| Product: |
Lady And The Tramp (Special Edition, 2 DVDs) |
| Date: |
31/03/07 (172 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Lovely story, traditional, classic, family enrertainment with a good musical score.
Disadvantages: May be too sentimental for some
Pleas note that this is a film only review
The Lady and the Tramp, is one of Disney’s early classics and one of my favourites also. It was first released to cinema audiences in August 1955. Disney kept all these early animations away from our television screens for many years. Far too many. As a child all we ever saw was a taster on television at Easter or Christmas in a Disney-time special, which showed brief clips.
So there was nothing for it as a child but to watch it at the cinema on one of those memorable family outings. I have such fond memories of these times and also these sort of films.
Eventually maybe 10-15 years ago Lady and the Tramp was released on video, as Disney began to release a few of their old classics, and I received it as a present. Some have now made it to the small screen via television channels, but not Lady and the tramp as far as I am aware. Not yet anyway.
Most readers will have come across this cartoon at some time in their viewing life but for those who haven’t seek it out and indulge in some old time smaltz.
Lady is a surprise present to his wife, Darling, from Jim Dear. These names are what Lady hears as the couple speak to each other and so this is what she calls them. Lady is a puppy cocker spaniel who is given, in a cardboard box tied with ribbon. For me, as in life , the puppy stage of Lady’s life shows her at her cutest and most adorable, despite the many mishaps which the family encounter.
This period however is only brief in the film. She has a few funny, naughty moments settling in to her new home and the next time that we see her she is full grown. Life is peaches and cream but it is not destined to stay this way.
Along life’s path Lady meets with Tramp who is a slightly scruffy, rogue of a mongrel, who has a big heart. Tramp's sentiment that 'when a baby arrives, a dog goes out the door', gives you an idea of what's to come. When life turns sour for Lady she meets up with Tramp again, by chance, and romance blossoms. All is well in the end but there are many dangers and some sadness along the way. I am not going to give any more details as, if you haven’t watched this film, I don’t want to spoil it for you.
The animation is old fashioned, now, but stands up well with an antique, nostalgic charm. The characters are exquisite from the nasty, naughty Siamese twin cats and their horrible owner Aunt Sarah, to the neighbouring English bloodhound called Trusty and the, ever so Scottish, Jock the Scottie dog. As usual there are little sub-plots, such as the fact that the bloodhound has lost his sense of smell.
The film is set in, possibly, late Victorian times in America. The drawings have such a quaint charm which I think is also down to the period it is set in.
As with most Disney animations there is a wealth of music running through this film, some by well known voices. Mind you if you’re under 40 you may not have heard of them before. The voice of Peggy Lee, as a dog’s home captive, singing ‘He’s a tramp’ to her ex is excellent. Peggy is also the female lead, Darling's, voice. There is the romance as Lady and Tramp share a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, donated by the Italian restaurant owner, to the strains of ‘Bella Note’ (apologies if I’ve spelt it wrong but you get the picture)
This animation is a traditional piece of work from the period of time when the Disney Studios were on a high, had the market to themselves and still had Uncle Walt at the helm.
Personally I adore dogs, in life as well as film, but I don’t think that matters. This story has many things which relate to life in general, such as feeling that you have had you’re nose pushed out and how the other half live, as Lady is part of the rich set living on Snob Hill and Tramp has a hand to mouth existence.
Lady and the Tramp retains an innocent charm which may be too sentimental for some. However if you watch it for what it is you should love it. This is one film which is suitable for all the family from the youngest to the oldest. There are a couple of slight scares in the middle, for example, the dog catcher and the dog pound with death row, which tinies may not like but really there is nothing which is significantly scary. I would think small children will love the cuteness of all the different dogs and the musical score.
So, go on, leave your cynicism behind, lose yourself in a bygone, gentler age and relive your childhood.
Thanks for reading
Copyright Eiley
Summary: Follow the rocky road to love which Lady and the Tramp travel.
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