101 Dalmatians
1961
Ok, yes I have two Dalmatians films… I’m not dotty, I
promise. This film was a slight revolution in terms of Disney. It’s basically
the film that marked the beginning of a change-over from the old classic Disney
animators and writers such as Wilfred Jackson and William Cottrell to the next
generation. Of course, they still had a big hand in designing and creating it,
but all in all Disney wanted a new style for this film to stray away from the
whole ‘magical fairy-tale’ and the changes in both creative influences and
animation style aided this. Fun fact, this was also one of the first films to
fully use the xerography technique. The technique basically allowed them to
copy and repeat frames and made the photographic process quicker – taking away
a lot of pressure from the animators and decreasing the development time.
Fun-fact over, personally I wanted this film because of my love for dogs… I
don’t actually remember obsessing too much over the film as much as its
merchandise… but alas lets delve once more into the world of spotted dogs!
Plot and Script
This tale was adapted from the novel ‘The Hundred and One
Dalmatians’, written by Dodie Smith. In this version seems fairly similar in
general plot, but there are a few differences: for example ‘Perdita’ was a
third adult dog with a love-story sub-plot who was found out in the rain, while
Pongo’s lady-friend was simply named ‘Missus
Pongo’. Other plot differences include
certain events that I approve of their withdrawal, for example in the novel one
puppy was too weak to walk and so was given a toy carriage to be pushed home
in. While sweet, it would have just made this story less realistic and that’s one
thing that this movie does so well. It brings a bunch of normal people and dogs,
ties them up with a mad old hag who hates all living things and makes it
believable. One final plot difference I find amusing is how the cat, in the
book, actually belonged to Cruella. Wait, she owns animals? Thank you Disney
for not allowing this complete confusion of character!
As far as the script goes, it’s fairly tame. Didn’t have
much wrong with it, didn’t have anything exciting either. There are some
classic lines, however… may I mention the ‘Kanine Krunchies’ theme song?
Characters and Actors
Disney being Disney, and Disney needing to attract films to a young market, tend to add way too many characters, or they change one to make it funnier than it really needs to be. This film, however, I’m pleased to say has quite believable characters that aren’t added in just for the humour! Ok, so there is that annoying scene where the colonel is trying to hear the twilight bark which gets a little tiresome, but all in all the ‘whacky’ characters were kept out of this one. Instead, they put the whacky where whacky was needed: Cruella. This character is so wonderful in all she does. From her lathered-in-fur look, to her ‘sitting in bed on a day off’ look, she just screams menacingly evil. Who couldn’t be a little creeped out by that face? I mean, even when she’s reading the Sunday paper, she’s laughing and plotting more evil deeds.
Disney being Disney, and Disney needing to attract films to a young market, tend to add way too many characters, or they change one to make it funnier than it really needs to be. This film, however, I’m pleased to say has quite believable characters that aren’t added in just for the humour! Ok, so there is that annoying scene where the colonel is trying to hear the twilight bark which gets a little tiresome, but all in all the ‘whacky’ characters were kept out of this one. Instead, they put the whacky where whacky was needed: Cruella. This character is so wonderful in all she does. From her lathered-in-fur look, to her ‘sitting in bed on a day off’ look, she just screams menacingly evil. Who couldn’t be a little creeped out by that face? I mean, even when she’s reading the Sunday paper, she’s laughing and plotting more evil deeds.
Ok, so she might not be the most mystical, fantastical… or
even most clever of villains. But she’s awesome cause she’s both believable and
you just can’t help but want her to crash her car at the end… and that’s what a
good kids-film villain is about!
Other characters in this story tend to either annoy me, or
bore me. Pongo? Boring. Perdita? Boring. The colonal dog? Damned annoying. That
cat? Also annoying. Don’t even get me started on Roger or Anita. Other than
Nanny, and Jasper and Horace (who only get credit in this film due to the kidnap
scene) that only really leaves the puppies. To be fair, I think they did a good
job with the puppies. The ones that mattered to the story that is. Each little
puppy had their own personality that, although didn’t get an enormous
amount of screen time, were vaguely identifiable. There was the fat one, the
angry one, the two girl-snobs, the one who loved his dad and, of course Lucky.
Ok, not quite 15 memorable dogs… but it must be hard to distinguish. They did a
better job than these guys, where the only one you do remember is because hes a jerk and he
has an ‘A’ written on his shirt….and there’s only three of them!
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/39/2008/11/alvinchipmunks111208.jpg
Scenery and Style
This part of the film is probably my favourite, mainly because
it’s so different than the usual Disney stuff. They wanted a new style for this
movie and boy did they get it. Colouring that bleeds outside the lines, very
arty, very odd. I like it mainly because it brings the characters to the
foreground. Everything that doesn’t need attention, doesn’t get it because, alike
with photography and focus, the background of the film is in a different style
to the important parts: the characters. Also, this style fits In with the
setting of the film. I don’t know about you, but if I were to head in my time
machine to 50’s/60’s London, I’d expect everything to look like it does in this
movie. Yep, dull drab and block colour with lines. Looks inviting.
However, even though I love the style of the artwork and
think that overall it fits with the theme, I’d have liked to see more
stylisation around Cruella’s character. Not her look, though, more her
surroundings. The live action film did a better job of this, with her office
space. I just think Cruella’s bedroom furniture shows just how truly evil she
is. Yes, I just wrote that… But really, I do think if we saw her house, or her
office, alike in the live-action version, and it was just as evil and awkward as she
was, it’d just intensify our hatred for her.
Music
The main piece of music within this version of the film was
all shown in the title credits. Now, I know it was more a thing of the era, but
I really hate long title credits. And its this hatred of title credits and a
lack of being able to skip them instantly back in the good old days of video
that leads to my hatred of that piece of music. Every dot that was placed on
that page just angered me all the more as my time was wasted wishing it’d hurry up and get to the
film. That said, it fits in with the theme, being so quirky.
A better received use of music in this film was the wonder
of song, though I’m not really a fan of these in particular. ‘Cruella DeVill’
is annoyingly catchy and iconic but even it is slightly lame. How it became top
of the fictional world’s Christmas songs, I’m not sure… but its only advantage
is it just adds to the ‘Cruella is evil, so hate her’ thing this film has got
going for it. In fact, we’re almost reminded too much that we should hate this
woman, in various different mediums. I hope Disney don’t start to make
Political campaigns, or we’d all be at their whim as they slaughtered the
opposition with a combination of song, style and cute little animals showing
fear and hatred.
The only other song in the film I can think of, besides the masterful Kanine Krunchies advert, is 'Dalmatian Plantation' and that just pisses me off cause its a poor excuse for an ending.
Overall
Overall, this film is different. It’s a nice change from ‘Princess
is found by Prince’ and brings with it a whole new style and feel to a Disney
movie. I almost feel, however, that you just can’t watch this movie too often. It’s
too easy to get bored of watching dogs walk through a winter country scene,
when you see it too often. And really, that’s what this story is about: dogs
that walk through the countryside while being chased by a woman who’s a bit of a
nutter. Although I loved Dalmatians when I was younger, the film just didn’t
excite me enough and that’s why its remained dear, yet not
particularly loved as much as, say, Lion King. However, if you’ve not seen
it before I don’t think it’s a complete waste of time to watch it. It’s a sweet
story with an amazing villain and a cute art style. Oh and some cute puppies who just loooove this advert....
Altogether now:
(8) Kanine Krunchies can't be beat,
They make each meal a special treat..
Happy dogs are those who eat delicious Kanine Krunchies! (8)
Ahhhh bliss.
