#17 One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Title: One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Release Date: January 25th, 1961

Voice Cast: Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Ben Wright, Cate Bauer

Plot: Two dalmatian parents set out to save their fifteen puppies kidnapped by a wicked socialite and end up saving quite a lot more.

Review: I've been waiting to say something about the past few Disney films for a while. There's a trend I started noticing around Alice in Wonderland, and you might have seen me mention it in some reviews. And I'm mentioning it now, because I feel that One Hundred and One Dalmatians exemplifies it to the full effect-- at least a bit moreso than other Disney films.

Since Cinderella, Disney's been beating around the bush less and less in their films. The stories move a lot more quickly than, for example, Pinocchio, Dumbo, or Bambi. It's magnificent, because that, to me, is what makes a film appealing: filling it up with an actual plot. In 101, there is no dull moment. And I'm not half-assing that comment; there litterally is no moment where something isn't going on that's relevant to the plot. It's beautiful.

The canine cuteness level in this film, I think, is considerabley greater than that of Lady and the Tramp. The scene with the puppies watching TV (especially Lucky, that rascal!) is adorable, with each of them making silly comments and barking when there's excitement. It's very child-like, I'd say. But there's something about the fact that they're puppies that magnifies how charming it is. That factor comes back to haunt you, though, when the puppies are kidnapped. Again, at least for me, there's something about the fact that they're puppies that fills me with emotion (dread, this time) when they are taken.

"Cruella de Vil, Cruella de Vil, if she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will!" How true that is. I think the reason she appears to be so much more ghastly and cruel than any other Disney villain is because her crime is, for the most part, realistic. It could happen in our world, and that makes her incredibly loathsome. Who would want to kill a bunch of puppies and make coats out of them? That's just sick.

That song, though, is amazingly catchy. It's one of the only songs of the sountrack, but it's marvelous and something to be remembered. The rhythm and melody snatch you into singing along to this hate song. And to be honest, with that song, you don't need many others to make a great score.

Under the Sea (Darling, It's Better...)