"Lady and The Tramp" - The Romantic Canine Disney Classic That Became Iconic in Movie History

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

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Because we're canines, this movie is meant to be happy :)

Don't ask us who's
who ;)

If there's a term Disney animated features has often been referred to, then it's that of a classic. The term Disney classic is well known and have been used to most of their hits. But classic is certainly something that has been frequently used to describe Walt's features. Mostly because of their age, but how they've been immortalized having passed on through various generations. 

Yet regarding the term Disney classic, it's pretty fair to state that most of their successful and well-known features have managed to received that staple, more so than their less successful ones (despite how some of them weren't successful on their initial release). While Disney is also exposed to it's audience also through merchandising, it's fair to say that also the merchandising mostly applies to Disney's most well-known features. Which pretty much confirms their classic staple.

 

My Own Personal History With Lady and The Tramp

We're Jingle
Hounds :)

One of these certain classics is 1955's Lady and The Tramp, which is pretty much well known for every Disney buff. My very first exposure to Lady was (as with most of us) through my childhood. I've received the movie on VHS as a Christmas gift, most likely at the age of 7. While I wasn't obsessed by it, I was still endeared by it and liked it enough to watch it again several times (often coming right after school). 

My reason for liking it was that it's harmless, endearing and mellow. As with most Disney, nostalgia plays a pivotal part with my relationship for the film. Though I don’t recall where Lady and The Tramp would belong to the list of films that I've seen chronologically, Lady is still among the earliest ones that I saw.

Lady and The Tramp`s Position in Disney`s Pantheon and How It`s In Tune With The Pictures From Walt`s First Golden Age

 

This is how fast I can blink :)

Released to theaters June 22, 1955 in Chicago between Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty, Lady and The Tramp belongs in the very successful second Golden Era of Disney. Unlike the prior Golden Age, where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Dumbo were the only big hits and the others gaining more momentum afterwards, the 50’s was a huge successful decade for Disney. On its initial release, the film took in a higher figure than any other Disney animated feature since Snow White. Earning an estimated $6.5 million in distributor rentals. Lady was the first animated film distributed by the Buena Vista Film Distribution.

I made this hole so you could see
me while drinking your coffee :)

However, Lady and The Tramp feels somewhat as a throwback for Disney (in my opinion). While the first Walt features from the 50's were more gag-oriented and had a clearer and crisper look, Lady feels both artistically and tone-wise in tune with Walt's films from the 40’s. With a muted, subdued look and more evenness in tone. And less blatant gags (despite how the very first draft of the story was filled with gags). The 50's had pretty much reduced the darkness in his pictures (in my opinion). Walt also used his primetime Disneyland Television series to introduce his audience to Lady.  

Lady and The Tramp Being Disney`s First Canine Picture, Similarities to Bambi, How Scamp Have Managed To Be a Comic Veteran & Who`s The Major Lead

This is a Cruella DeVil-
free zone ;)

Lady and The Tramp would be the first of features about canine that would emerge from Disney. Therefore it would be instantly comparable to 101 Dalmatians, The Fox and the Hound, Bolt and even Oliver & Company (yes, it starred a feline, but it's a movie technically filled with canines, so it counts). Due to people love for dogs, Walt knew the picture would be a winner. At least it's tempting to place Lady among Dumbo and Bambi, since all three of them are basically animal movies. But in my Disney scrutinizing childhood, I used to see many similarities in both Lady and Bambi in more ways that just one: Both are mellow in tone and even in animation style (yes, I used to think that Lady had an animation style that was somewhat rugged and therefore similar to Bambi).

You're a carnivore, so
you could scare it :)

But while these similarities may be superfluous to point out, both the titular characters of Lady and Bambi are similar color-wise. But as for more valid comparions: Both films begins with the protagonist as a newborn (according to rumors, Walt actually gave his wife Lily a pup in a box). And comes full circle with the protagonists reproducing (it's remarkable how Scamp has manged to live his own life as a Comic book character). And both Lady and Bambi happen to have a similar arcs: Both of them grows up in a happy, sheltered world. But experiences how their blissful paradise ends in order to grow up (yet in Lady's case is done more overtly to take her out from her world). Both of them relies on counterparts that are more experienced and independent than them (while in Lady’s case is her love interest, while with Bambi it happens to be his buddy, Thumper. Despite how Faline is more vivacious than him). What certainly departures Lady from both Dumbo and Bambi, is how the protagonist is a female for once. Despite that she shares her titular role with her counterpart.

