Dumbo (1941)
I remember watching Dumbo on repeat as a kid, literally wearing out the VHS, so there must have been something there that I really connected to. I'm not sure whether it was the bright colours, Dumbo's cuteness, or simply that my attention span was best suited to a maximum of 1 hour and 4 minutes of entertainment. Whatever the case, I was not alone.
After the traditional period pieces of Snow White and Pinocchio, Dumbo is Disney's first feature-length story with a contemporary, American 1940s setting. From the jazzy opening number, 'Mr. Stork,' sung in fashionable close harmony, to the stylised animation of the circus workers as they prepare Casey Jr. to puff down the track, Dumbo evokes the feeling of the time in simplistic style.
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| When your dirty laundry situation gets out of control |
This simplicity is largely down to Dumbo being an tactically economical piece, to try and make up for Pinocchio and Fantasia losing money at the box office (who'd have thought kids wouldn't be flocking to watch abstract shapes dance to classical music?!). But it seems this sparing nature was a blessing in disguise. Dumbo's succinct, fast-paced story captured audience's hearts to become Disney's highest grossing film of the decade.
The fresh, optimistic vibrancy of Dumbo was just what was needed at the time, when the real world was getting darker by the day. Beginning with new life (and adorable animals) as the Stork delivers babies to grateful mothers from across America's zoos and circuses, we hone in on a circus in Florida and a particularly sympathetic-looking elephant. You guessed it – Mrs. Jumbo.
Having longed for a child for years, Mrs. Jumbo's prayers are answered when the Stork delivers her a parcel. When Dumbo first appears and unfurls his unusually large ears, he instantly becomes Disney's most adorable character to-date and you just want to reach through the screen and give him a big hug. Watching him bond with his mother is one of the most charming scenes of the movie, perfectly scored to convey their pure love for one another without a word being spoken.
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| I'm crying, you're crying, we're all crying |
So when Dumbo is met with mocking adversary from the other elephants, and Mrs. Jumbo is unfairly separated from her son by the circus owner, Disney manages to build up and break our hearts within about 30 minutes. 'Baby Mine,' when Mrs. Jumbo cradles her baby through the gates of her elephant prison, just gets more tragic every time I watch it. Like, I think it might even top Bambi for saddest Disney moment (but I may review that next week).
After the weird trippy pink elephant acid-trip (which all goes a bit Fantasia again) Dumbo gets right back on track to hit home with its key message:
This line, delivered by Timothy Mouse, who is basically the Jiminy Cricket equivalent for this movie, underlines the reason that Dumbo was seen as such a morale-boosting film at the time. The down-beaten underdog, Dumbo realises he has all the tools he needs at his disposal – his wing-like ears that literally tripped him up can act as wings. With his naturally aerodynamic anatomy, some encouragement, and a catchy song, he can turn his luck around and put all the wrongs right. Mainly setting his mum free and getting her first class treatment while the haters ride in coach. Boom.
As well as being a colourful and fascinating reflection of 1940s America (including the not-so-subtle portrayal of pre-Civil Rights black people), Dumbo is pure heart, and proof that sometimes less really is more.
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| Pure nightmare fuel |
Best Song: When I See An Elephant Fly
Disney Detail: This week, it's a lack thereof – nearly every human character in Dumbo is faceless, throwing the characterisation to the animals (and perhaps symbolising the faceless force that exploits them for entertainment). Or maybe that's just 2019 talking.
Why it's a Classic: The image of Dumbo flying through the air is up there with Tinkerbell for the most classically Disney, even inspiring one of the first rides at Disneyland.
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