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Dumbo (60th Anniversary Edition) Customer Reviews (25 - 27 of 39 Reviews)

Jumbo Jr. still makes me cry
The simple, straightforward story of Dumbo (or more accurately, Jumbo Jr.) still has the power to move audiences even after 60 years. All of us have felt like Jumbo Jr. at some point (if not all through) our lives. We are also hard wired to protect and care for our young so when Mrs. Jumbo fights for her son, we automatically empathise for her as well. This film works on all levels from art direction, color, mood, animation, character design score and song to the bizzare set piece "Pink Elephants on Parade" that dazzilingly displays the artists talents (in my opinion, one of the greatest segments ever animated). Truly a Disney treasure and one that everyone from 3 to 103 can enjoy over and over again.

Thankfully this DVD presentation gives you many reasons to do just that. The film has been lovingly restored and looks more bright and colorful than ever! There are 2 very entertaining Silly Symphonies included (Elmer the Elephant / the Flying Mouse) that show Walt's early attempts at animating elephants and the themes that would eventually make their way into Dumbo. The video of Michael Crawford singing 'Baby Mine' is painful however and should be skipped (both Barbara Cook and Bonnie Rait have done much better work with this song). The 'Celebrating Dumbo' Featurette is very quick and light hearted with no real information on the making of the film, just peoples ideas and feelings about it. If you want a more detailed and comprehensive look at it's creation check out the commentary which gives you plenty of new information and insight. Also the conceptual drawings are fun to scroll through.

This is what I expect from a special edition DVD. The film has been beautifully restored and there are many worthwhile extras all packed onto one disc. And I haven't even mentioned the Casey Jr. train! Each DVD comes with a cardboard pop out that can be folded in to the train for display. It's touches like these that put this DVD over the top. The film itself more than justifies the purchase, but the (mosttly terrific) bonus material certainly sweetens the deal. You can't go wrong with one of Disney's best, Dumbo.

Third Disney Favorite!
I watched this all the time as a young'n and hadn't seen it again years, but I decided to pick it up after downloading the "Baby Mine" song. Its got some of the finest animated sequences anyone can offer: The faceless roustabouts setting up the "Big Top," the parade of the ghostly, pink elephants, the loud-mouthed crows.

You can NEVER write a proper review about Dumbo without mentioning the powerful "Baby Mine" scene. It made me cry the first 2 of 3 times I watched it! A heart-breaking scene like that fits the sugar-coated ending perfectly!

As the story goes: baby-delivering storks are making a couple of deliveries to a zoo. Everyone gets a baby of their own (the bears, tigers, hippos, everybody), all except an awaiting, would-be mother elephant called Mrs. Jumbo. Soon, Jumbo and the rest of the criiters are loaded aboard the circus train, Casey Junior, and Jumbo still hasn't recieved an infant of her own! But a late delivery soon arrives for Jumbo. All the other lady elephants are very desperate to see Jumbo's child, when they do, they think he's the cutest creature on earth, until he sneezes! The sneeze reveals the baby pachederm to have abnormaly large ears! They begin constantly taunting and teasing the lil guy about his physical problem, they even nick-name him "Dumbo" because they think his ears make him look so.....dumb. But Mrs. Jumbo loves Dumbo reguardless of the size of his ears. The trouble starts when the circus opens a bunch of kids enter the Big Top to see all the animals. A ugly boy taunts Dumbo about his ears even worse than the "normal" elephants did, this makes Mrs. Jumbo mad as he11! She loses her self control and attacks the children (you go Jumbo)! The ringmaster is enraged by Mrs. Jumbo's actions and sentences her to "solitary confinement," leaving little Dumbo all alone (for only a little while). Dumbo is eventually befriended by a rodent known as Timothy Q. Mouse, who believes that Dumbo can be as big a success as the other elephants. As Timothy and Dumbo pursue the road to fame, comedy, tragedy, and even macabre ensues as Dumbo meets up with a bunch of (...) clowns, ghostly pink elephants, and flock of loud-mouthed crows.

Dumbo is an often overlooked gem that EVERYONE should see! It is so simple, it is classic!

Classic Disney movie for all ages...score: 80 (out of 100)
The first time I came into contact with DUMBO (1941) was in Steven Spielberg's "1941", where a macho general (Robert Stack) is watching the "Baby Mine" scene. He starts to shead tears, and the audience uproars with laughter. When I rented the 50th anniversary edition, I knew why the general cried. I did the same, and then I started laughing, too.

Here is a movie for all ages. It hasn't dated over the years, which makes it perfect. The message is clear - inner strength, friendship, and love conquers all. The "Pink Elephants" and "Baby Mine" scenes are still classics. The most touching scene in movie history, of course, is when Jumbo Jr. sees his mother in jail, and the song, "Baby Mine", is played.

Although FANTASIA, SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO, and LION KING are much better animated films from Disney, DUMBO tugs more at the heart.

Score: 80 (out of 100)

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