We're inspired by
Cruella's hair :)

But regardless of how the movie is called after both lovebirds, it's fair to say that Lady herself is the one who gets most recognition out of them. And therefore is the main lead. But just as with Bambi, the dogs were challenging to animate due to their sheer realism (and another similarity with Bambi is how both of them have the same tenor to open their pictures, Donald Novis).

Behind the Scenes Information & Origins

Don't worry, I won't eat it ;)

Lady and The Tramp was the first original story Walt had ever worked on. Which makes it invigorating on it’s own. The project began early in 1937 or 1939 (various sources about that). Originally the story was conceived as a short. Alongside with Dick Huemer, Joe Grant approached Walt with sketches of Lady. 

Just because I have a stern
look, doesn't make me a
grump :)

Originally conceived as a comedy. Walt enjoyed the sketches and commissioned Grant to start story development on a new animated feature just titled Lady. Tramp was a late addition to the story. There was a love triangle among Lady and a Russian wolfhound named Boris and a mongrel named Homer. However, in 1943 Walt saw the final outline and dreaded it. Because the character of Lady was too cutesy and soft. Her charm alone couldn't save her movie. So the project was shelved. At that point the owners were called Mr. and Mrs Fred. The babysitter was Mrs Fred's mother and Homer and Lady knew each other from the pound.

Could you teach us
to hunch our backs? :)

Afterwards,

It's the screenplay
version :)

Walt read the short story written by Ward Greene (an executive at King Features Syndicate (then-publisher of the Disney newspaper comic strips), titled Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog. In the Cosmopolitan Magazine, published in 1945. He thought that Grant's story would be improved if Lady fell in love with a cynical dog like the one in Greene's story, and bought the rights to it. He also persuaded Greene to write a book combining their dogs, Happy Dan, the Whistling Dog and Miss Patsy, the Beautiful Spaniel. Yet Greene was brought in after the crew had finished their story. However, the book was radically different than the screenplay. 

Unfortunately World War II interfered with it's production, so Lady was postponed. The cynical dog had various names during development, including Rags, and Bozo, before Tramp was chosen (despite how some crew members were hesitant about that name). Yet the cynical dog wasn't added until 1941. However, Joe Grant had already left the studio because of the backlash of Alice in Wonderland. So Walt asked Greene to write a novelization of the film that was released two years before the film itself. To make the audiences familiar with the story. Unfortunately Grant did not receive film credit for his story work until after Walt's death.

How Lady and The Tramp Was Made in Cinemascope, Visuals and Animators

The picture above was meant
to be a valentine picture.
Don't take your
exclusion personally ;)

What also invigorates Lady and The Tramp is how it was
the first animated features made in CinemaScope. Which also was a daunting task for Walt. While his next feature, Sleeping Beauty, would even have a wider choice in Technirama, at least Lady preceeded it first. Developed by 20th Century Fox and introduced with The Robe, CinemaScope used special lenses to compress filmed images which were then spread out on a wider than normal screen during projection. It was a particular challenge for the layout artist, who almost had to reinvent their craft. Scenes could be played with fewer cuts because more characters could be fitted into the broad screen.

Since Television was new at the time and was perceived as a threat to Cinema, CinemaScope was one innovation to draw people to the Theaters. Cinemascope was also really popular at the time. However, not every Theater supported CinemaScope, so Walt and his staff had to envision a fullscreen version. Mary Blaire was repsonsible for the look, yet she left the studio in 1953, so Eivind Earle became responsible for the visuals (a reason why Tramp was given the color grey, was to make a contrast to Lady and Trusty). As for the animators, Milt Kahl animated Tramp, whereas Ollie Johnston animated Lady. Frank Thomas drew Jock, whereas Wollie Reitherman (unsurprisingly) supervised the action sequences.

Lady and The Tramp`s Storyline & Romance

Lady and the Tramp's storyline is a simple and conventional one; It's about Lady growing up in her blissful, loving paradise. And how her sheltered life is suddenly turned upside down by the arrival of the baby, which throws her aside (and yes, this actually happened to Joe Grant's real spaniel named Lady when his daughter was born. Which is art imitating life).

