DVD Review: 101 Dalmatians – Two Disc Platinum Edition

Writer: Bill Peet, Dodie Smith
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
Cast: Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Cate Bauer, Ben Wright, Lisa Davis, Martha Wentworth, Frederick Worlock,
Rating: G
Studio: Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 4, 2008

I love Disney movies. I especially love classic Disney. When did Disney become so desperate to make a buck that they had to release part two of all of their top movies? I like those movies that were made from the 40s through the 80s, and perhaps even before. Nothing can beat classics like Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, The Fox and the Hound, Robin Hood, Fantasia, The Sword and the Stone, Dumbo, Pinocchio, and even The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. So, when I heard 101 Dalmatians was coming to DVD in a special two-disc platinum edition, I was elated.

I love this movie nearly as much as I do my very favorite Disney movies. Who can resist those darling little cartoon puppies? I should probably note that having a dog is a big responsibility when they aren’t cartoon animals or virtual dogs. Otherwise, I’m bound to get hate mail for my lack of warning considering the snafu of abandoned Dalmatian puppies that occurred after the last release (the far inferior, Glenn Close, live action version of the movie). Honestly, I don’t blame 101 Dalmatians. I blame a lack of education and stupidity by adults who bought these dogs, but that’s not really important in relation to this review. Just don’t buy a dog, if you don’t want to care for it, especially a Dalmatian since they are high maintenance dogs. Enough said!

Release Information:
101 Dalmatians was originally released in U.S. theaters on January 25, 1961. This is one of the projects Walt Disney worked on, while he was alive. The movie traveled the world and was even re-released in the U.S. on June 7, 1979, December 20, 1985, and July 12, 1991.

101 Dalmatians has been available on both VHS and DVD previously. The VHS tape came out on September 15, 1992. A limited DVD release, the last 101 Dalmatians release to came out was first available on November 9, 1999. There even was a live action version of 101 Dalmatians, which was made in 1996. Glenn Close starred as Cruella De Vil.

In two days, 101 Dalmatians will be released on DVD in a two-disc platinum edition. This DVD set is chocked full of bonus features and includes a far superior visual and audio quality to past releases. Disney Home Entertainment has made 101 Dalmatians available on March 4, 2008. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon for $15.99 USD.

The 101 Dalmatians Plot
101 Dalmatians is a great story. When I was a kid, I had my own stuffed Pongo. I carried him around and put a little, red, toy fire hat on his head. Pongo and I were best buds. I loved my stuffed dog, and I never really wanted a real Dalmatian, even though I love dogs, so it all worked out. As you might have guessed, Pongo (Rod Taylor) is the main narrator for 101 Dalmatians. He tells the story of how he ended up with his dog-wife, Perdita (Cate Bauer) and his pet (aka his human) Roger (Ben Wright) married his wife, Anita, who just happened to own Perdita.

Anita’s old roommate from what I can only assume was a boarding or finishing school is the rich, evil Cruella De Vil (Betty Lou Gerson). Cruella has a superiority complex, is obsessed with fur, and treats both Anita and Roger like absolute crap. Still, Anita, being the sweetheart she is, has pity for Cruella. Nobody really likes her and they were best friends back in their school days. She can’t be that bad can she?

Roger is a songwriter, which Cruella looks down upon. Of course, she inspires the greatest song he ever writes, “Cruella De Vil”, which eventually becomes a hit. Roger and Anita soon find out Perdita is pregnant and Cruella seems more excited than they do. When the momentous occasion of birth arrives, 15 puppies show up. One nearly dies, but Roger is able to keep the little fella alive. Both mother and babies are tired, but healthy. This doesn’t keep Cruella from offering to buy the entire lot, which Anita and Roger refuse to sell. The Pongo and Perdita bunch are a happy loving family and Pongo is grateful Roger and Anita let them stay together.

Each of the puppies has their own personality. One is always hungry. One is obsessed with television. One likes to step on Pongo’s head. The puppies include Lucky (Mimi Gibson), Rolly (Barbara Beaird), Princess (Queenie Leonard), Duchess (Marjorie Bennett), Penny (Sandra Abbott), and Patch (Mickey Maga). One night, while Roger, Anita, Pongo, and Perdita go out for their nightly walk in the park, leaving the sleeping puppies with Nanny (Martha Wentworth), the maid, two ugly mugs break in (I think their names are Horace and Jasper?) and kidnap the puppies. It isn’t long before it is clear Cruella has kidnapped them and has a total of 101 Dalmatians, all of which she plans to use to make a Dalmatian fur coat.

