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101 Dalmatians (1961) DVD Review
101 Dalmatians (1961) DVD Credits:
101 Dalmatians (1961) Directed by:
Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
101 Dalmatians (1961) Written by:
Bill Peet
101 Dalmatians (1961) Cast:
Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Cate Bauer, Lisa Daniels, Ben Wright, Frederick Worlock, Lisa Davis, Martha Wentworth, J. Pat O'Malley, Thurl Ravenscroft
101 Dalmatians (1961) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
101 Dalmatians (1961) DVD Release Date:
4th March 2008
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101 Dalmatians (1961) Synopsis:

When the wicked Cruella de Vil and her henchmen kidnap dalmatian puppies for their cherished spotted fur, it is up to the puppies' parents, Pongo and Perdita, and some brave farm animals, to free the caged canines.

101 Dalmatians (1961) DVD Review:

My favorite sequences in 101 Dalmatians have stuck in my head since childhood, clear as any other memory, and just as flawed. The opening sequence in which Pongo, a Dalmatian that belongs to a musician/composer living in London, decides he must find a mate for his owner brilliantly becomes a search for Pongo’s mate as well. As Pongo looks for his owner’s mate, he only looks at the women with dogs, and because the dogs look just like the owner, he is a good judge of human beauty as well. When Perdita and her female owner walk by on their way to the park Pongo tricks his owner into taking him for a walk, so that he can set up a chance encounter. This opening, leading to the inevitable romantic relationships that follow, is one of my favorite sequences in all of the Disney films, although I have never been much a fan of the fur-loving Cruella De Vil.

Apparently nothing can be left to the humans to do, because just as Pongo made a family he must protect it as well when the wicked Cruella decides she wants the newly arrived Dalmatian puppies. When her wish is denied all fifteen puppies are stolen, and even with Cruella as a suspect the dogs are not found by the humans. Instead Pongo, Perdita, and all of the dogs within barking distance take matters into their own paws. After they send a barking chain on the way, they find out that the puppies have been taken to Cruella’s old country house, along with many more Dalmatian puppies, all meant to be used to make fur coats.

Even as a child I was skeptical of Cruella’s believe that Dalmatian fur would make a good coat. Would anyone really want a dog coat? Regardless it was a wickedly cruel plan from one of Disney’s most devilish villains. Although this beloved Disney classic has been released on DVD before, it has been a while since 101 Dalmatians was released and Disney enjoys the exclusive quality of “The Vault”. The Disney Vault holds the films so that each time a classic is released on DVD it becomes an event. This “Platinum Edition” is newly restored with a whole new collection of special features and interactive games.

Some of the new special features are catered more to the youth of today, with a music video of the Cruella De Vil song by some new Disney girl, but most of them are catered to the avid Disney fan, whatever the age. There is a trivia track that puts facts that pop up onto the film as you watch it. There is also a featurette about Cruella, the correspondence between Walt Disney and the author of the book. Other features for kids include a virtual puppy game and some deleted music from the film.

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101 Dalmatians (1961) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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