However, fate makes her escape her sheltered when her owners, Jim and Darling, leaves and Aunt Sarah mistankens her for being a danger. Then she runs into Tramp (which their first meeting is a remarkably condescending one, where Tramp pretty much mocks Lady’s dilemma in a callous way). Of course there's a contrast between our lovebirds points of views: How Tramp prefers freedom as opposed to a sheltered life. But becomes a part of the life that he didn't expected at the end. 

You'll look like
my future daughter :)

Unsurprsingly, this film is labeled as a romance, first and foremost. Which is done well. Aside from Bambi and the Princess features, Lady was the feature from Walt's period that truly leant itself to romance. Which is why it was named number 95 out of the "100 Greatest Love Stories of All Time" by the American Film Institute.

The Point of Views of the Dogs, The Adult Nuances, Setting and Voice Actors

This is my way of practicing
my howls until they get
louder :)

What certainly makes Lady and The Tramp interesting and clever is how the film is practically portrayed from the dogs point of view. It’s certainly adds some nuance to how Jim and Darling refers to themselves as Jim Dear and Darling. Despite how we occasionally see their faces now and then, the viewpoint is mostly from the dogs (which even live action reference for that same viewpoint was shot). 

And sure, there has been various who've claimed that Lady practically is one of Walt's most adult films, for several reasons. About how the Bella Notte scene ends with something that indicates that our lovebirds slept together. Which was a challenge for the crew to defend). And also because the movie indicates how dogs gets killed in the dog pound. What also differentiates Lady, is it’s setting. It takes place in a romantic, American smalltown in the early 1910's. And manages to portray the placement in a harmonically and nostalgically. The town was somewhat based on Walt's own hometown Marceline in Missouri. So therefore it comes as no surprise that the portrayal has a certain nostalgic bias to it

I`m not the beaver 
from Winnie the Pooh :)

As for the voice casting, originally PeggyLee was going to be cast as Lady herself. But that role was given to Disney veteran Barbara Luddy (who was in her late 40's and was two decades older than Tramp's voice actor, Larry Roberts). Disney veteran Verna Felton voiced Aunt Sarah. (and yes, she was even suggested to do the voice as early as in 1941). Stan Freberg voiced the Beaver and Walt gave him a lot of freedom. Still Walt still suggested the whistle in his voice (which he had trouble to do). The character of Peg was a unforeseen addition to the movie. And while it was initially inspired by Mae West, it was Lee who inspired her the most (animated by Eric Larsson, who cites that it was his happiest work).

  

 

 

 

 

Lady`s Harrowing Moments, Antagonists & How Trusty Survives

We're the domestic versions
of the Hyenas :)

While Lady and the Tramp is cute, mellow and practically harmless, it still has a couple of harrowing moments. Perhaps not the most traumatic among Disney’s ones, but they’re still impacting enough. The climax with the rat is pretty intense, as well as Lady`s first meeting with the wild dogs. The way Lady portrays it's antagonists is also pretty remarkable. It would be fair to call the rat is the main nemesis (while it was originally going to be more comedic). And while Aunt Sarah may not be the main villain, she's still a pivotal antagonist to the story. Unfortunately she doesn’t have enough screentime to distinguish her, still she still does makes her impact to have the audience despise her. Despite how the movie confirms that her attitude towards canines has changed at the end, it's still a pity that her arc isn't overtly shown.

While feuds between canines and felines have always been shown in animation, it’s clear that the brief cameo with the Siameses are made to sympathize with poor, innocent Lady (their famous song, perhaps not surprisingly, has a Chinese orchestration to it. Which made purists scream racism. Still the Chinese orchestration was a deliberate part). Both Aunt Sarah and the Siamese were a part from the get-go. And the main conflict would revolve around Lady, the Siamese's and the rat. Originally the felines were called Nip and Tuck and Lady was showing them around the house. But they were the reason for why Lady was kicked out by her owners in the 1943 draft.

However, a pivotal trauma in the climax is the injury of Trusty. Lady was initially following the Bambi mode and kill off the character. Eventually Disney took a note from Peggy Lee herself and let Trusty live (something that would later be replicated in The Fox and the Hound with Chief). Whether to kill Trusty would’ve been the right choice at the end, has been debatable. But at least he's an endearing character and it would've been a huge risk to actually kill him. And yes, believe it or not, one idea for the climax was actually taking Place during the 1906 Earthquake in San Francisco.

