THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981): Written by: Daniel P. Mannix (original novel), Ted Berman, Larry Clemmons, David Michener, Peter Young & Burny Mattinson Another one based off of a forgotten novel (with many changes- initially Tod & Copper didn’t know each other; Chief also dies in the novel), this one wasn’t a major hit, but has a cult following, largely due to the bittersweet nature … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: The Fox & The Hound
Penny: But if I don’t get back to the orphanage… I’ll never get adopted.Madame Medusa: Adopted? What makes you think anyone would want a homely little girl like you?Penny: *sheds a single tear* — Seriously, HOLY SHIT THE RESCUERS (1977): Written by: Margery Sharp (Original Books), Larry Clemmons, Vance Gerry, Ken Anderson, Frank Thomas, Burny Mattinson, Fred Lucky, Dick Sebast, David Michener & Ted Berman This is an odd … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: The Rescuers
ROBIN HOOD (1973): Written by: Larry Clemmons, Ken Anderson, Vance Gerry, Frank Thomas, Eric Cleworth, Julius Svendsen & David Michener Robin Hood came out at a time when Disney’s fortunes were a bit on the wane, and so some cost-cutting was required. After deciding to take the classic tale and make all the characters animals (a brilliant move- it instantly separated the work from the COUNTLESS Robin … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Robin Hood
The worst that one could say of The AristoCats is that it is unmemorable. It’s smoothly executed, of course, and enjoyable, but neither its superficial story nor its characters have any resonance.-Leonard Maltin THE ARISTOCATS (1970): Written by: Tom McGowan & Tom Rowe (Original Book), Larry Clemmons, Eric Cleworth, Vance Garry, Julius Svendsen, Frank Thomas & Ralph Wright BLEH. A movie all about jazz music (one … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Winnie The Pooh & The Aristocats
Vulture: “The kid’s clear, you can let go now.”Baloo: “Are you kidding?! There’s TEETH on the other end!” THE JUNGLE BOOK (1967): Written by: Rudyard Kipling (original), Larry Clemmons, Ralph Wright, Ken Anderson, Vance Gerry, Bill Peet The Jungle Book was the first film released after Walt’s death, though he had a big hand in the production of the feature. This one feels a bit funny, because it’s almost … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: The Jungle Book
THE SWORD IN THE STONE (1963): Written by: T.H. White (original story), Bill Peet This is arguably one of the most forgotten Disney Animated Canon films, at least among those that were entirely one story and not collections of shorts. I remember it vaguely as a kid, because I saw something where an old wizard was shapechanging into animals along with a young kid. this seemed … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: The Sword in the Stone
ONE-HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS (1961): Written by: Dodie Smith (novel), Bill Peet (solo) This one’s one of the most well-remembered “Middle Period” Disney movies (and the first to be set in the modern day, actually!), owing primarily to its singularly-memorable villain; one so legendary that she’s become completely iconic. Cruella de Vil is probably in the Top Five most-remembered Disney Villains these days, which is saying … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: 101 Dalmations
SLEEPING BEAUTY (1959): Written by: Charles Perrault, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright & Milt Banta Sleeping Beauty. One of the crowning jewels of the pre-’90s Animated Canon, and for good reason. Oddly, I don’t think this one was released among the big stream of movies in the ’90s until later, because I don’t think my parents ever got it- this … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Sleeping Beauty
LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955): Written by: Ward Greene (original short story), Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ralph Wright, Don DaGradi & Joe Grant A famous one, mainly for two iconic Disney scenes- the Bella Notte spaghetti kiss, and the We Are Siamese If You Please cats (who probably make every person from Thailand SUPER SUPER HAPPY that it’s not called “Siam” anymore). The film’s pretty good, and actually does a … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Lady & The Tramp
PETER PAN (1953) Written by: J.M. Barrie (original work), Ted Sears, Erdman Penner, Bill Peet, Winston Nibler, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Ralph Wright & Bill Cottrell Arguably one of Disney’s most famous movies, particularly for its era, and it’s funny because it’s one of the few that’s REALLY famous for non-Disney-related stuff as well (things like Hunchback and Tarzan were overshadowed be the presence of famous predecessors)- though it’s still … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Peter Pan
ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951) Writers: Lewis Carroll (original), Milt Banta, Den Connell, William Cottrell, Joe Grant, Winston Hibler, Dick Huemer, Dick Kelsey, Tom Oreb, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ted Sears & John Walbridge This is a famously-nutty movie, giving motivation to millions of psychedelic drug-users the world over. Which makes it all the funnier that it disappointed critics & audiences when it first came … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Alice in Wonderland
CINDERELLA (1950) Written By: Charles Perrault (original), Ken Anderson, Perce Pearce, Homer Brightman, Winston Hibler, BilL Peet, Erdman Penner, Harry Reeves, Joe Rinaldi, Ted Sears & Maurice Rapf So in 1950, after YEARS of being forced to make cheap-ass “Compilations Of Shorts” films, Walt Disney FINALLY had enough money in the Baby Boom Era to make a REAL picture again. Cinderella, based off of a famous story … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Cinderella
THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (1949) Written by: Kenneth Grahame (The Wind in the Willows), Washington Irving (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow), Howard Brightman, Winston Hibler, Erdman Penner, Harry Reeves, Joe Rinaldi & Ted Sears Here’s one I’d never even heard of until my family got a Disney Calendar- one of those small page-flipper ones where you got a different image & comment each … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: The Adventures of Ichad and Mr Toad
Here’s something a little bit different- these reviews will more or less sum up and review the “Collections of Shorts” era of Disney features. The Story: Falling fortunes and World War II put a lot of studios in dire financial straights, and Disney was no exception. Therefore, some cost-cutting measures were taken with the next handful of pictures, starting with Saludos Amigos. These are the World … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Disney’s Collection of Shorts
DUMBO (1941) Dumbo came on the heels of a couple of financial failures (Pinocchio & Fantasia), and so was one of the first Disney movies made “on the cheap”. However, this cheapness in animation allowed the directors to focus on acting rather than showing off fancy backgrounds, and so we got one of the more personable tales. And this one’s a doozy of an iconic film- is there any more … Continue reading Jab’s Disney Reviews: Dumbo and Bambi
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