Day 15: Lady and the Tramp

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Starring: Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson, Bill Baucom, Verna Felton, George Givot, Jim Millar, Peggy Lee, Stan Freberg, Alan Reed, Thurl Ravenscroft, Dallas McKennon, the Mellomen

Songs: "He's a Tramp," "La La Lu," "Siamese Cat Song," "Peace on Earth," "Bella Notte"

Lady and the Tramp is the fifteenth film in the Disney canon inspired in part by the Cosmopolitan Magazine short story "Happy Dan, the Whistling Dog" by Ward Greene and by personal experiences of Disney story man Joe Grant with his family's dog.  The film tells the story of Lady, a pampered little Cocker Spaniel who falls in with streetwise mutt Tramp.  Like many of the Disney movies of this era, story development began on Lady and the Tramp in the 1930s, but Walt Disney was unhappy with the direction of the story, which was originally envisioned without the Tramp character the Ward Greene story provided.  Disney eventually decided to combine these two story ideas, and though Joe Grant left the studio (and did not receive a credit for his work on this film) his sketches and ideas heavily influenced the final version of the film.

This film is really lovely, both to watch and to listen to.  The animation is beautiful and sharp, and the art is very inviting.  The turn of the century style middle American setting is nostalgic and charming, and the backgrounds really reflect that.  And the Peggy Lee music is a real treat.  

This is a movie I've always loved.  As a kid, I just loved the dogs and the idea of them having this whole life and society when people weren't looking.  And now, I still enjoy that aspect, but I also really like the love story... it's very sweet, and you get invested in the characters and their relationship.

What I Liked: If "everything" isn't an acceptable answer, I'll say the character designs.  Lady, Tramp, and all the other dogs look like dogs, but also look sweet and stylized like Disney characters.  Also, the backgrounds and concept art by Eyvind Earle, who would go on to be largely responsible for the unique look of tomorrow's film, Sleeping Beauty.

What I Disliked: The poor dog at the pound being taken on his final walk.  That's more a complaint about the fact that that happens in real life than it is a complaint about the movie though. 

Should You Watch This Film: A resounding yes.