My Movie Review on Dumbo (1941)
Yo, what's up, Kemosabes?
This is your friendly film, TV show, and episode reporter here with another review.
Today, I'm gonna give you guys my take of Disney's "Dumbo". The animated version from 1941 to be precise.
Here's the rundown of this classic tale:
Dumbo is a baby circus elephant who has been frequently bullied and teased because of having extremely big ears. As if his life isn't hard enough, Dumbo's overprotective but loving mother is imprisoned in a cage wagon after being deemed a 'mad' animal by the circus ringleader.
With the help of his friend Timothy Q. Mouse, Dumbo must somehow find a way to free his Mom and show the world that he isn't some freak of nature.
Will Dumbo and Timothy succeed in their goals? Or will it all be for naught?
Next to Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" and the live-action adaption of the latter by Tim Burton, this movie and the live-action remake that was released last year were films that I had been wanting to analyze for quite some time. The film as a whole was also another Disney classic that I had grown up with, so I had quite a nostalgia rush running through me that was particularly motivating.
Watching this film again after so long, I really must say that "Dumbo" is as enjoyable as I remembered it being in my childhood. I had an absolute blast seeing it recently.
For instance, the animation of this movie was astonishing! Made under a $950,000 budget, it was incredible how the animators were able to make a small film so gloriously appealing and huge. The sequence with the pink elephants was definitely what I'd classify as one of the most accomplished moments in animation, as it was not only lively but contained a variety of visual styles. The pink elephants scene even showcased the animators's willingness to take risks and experiment.
The direction by Ben Sharpsteen, Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, and Samuel Armstrong, and the story by Joe Grant, Dick Hummer, and Otto Englander, were quite the stellar package, if I may add. I can also tell that producer Walt Disney was obviously having a field day working on this movie creative-wise.
I absolutely love how undeniably innocent the film was. It had heart and emotion that was strong enough to show how passionate the filmmakers were for the project and tug at the heart, and the morals and themes the film had were meaningful and nicely done. Plus, the film's humorous and witty side was hilarious, particularly because of how genuine and creatively-timed the jokes were. Likewise, for being a short movie, everything was brilliantly paced to where the runtime would hardly matter.
The performances of the cast, casting, characters, and character development were terrific as well. The performers not only portrayed their characters like they were meant for them (which they literally were), but the personalities and traits they incorporated helped them be so unique they were unforgettable and alive. The characters themselves had dynamic development, and the performances were accompanied by deeply snappy dialogue. If I had to pick what my favorite characters are, it'd be Dumbo himself, Timothy Q. Mouse, and the crows. Edward Trophy, Cliff Edwards, James Baskett, Nick Stewart, Hall Johnson, and Jim Carmichael did an outstanding job portraying Timothy and the crows, and Sterling Halloway was quite a scene-stealer as Mr. Stork despite how minor the character was.
As I thought about Dumbo more and more while working on this review, I realized that Dumbo shared an inarguably large connection with people that have disabilities, such as autism. The biggest reason would pretty much be because of Dumbo's ears. His ears were something Dumbo was born with, and he couldn't have control how big they'd be or have a choice in the matter, which is 100% a lot like...well, me and certain others. I was born with autism. I couldn't keep it from happening or have a say in having autism because it'd be impossible for me to do so, which is what being born with something is. Along with that, Dumbo was picked on and teased by others just because of how different he was, which people with disabilities sadly go through too. And believe me, I know that from experience.
Finally, the music by Oliver Wallace and Frank Churchill, and the songs by Ned Washington, were magnificent. The melodies that the film had were so emotionally engaging it helped me feel like I was witnessing everything in person instead of from the screen, and the lyrics of the songs carried a great sense of fun and bounce. Plus, the lyrics mixed together perfectly and rolled nicely, and the melodies fit with them like a glove.
In conclusion, Walt Disney's "Dumbo" is undeniably one of the greatest treasures of animation ever. The characters and vocal performances are marvelous, the animation is astounding, and the best part of it all...is that there's an unmistakable purity that makes the film one of Disney's most lovable of works.
So, I rate Walt Disney's "Dumbo" a solid five out of five stars.
Stay tuned for my review of the live-action version by Tim Burton coming soon.
