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Aristocats Gets Special Edition DVD Treatment

THE ARISTOCATS (1970), the 20th Disney animated feature and the first production after the death of Walt Disney, is elevated to Special Edition status with the Feb. 5 release on DVD (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent. $29.99).

Unlike the out-of-print 2000 DVD, the new release offers warmer and more vivid colors in the original aspect ratio of 1.75:1.

Veteran Disney director Wolfgang Reitherman (THE JUNGLE BOOK, WINNIE THE POOH AND THE BLUSTERY DAY, ROBIN HOOD) helmed this underrated and exquisite-looking feline tale set Paris in 1910. The film has a cult following and is a particular favorite of animator Andreas Deja.

Feline heiress Duchess (Eva Gabor) and her three kittens, Toulouse, Berlioz and Marie, are joined by a cast of lovable animal friends, including Thomas O'Malley (Phil Harris), Scat Cat (Scatman Crothers), Roquefort the Mouse (Sterling Holloway) and woozy goose, Uncle Waldo (Bill Thompson).

The jazz-inspired musical numbers from the Oscar-winning Sherman brothers includes "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat."

Bonus features include a brand new virtual kitten game, a behind-the-scenes featurette that showcases the music of the Sherman brothers with a look at a never-before-seen song sequence, "She Never Felt Alone." Meanwhile, "Backstage Disney" offers a gallery of production art, character development (with a maid cut from the film) and live-action reference. Also included is the short BATH DAY (1946), with Figaro from PINOCCHIO getting a bath from Minnie.

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.

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