Disneys beloved DUMBO from 1941 has been beautifully remastered on DVD for this BIG TOP EDITION (Walt Disney Home Ent., $29.99) that streets June 6, 2006.
1941s DUMBO, directed by Ben Sharpsteen and co-written by the late, great Joe Grant, has enchanted generations of moviegoers and influenced many animators with its gentle story of the outcast elephant with the giant ears that overcomes all obstacles and turns a liability into a strength. It is most notable for its surreal Pink Elephants on Parade sequence, as well as the subsequent When I See an Elephant Fly" sequence. DUMBO won an Oscar for Best Scoring of a Motion Picture, and was nominated for Best Song ("Baby Mine").
DUMBO is also graced with the animation talents of John Hench, Wilfred Jackson, Ward Kimball, Fred Moore and Maurice Noble and Wolfgang Reitherman, among others. The voice cast includes Edward Brophy (Timothy Q. Mouse), Sterling Holloway (Mr. Stork), Herman Bing (Ringmaster), Cliff Edwards (Jim Crow) and Verna Felton (Matriarch).
Bonus features include:* Commentary by: animation historian John Canemaker * DisneyPedia: "My First Circus" game* DVD storybook: Dumbo's Big Discovery* Bonus Silly Symphony shorts: ELMER ELEPHANT and THE FLYING MOUSE* Sing along songs: "Look Out for Mr. Stork" and "Casey Junior"* "Baby Mine" music video performed by Jim Brickman and Kassie DePaiva* "Celebrating DUMBO" featurette by Roy Disney and Don Hahn * Walt Disney's original introduction to its TV premiere* Dumbo art gallery
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
