101 Dalmatians

Unleashed in a “Platinum Edition,” Disney's beloved 1961 animated classic earns “Best in Show” honors with a litter of bonus features geared toward children (games and activities), animation buffs (the “making-of” featurettes “Redefining the Line” and “Cruella De Vil: Drawn To Be Bad”), and Disney devotees (deleted songs, a dramatization of Walt Disney's correspondence with One Hundred and One Dalmatians children's book author Dodie Smith). Both a storytelling and stylistic departure as Disney entered the ‘60s, 101 Dalmatians is set in London, where dalmatians Pongo and Perdita live blissfully with their human “pets,” struggling songwriter Roger and his wife, Anita. Their idyllic lives are shattered by (arguably) Disney's most memorable villainess, the politically incorrect, fur-loving Cruella De Vil (“If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will”), who will stop at nothing to get Pongo and Perdita's puppies, among others. Nearly a half century after its debut, the film remains genuinely funny, exciting, and suspenseful, as well as spot-on in its vivid character animation, from clumsy dognappers Horace and Jasper to the sheepdog Colonel and his feline aide-de-camp Sgt. Tibbs (who assist Pongo and Perdita in their quest to rescue their puppies from Cruella). Sound the Twilight Bark: this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (D. Liebenson)[Blu-ray/DVD Combo Review—Feb. 10, 2015—Walt Disney, 79 min., G, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $36.99—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1961's 101 Dalmatians features a fine transfer and a DTS-HD 7.1 soundtrack on the Blu-ray disc. Extras new to this release include the 1961 Walt Disney Presents episode “The Best Doggoned Dog in the World” (51 min.), “Lucky Dogs” with Disney animators and artists (9 min.), “Dalmatians 101” hosted by Disney Channel's Cameron Boyce (5 min.), the new animated short “The Further Adventures of Thunderbolt” (2 min.), and a digital copy of the film. Extras carried over from the previous release include the “Redefining the Line” making-of featurette (34 min.), the behind-the-scenes segments “Sincerely Yours, Walt Disney” (13 min.) and “Cruella De Vil: Drawn to Be Bad” (7 min.), deleted and alternate songs, radio spots, and trailers. Bottom line: a beloved Disney classic makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]