Perhaps Disney's most romantic animated classic, "Lady and the Tramp" was the first feature length cartoon to use the wide-screen Cinemascope format. The film has as much appeal to adults as to children. Adults can enjoy both the humor and the animation, while more subdued than past studio efforts, still retains many memorable scenes.
The biggest surprise for me was the amount of ethnic humor. The 'Tramp' doggie gives good imitations of Irish, German and Italian accents. Other dogs have Scottish, Russian and Mexican accents. And then there's the two sinister cats with Chinese accents. As is often the case, the ethnic humor feels inoffensive as long as European ancestries are the target. But when the Chihuahua can't remember the name of his seeester, and the cats are Si-a-meeese if you don't please, it left me feeling uncomfortable. Well, enough debate over political correctness. It spoils all the fun anyway, even more so than film reviews.
"Lady and the Tramp" is based on a story by Ward Greene, and is a change of pace from Disney's frequent adaptation of European fables. The story is apparently set in an American suburb, in a year not much prior to World War I. Lady (voiced by Barbara Luddy) is a sweet-natured cocker spaniel, and lives with gentle, romantic parents Jim Dear (Lee Millar) and Darling (Peggy Lee). That's not so much their names as their terms of endearment, and since this film is from a dog's viewpoint, that is how they are known. Lady has two doggie friends, feisty scottish terrier Jock (Bill Thompson) and droopy bloodhound Trusty (Bill Baucon).
When Darling has a baby, Lady feels left out, and runs away from home. Fortunately, she encounters Tramp (Larry Roberts), a womanizing, freedom-loving stray doggie. Tramp begins to romance her, especially at an Italian restaurant. This is the setting for the film's most memorable scene. The dogs follow a spaghetti trail to a kiss, with the marvelously drawn Italian chefs providing the musical entertainment.
Life is different in a doggie's world. The dog pound becomes a Death Row prison, making the doggie convicts even more endearing when they howl their way through "There's No Place Like Home". The doggies understand everything that humans say, and have a vivid imagination. We rarely see the faces of Jim Dear and Darling, mostly hearing their voices and seeing their hands.
Peggy Lee co-wrote all the songs, performing most of them. She also provides the voice for the trouble-making cats Si and Am. (61/100)
Walt Disney s Lady and the Tramp, filled with memorable music and purebred fun, now shines like never before with an all-new digital restoration!Embar...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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