When little Dumbo initially arrives at the circus as a newborn, he is embraced, but when he unfurls his huge ears, he becomes the butt of everyone's jokes. When some cruel children torment and abuse him, his mother strikes back and tears the circus apart. She is then imprisoned and determined to be insane, but she was simply trying to protect her child. Dumbo is then turned into a clown, where he is mocked even further and made to do dangerous stunts. Timothy Mouse, an unlikely friend for the little elephant, becomes his greatest advocate and takes him to visit his mother. The pair encounter a group of crows who musically mock Dumbo in a classic Disney tune, but then Timothy makes them see the error of their ways and the group ban together to teach the little guy how to fly. Before you know it, Dumbo becomes the new star of the circus and his mother is released.
While a very short film clocking in at only a little over an hour, it packs quite an emotional punch. Whether it's the tender scene of Mrs. Dumbo desperately waiting for her newborn; the scene of the abusive female elephants humiliating the youngster for his large ears; the scene where Mrs. Jumbo has been imprisoned and Dumbo visits her; the surreal pink elephants scene; or Dumbo's high-flying triumph at the end, Dumbo will have you both laughing and crying.
Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition has been exquisitely restored/remastered to the point that it looks absolutely amazing. The animation is pixel-perfect and the beloved Disney songs come through loud and clear. Since the film is now in surround sound, you'll notice the difference, especially during the storm scene and as Casey Jr. puffs down the track.
If you already own Dumbo on DVD, you may wonder if it is worth another purchase to get the film on Blu-ray. The special features from the previously released DVD are included, as well as a number of new ones, including audio commentary, several nice-sized featurettes on the development of the film, plus some bonus shorts, deleted scenes and games for the kids. Plus, Dumbo also features Disney View, where the film is presented with beautifully drawn surrounds to blend with the film, rather than ugly black bars that accompany older films not available in widescreen presentation. Disney is doing this more and more with their classic films and I love it.
Dumbo is a timeless story of the love between a mother and child and the emotions are portrayed so beautifully in the animation. Even if it is a bit tame by today's standards, Dumbo is a lesson in fine filmmaking for this generation. Those interested in the history of animation should definitely check this out, especially the featurettes that talk about Dumbo's history and the tone of Disney Studios at the time. The upscaling alone makes it worth a re-purchase for movie collectors and animation fans alike, but the additional special features are the icing on the cake. Highly recommended.