101 Dalmatians is family friendly. Kids will love it. Adults will love it. I, frankly, don’t know anyone in the world who doesn’t like this movie. This is what Disney classics are all about. The voice actors do their job well. The music is entertaining. The plot is engaging. I love 101 Dalmatians.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
The 101 Dalmatians 2008 version was transfered digitally at a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The image quality has been improved and enhanced. There have been major color enhancements and image improvements since past DVD and VHS releases of the movie came out. The colors are displayed vibrantly and there isn’t a visible flaw in any of the animation. The update to 101 Dalmatians is magnificent. The visual quality is superb, for the time in which the film was originally animated.

I’m glad that the audio quality was also enhanced for the 101 Dalmatians Platinum Edition DVD. Gone is the standard, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track. This DVD features a full-bodied, far superior, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track. I love the improvement. Everything comes through clearly. The music, spoken dialogue and even those trademark little barks come through easily and without flaw. Other language options include Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish and French. Menus can be displayed in all three languages and English subtitles are available for the hearing impaired.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
Since 101 Dalmatians comes in a two-disc Platinum Edition, it’s pretty clear that the DVD is going to have bonus features. The first addition to this disc is the option for Fast Play. This is pretty much a standard thing nowadays, on all new Disney releases. The extras are split up by disc. Here is what is available on each disc.

Disc One

- 101 Dalmatians Trivia Tracks – There are two bonus trivia tracks (each with 101 trivia facts), with subtitles for the hearing impaired

- “Cruella De Vil” – A music video for the main song from 101 Dalmatians, with the version sung by a Disney pop star, Selena Gomez. I could really leave this one behind, but that’s just me

- trailers – Family-friendly trailers for other, upcoming Disney releases

Disc Two

- Learning Games – There are two, child-friendly games that teach children both numbers and words

- DVD-Rom “Virtual Adopt” – You’ll be able to pop the DVD into your DVD-Rom and virtually adopt your own Dalmatian

- Section One: “Music & More” – Features six musical numbers from 101 Dalmatians including three deleted songs, and three songs in the movie in alternative music versions. You’ll get to see multiple incarnations of “Cruella De Vil” and “Dalmatian Plantation”. You will also get to see bloopers from the “Kanine Krunchies” song. There is quite a bit of information presented here, from alternative lyrics and arrangements to viewing actual deleted scenes of songs

- Section Two: “Backstage Disney” – Multiple documentary-based featurettes are included in this section. The first is a behind the scenes, making of featurette, that lasts well over a half hour in length. It’s called “Redefining the Line: The Making of The One Hundred and One Dalmatians“. There is a feature all about the main villain of the movie called “Cruella De Vil: Drawn to be Bad”. The last is a development featurette that explores how the movie was developed and correspondence between the novel’s (101 Dalmatians) author, Dodie Smith and Walt Disney in “Sincerely Yours, Walt Disney”.

- Art galleries – Extensive galleries showing work throughout the development of 101 Dalmatians

- Trailers – More trailers, this time for the movie

- Radio and TV Commercials – Here is more promotional material for 101 Dalmatians

All of the supplements rock, but my favorite is definitely the behind the scenes, making of documentary. I also enjoyed the alternative music versions of the songs and the Cruella De Vil featurette. Either way, there should be a little something for everyone to enjoy in these bonus sections.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
They don’t make Disney movies like they did back in the day. 101 Dalmatians isn’t my favorite Disney movie (Lady and the Tramp and The Fox and the Hound have that honor), but it is definitely at the top of my list of the best Disney movies to ever be made. I am truly happy that the Disney vault has been opening up to re-release (and enhance) some of the greatest Disney classics to ever be made. I don’t care how old you are, if you have kids or not, or your feelings on most of the new Disney movies released. 101 Dalmatians is a classic that needs a place in every movie collection. This is a major step above past releases so if you own the old version, it’s time for an upgrade! Highly…Highly…Highly Recommended!

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, 101 Dalmatians, Two Disc Platinum Edition, Pongo, Perdita, Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, Cate Bauer, Ben Wright, Lisa Davis, Martha Wentworth

Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.