The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 283 Days to go: 274
Movie #94: Dumbo
You’ve really got to hand it to Disney: they know how to make a movie that appeals to children. I remember watching Dumbo with my son eight or more years ago and him being transfixed. Today, my two-year-old watched it with me and was cheering at all the animals, “choo-choo”-ing every time the train was on screen, and squealing over how cute the baby elephant was. The whole thing fascinated and delighted her which, even though she won’t remember it when she’s twelve, will be a wonderful memory for me of her younger years. That’s what Disney’s always done — make treasured memories for families to share across years and generations. Whether it’s through films or at their parks or however, they’re really good at making those connections and building those relationships, so it’s no wonder so many people revere the company as much as they do.
Dumbo is actually a sad tale of a mother circus elephant who doesn’t receive her delivery from the stork with everyone else. When he does arrive, he is all the more cherished, but because of his huge ears is ostracized by the other elephants, and all the circus spectators. Even more than 70 years ago, Disney was telling stories on the cruelty of a society that mocks those who are different, and the potential value of having a unique gift. Aside from some racially stereotyped crows (an unfortunate byproduct of the times, perhaps), it’s a pretty positive message about acceptance. (And the song the original Black Crows sing is an early example of the truly great lyricism to come in Disney works, so that’s good.)
These early Disney movies also liked to deal with the abstract a bit, and the “Pink Elephants on Parade” song and sequence are great examples of that. It’s some interesting, playful hand-drawn animation that exists solely to toy with the expansiveness of these moving cartoons and see what they can do with their images. Despite being completely tangential to the actual story, it’s one of the most memorable sequences in the film. The pink elephants, in fact, have become an iconic symbol of old-school Disney, so much so that I wish they were used in some capacity in Disney park parades — even if just as a wink to the older generations in attendance.
The ending is kind of abrupt and odd, in which Dumbo enacts some sort of revenge fantasy on all his tormentors as he flies around the big top — and is ultimately rewarded for it with a private train car for him and his mom on top of that — but I guess it would be hard to end a flying elephant story so I’ll forgive it. After all, Dumbo is a movie adults mostly gain enjoyment from by watching their kids cheer and smile and clap. That’s what Disney’s good at.
Viable Option 