Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Dumbo


Dumbo- “The ninth wonder of the universe!”

While Dumbo is classic Disney fare, it was not one of the movies I grew up on… however I have always enjoyed a spin on Dumbo at Disneyland!


Dumbo is a simple tale (produced with a small budget in Disney’s leaner years) with great heart.  The story opens with deliveries by a flock of storks.  One of the storks delivers a beautiful baby elephant to Mrs. Jumbo (a performing circus elephant) who could not be more pleased and names her babe Jumbo Jr.  The baby elephant’s unnaturally large ears, however, earn him the moniker of Dumbo.  The story follows Dumbo’s journey from ridicule to greatness, from clown to stardom.  The oversized ears that everyone laughed at turnout to be Dumbo’s greatest asset- they allow him to fly, to soar above his critics and mockers.  What makes him different makes him great.

  

Interestingly enough, Dumbo actually doesn’t say a word throughout the entire film.  (This is the only Disney film in which a title character does not have a single line of dialogue.)  This makes his sidekick very important.  And once again, I found myself thoroughly enamored with the sidekick – the one and only, Timothy Q. Mouse.  He’s cute, funny and has a heart of gold.  You have to believe in Disney magic when you consider that he’s made me downright fond of a cricket and two mice.  That would never happen in real life.  Any creature of the creepy, crawly variety and I are NOT friends.  But alas, I digress…


The music of Dumbo once again shines through as a testament to the greatness of Disney.  My favorite songs were “Look Out for Mr. Stork” and “When I See an Elephant Fly.”  (I love me some puns!)  Fun Fact: Cliff Edwards sings both “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio and “When I See an Elephant Fly” from Dumbo.  The Casey Jr. Circus Train number was also very fun though beware its propensity for getting stuck in one’s head.  Hands down, the most poignant moment of the movie has to be when Mrs. Jumbo sings “Baby Mine” to Dumbo from solitary confinement. 

Dumbo was a wonderful foray into Disney past.  I love that time has not made the movie irrelevant or ridiculous.  In fact, it’s as heart-warming and lovely as ever.



This week I’ll leave you with a quote of hope from none other than Timothy Q. Mouse:


The very things that held ya down are gonna carry ya up, and up, and up!



Coming Up Next Week: Bambi

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