features.

It also didn’t help that there was a huge strike at the studio while the film was being made. During the production of Dumbo, Herbert Sorrell leader of the Screen Cartoonists Guild, demanded Disney sign with his union, rather than the IATSE, which Disney had already signed. Disney declined saying that he would put it to a vote. Sorrel again demanded that Disney sign with his union, but Disney once again refused. On May 29, 1941, shortly after rough animation on Dumbo was complete, much of the Disney studio staff went on strike. A number of strikers are caricatured in the feature as clowns who go to “hit the big boss for a raise”. The strike lasted five weeks, and ended the “family” atmosphere and camaraderie at the studio.

So, there was a lot of problems with the making of Dumbo but did the movie itself leave a lasting impact…okay, why am I even answering that question? Of course, it did.

Yeah, even though the movie is only just over an hour, the film just still manages to capture your attention, not just as the first time you’re watching it as a kid but even today, as you’re watching it as an adult, there’s still something there that just keeps you wanting to come back for more.

The characters are great, Dumbo is a very likeable character, Tim the mouse is a great side character, the rest of the characters are also great to watch. The crows, which a lot of people see as racist stereotypes, are kind of fun to watch and to be perfectly honest, I never found them offensive, I think there were far worse racist stereotypes in cartoons than the ones that were in Dumbo. Okay, some of the things they did were a little questionable but like I said, there were far worst racist stereotypes in cartoons back then than the ones that were here.

The story is a nice little one, it’s simple to understand and it’s not complicated by any means. The music is great, you can’t tell me there’s not at least one song you remember from this movie, Baby Mine, Casey Jr. Coming Down The Track, When I See An Elephant Fly, Elephants On Parade, all classic songs.

Oh, and speaking of Elephants On Parade…yeah, that was really messed up. As a kid, it looks cool but as I’m watching it today, yeah, I can see why everybody says it’s one of the most bizarre bits of animation Disney has ever done.

Why does Dumbo hold up as well as it does? Well, it all comes down to one thing, simplicity.

Take away all the stereotypes and WTF musical numbers, Dumbo keeps its’ story and characters very simple and easy to understand while also keeping that timeless factor to it, this is a movie that can easily take place in any timeperiod, for the most part. On top of that, you have great characters, great animation, a thrilling climax, great songs, it’s definitely one of Disney’s triumphant classics.

45. 101 Dalmatians (1996)

101 Dalmatians is a 1996 American adventure comedy film. The film is a live action adaptation of Walt Disney’s 1961 animated film of almost the same name, itself an adaptation of Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Directed by Stephen Herek and co-produced by John Hughes and Ricardo Mestres, it stars Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, Joan Plowright, Hugh Laurie, Mark Williams, and Tim McInnerny. Unlike the 1961 film, none of the animals have speaking voices in this version.

101 Dalmatians was released on November 27, 1996. It grossed $320.6 million in theaters against a $75 million budget, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 1996. Close was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The film was also nominated for a BAFTA award for best makeup effects. A sequel, 102 Dalmatians, was released on November 22, 2000 with Close and McInnerny reprising their roles. A reboot, Cruella, directed by Craig Gillespie, was released on May 28, 2021.

An evil high-fashion designer plots to steal Dalmatian puppies in order to make an extravagant fur coat, but instead creates an extravagant mess.

The live-action remake stays true to the original movie while giving it a more contemporary feel to it that appeals to the decade of the 90s and that includes the Home Alone style gags that Hughes would basically be using for the remainder of his writing career.

Both versions are good but it’s the original animated film that stands out as the better of the two easily.

#100 & #99

#98 & #97

#96 & #95

#94 & #93

#92 & #91

#90 & #89

#88 & #87

#86 & #85

#84 & #83

#82 & #81

#80 & #79

#78 & #77

#76 & #75

#74 & #73

#72 & #71

#70 & #69

#68 & #67

#66 & #65

#64 & #63

#62 & #61

#60 & #59

#58 & #57

#56 & #55

#54 & #53

#52 & #51

#50 & #49

#48 & #47

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