Music

Okay, our breaths confirms
why we'll

never eat grubs
again :)

Usually in my additions for Walt's features I mention the iconic scenes those movies are labeled for. But we all know that Lady and The Tramp is labeled for one certain pivotal scene: It's famous spaghetti scene (who actually looks absolutely delicious). Not only has it been used for several covers of the film. But it's also one of the most iconic moments in movie history.

And since it's been so iconic in pop culture, it's been poked fun of several times (one memorable incident have been at The Simpsons). Yet Disney themselves have poked fun of this moment several times: In the cheapquel of this movie Lady and The Tramp II, 102 Dalmatians and The Lion King 1 ½. The moment has of course been quite prominent in From All of Us to All of You Christmas show (which was my very first introduction to Disney, before getting to see the movies themselves). And the inclusion of Tony and Joe gives the cast some cultural flavor. And believe it or not, Walt didn't like the scene, since he found it was ridiculous that two canines would eat spaghetti. Yet Frank Thomas, who animated the scene, persuaded him to make it work.

Yes, we`ll open the presents
with our mouths :) That`s
our only way to do it :)
Duuuh :)

Of course Bella Notte is the big romantic number of the film (yet it's first half is mostly rather comedic than outright romantic). But is also remarkable how Bella Notte is the opening song of the movie as well. The songs are worth to mention, since they were written by Peggy Lee, who was a popstar at the time. She was initially brought in just as a songwriter and was surprised that she was asked to sing and do the voices as well (as for for Mrs Darling, the Siameses and Peg. Who was originally going to be named Meme. But since it was the name of President Eisenhower's wife, Walt personally suggested that the character should simply be named Peg).

The songwriting team used three
years to pen the songs. The Melomen Quartet (with Disney favorite Thurl Ravenscroft) backed up on He's a Tramp. Disney veteran Oliver Wallace composed the score. He's a Tramp was a song that Walt simply didn't expect, while La La Lu was originally meant to be shorter, until Lee wrote What is a Baby, which Walt loved. Yet, Lady is quite modest with it’s songs. And interestingly enough, those who's sung by our lovebirds are performed internally. The songs are nice enough, though. While erhaps not my all time favorites in the Disney pantheon, they’re still engaging and evocative. Peggy Lee's work was shown on the Cavalcade of Songs section in the aforementioned Disneyland show, still her voicing was originally just a test.

Just forget about the
noise behind us :)

It was Walt's suggestion that the Siamese sequence should be a song. Two additional songs to fill the soundtrack were written (Jim Dear and Old Trusty, alongside with That Fellow's a Friend of Man and Singin' (Cause I Want to Sing)). Lee herself enjoyed performing as Peg. Apparently she wasn't a person who was easily starstruck, but she was so when she met Walt (she didn't dare to call him his first name). But he gave her a lot of creative freedom and she suggested the spots for the songs herself (and she was a lover of dogs herself).

Just forget about
the noise behind us :)

However, when Lady was released on home video in 1991, Lee sued the studio for a share of the profits. And won with a $ 2,3 million. Lee used to screen the movie at her home with a film projector with her granddaughter before VHS even existed. Because of Lee's contract With Decca Records, the soundtrack for Lady wasn't released in 1955. Yet she still recorded her versions of the songs she didn't sing under Decca Records. While the soundtrack was released various times, it wasn't released fully until 1997.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Epilogue

We can have our own
walk, without our
owners :)

So Lady and the Tramp is another treasure to Disney's immortal and everlasting pantheon. But it`s placement it truly deserved. Perhaps it doesn’t have anything specifically to distinguish itself that makes it really worth analyzing in the Disney catalog (despite the aforementioned technical and storytelling point of views). Yet Lady is still such a fine Disney treasure that deserves to be worshipped and cherished. And that what makes it good and compelling. Walt was also satisfied with the final product. Lady was re-released in 1962, 1971, 1980 and 1986 theatrically and released on VHS in 1987. Now finally having reached it's 65th Anniversary last year, there' nothing more than to wish this canine movie Happy 65th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more! 

At least the Tramp is for once a male :)

Bark on my updates on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035703494050 and https://twitter.com/NerdyLunada. 

 

References:
Lady and The Tramp Diamond Edition  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_and_the_Tramp 
Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection: Lady and The Tramp.
Pinocchio - The Making of the Disney Epic (J.B. Kaufman).
Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)
Disney's Art of Animation - From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas)
The Art of Walt Disney - From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond 2011 Edition (Christopher Finch)